1And Hezekiah3169 sent7971 to all Israel3478 and Judah3063, and wrote3789 letters107 also to Ephraim669 and Manasseh4519, that they should come935 to the house1004 of the LORD3068 at Jerusalem3389, to keep6213 the passover6453 unto the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478.
2For the king4428 had taken counsel3289, and his princes8269, and all the congregation6951 in Jerusalem3389, to keep6213 the passover6453 in the second8145 month2320.
3For they could3201 not keep6213 it at that time6256, because the priests3548 had not sanctified6942 themselves sufficiently4078 1767, neither had the people5971 gathered themselves together622 to Jerusalem3389.
4And the thing1697 pleased3474 5869 the king4428 and all the congregation6951.
5So they established5975 a decree1697 to make proclamation5674 6963 throughout all Israel3478, from Beersheba884 even to Dan1835, that they should come935 to keep6213 the passover6453 unto the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478 at Jerusalem3389: for they had not done6213 it of a long7230 time in such sort as it was written3789.
6So the posts7323 went3212 with the letters107 from3027 the king4428 and his princes8269 throughout all Israel3478 and Judah3063, and according to the commandment4687 of the king4428, saying559, Ye children1121 of Israel3478, turn again7725 unto the LORD3068 God430 of Abraham85, Isaac3327, and Israel3478, and he will return7725 to the remnant7604 of you, that are escaped6413 out of the hand3709 of the kings4428 of Assyria804.
7And be not ye like your fathers1, and like your brethren251, which trespassed4603 against the LORD3068 God430 of their fathers1, who therefore gave them up5414 to desolation8047, as ye see7200.
8Now be ye not stiffnecked7185 6203, as your fathers1 were, but yield5414 yourselves3027 unto the LORD3068, and enter935 into his sanctuary4720, which he hath sanctified6942 for ever5769: and serve5647 the LORD3068 your God430, that the fierceness2740 of his wrath639 may turn away7725 from you.
9For if ye turn again7725 unto the LORD3068, your brethren251 and your children1121 shall find compassion7356 before6440 them that lead them captive7617, so that they shall come again7725 into this land776: for the LORD3068 your God430 is gracious2587 and merciful7349, and will not turn away5493 his face6440 from you, if ye return7725 unto him.
10So the posts7323 passed5674 from city5892 to city5892 through the country776 of Ephraim669 and Manasseh4519 even unto Zebulun2074: but they laughed them to scorn7832, and mocked3932 them.
11Nevertheless divers582 of Asher836 and Manasseh4519 and of Zebulun2074 humbled3665 themselves, and came935 to Jerusalem3389.
12Also in Judah3063 the hand3027 of God430 was to give5414 them one259 heart3820 to do6213 the commandment4687 of the king4428 and of the princes8269, by the word1697 of the LORD3068.
13And there assembled622 at Jerusalem3389 much7227 people5971 to keep6213 the feast2282 of unleavened bread4682 in the second8145 month2320, a very3966 great7230 congregation6951.
14And they arose6965 and took away5493 the altars4196 that were in Jerusalem3389, and all the altars for incense6999 took they away5493, and cast7993 them into the brook5158 Kidron6939.
15Then they killed7819 the passover6453 on the fourteenth702 6240 day of the second8145 month2320: and the priests3548 and the Levites3881 were ashamed3637, and sanctified6942 themselves, and brought in935 the burnt offerings5930 into the house1004 of the LORD3068.
16And they stood5975 in their place5977 after their manner4941, according to the law8451 of Moses4872 the man376 of God430: the priests3548 sprinkled2236 the blood1818, which they received of the hand3027 of the Levites3881.
17For there were many7227 in the congregation6951 that were not sanctified6942: therefore the Levites3881 had the charge of the killing7821 of the passovers6453 for every one that was not clean2889, to sanctify6942 them unto the LORD3068.
18For a multitude4768 of the people5971, even many7227 of Ephraim669, and Manasseh4519, Issachar3485, and Zebulun2074, had not3808 cleansed2891 themselves, yet did they eat398 the passover6453 otherwise than it was written3789. But Hezekiah3169 prayed6419 for them, saying559, The good2896 LORD3068 pardon3722 every one
19That prepareth3559 his heart3824 to seek1875 God430, the LORD3068 God430 of his fathers1, though he be not cleansed according to the purification2893 of the sanctuary6944.
20And the LORD3068 hearkened8085 to Hezekiah3169, and healed7495 the people5971.
21And the children1121 of Israel3478 that were present4672 at Jerusalem3389 kept6213 the feast2282 of unleavened bread4682 seven7651 days3117 with great1419 gladness8057: and the Levites3881 and the priests3548 praised1984 the LORD3068 day3117 by day3117, singing with loud5797 instruments3627 unto the LORD3068.
22And Hezekiah3169 spake1696 comfortably3820 unto all the Levites3881 that taught7919 the good2896 knowledge7922 of the LORD3068: and they did eat398 throughout the feast4150 seven7651 days3117, offering2076 peace8002 offerings2077, and making confession3034 to the LORD3068 God430 of their fathers1.
23And the whole assembly6951 took counsel3289 to keep6213 other312 seven7651 days3117: and they kept6213 other seven7651 days3117 with gladness8057.
24For Hezekiah2396 king4428 of Judah3063 did give7311 to the congregation6951 a thousand505 bullocks6499 and seven7651 thousand505 sheep6629; and the princes8269 gave7311 to the congregation6951 a thousand505 bullocks6499 and ten6235 thousand505 sheep6629: and a great number7230 of priests3548 sanctified6942 themselves.
25And all the congregation6951 of Judah3063, with the priests3548 and the Levites3881, and all the congregation6951 that came out935 of Israel3478, and the strangers1616 that came out935 of the land776 of Israel3478, and that dwelt3427 in Judah3063, rejoiced8055.
26So there was great1419 joy8057 in Jerusalem3389: for since the time3117 of Solomon8010 the son1121 of David1732 king4428 of Israel3478 there was not the like in Jerusalem3389.
27Then the priests3548 the Levites3881 arose6965 and blessed1288 the people5971: and their voice6963 was heard8085, and their prayer8605 came935 up to his holy6944 dwelling place4583, even unto heaven8064.