[1] Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to
Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh at
Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh, 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] 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 Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the
Passover to Yahweh, 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, You children
of Israel, turn again to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
that he may return to the remnant that have escaped of you out of the hand
of the kings of Assyria. [7] Don`t be you like your fathers, and like your
brothers, who trespassed against Yahweh, the God of their fathers, so that
he gave them up to desolation, as you see. [8] Now don`t you be
stiff-necked, as your fathers were; but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and
enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh
your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. [9] For if you turn
again to Yahweh, your brothers and your children shall find compassion
before those who led them captive, and shall come again into this land: for
Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face
from you, if you return to him. [10] So the posts passed from city to city
through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to 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 on 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 Yahweh.
[13] There assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of
unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly. [14] 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 Yahweh. [16] 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 who had not sanctified
themselves: therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the Passovers
for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to Yahweh. [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 Yahweh pardon everyone [19] who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh,
the God of his fathers, though not [cleansed] according to the purification
of the sanctuary. [20] Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
[21] The children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of
unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the
priests praised Yahweh day by day, [singing] with loud instruments to
Yahweh. [22] Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites who had good
understanding [in the service] of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the feast
for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making
confession to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. [23] 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 one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave
to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep: and a great number
of priests sanctified themselves. [25] All the assembly of Judah, with the
priests and the Levites, and all the assembly who came out of Israel, and
the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and who lived 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 to heaven.
