2 Chronicles 30

1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the God of Israel.2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.4 And the thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem: for they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written.6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant that are escaped of you out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against Jehovah, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as ye see.8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were; but yield yourselves unto Jehovah, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever, and serve Jehovah your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.9 For if ye turn again unto Jehovah, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that led them captive, and shall come again into this land: for Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.11 Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.12 Also upon Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Jehovah.13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt-offerings into the house of Jehovah.16 And they stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood which they received of the hand of the Levites.17 For there were many in the assembly that had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto Jehovah.18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Jehovah pardon every one19 that setteth his heart to seek God, Jehovah, the God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.20 And Jehovah hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.21 And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised Jehovah day by day, singing with loud instruments unto Jehovah.22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that had good understanding in the service of Jehovah. So they did eat throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making confession to Jehovah, the God of their fathers.23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept other seven days with gladness.24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the assembly for offerings a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.25 And all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even unto heaven.

2 Chronicles 30

Hezekiah Observes the Passover

1 Hezekiah sent messages throughout Israel and Judah; he even wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, summoning them to come to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalems and observe a Passover celebration for the Lord God of Israel.2 The king, his officials, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem decided to observe the Passover in the second month.3 They were unable to observe it at the regulart time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem.4 The proposal seemed appropriate tot the king and the entire assembly.5 So they sent an edictt throughout Israel from Beer Sheba to Dan, summoning the peoplet to come and observe a Passover for the Lord God of Israel in Jerusalem, for they had not observed it on a nationwide scale as prescribed in the law.t

6 Messengerst delivered the letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah.
This royal edict read:t “O Israelites, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so he may returnt to you who have been spared from the kings of Assyria.t7 Don’t be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the Lord God of their ancestors,t provoking him to destroy them,t as you can see.8 Now, don’t be stubbornt like your fathers! Submitt to the Lord and come to his sanctuary which he has permanently consecrated. Serve the Lord your God so that he might relent from his raging anger.t

9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and sons will be shown mercy by their captors and return to this land. The Lord your God is merciful and compassionate; he will not reject yout if you return to him.”
10 The messengers journeyed from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but people mocked and ridiculed them.t11 But some men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.12 In Judah God moved the people to unite and carry out the edict the king and the officers had issued at the Lord’s command.t13 A huge crowd assembled in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month.t

14 They removed the altars in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.t
15 They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt sacrifices to the Lord’s temple.16 They stood at their posts according to the regulations outlined in the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests were splashing the blood as the Levites handed it to them.t17 Because many in the assembly had not consecrated themselves, the Levites slaughteredt the Passover lambs of all who were ceremonially unclean and could not consecrate their sacrifice to the Lord.t18 The majority of the many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun were ceremonially unclean, yet they ate the Passover in violation of what is prescribed in the law.t For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying: “May the Lord, who is good, forgivet19 everyone who has determined to follow God,t the Lord God of his ancestors, even if he is not ceremonially clean according to the standards of the temple.”t

20 The Lord responded favorablyt to Hezekiah and forgavet the people.
21 The Israelites who were in Jerusalem observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests were praising the Lord every day with all their might.t

22 Hezekiah expressed his appreciation to all the Levites,t who demonstrated great skill in serving the Lord.t They feasted for the seven days of the festival,t and were making peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord God of their ancestors.
23 The entire assembly then decided to celebrate for seven more days; so they joyfully celebrated for seven more days.24 King Hezekiah of Judah supplied 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheept for the assembly, while the officials supplied themt with 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. Many priests consecrated themselves.25 The celebration includedt the entire assembly of Judah, the priests, the Levites, the entire assembly of those who came from Israel, the resident foreigners who came from the land of Israel, and the residents of Judah.26 There was a great celebration in Jerusalem, unlike anything that had occurred in Jerusalem since the time of King Solomon son of David of Israel.t

27 The priests and Levites got up and pronounced blessings on the people. The Lord responded favorably to themt as their prayers reached his holy dwelling place in heaven.