And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of theLORDat Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto theLORDGod of Israel.
For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.
For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.
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 theLORDGod of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not doneitof a longtime in such sortas it was written.
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 theLORDGod of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against theLORDGod of their fathers,whotherefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fatherswere, butyield yourselves unto theLORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve theLORDyour God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
For if ye turn again unto theLORD, your brethren and your childrenshall findcompassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for theLORDyour Godisgracious and merciful, and will not turn awayhisface from you, if ye return unto him.
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.
Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of theLORD.
And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.
And they arose and took away the altars thatwerein Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and casttheminto the brook Kidron.
Then they killed the passover on the fourteenthdayof the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of theLORD.
And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood,which they receivedof the hand of the Levites.
Forthere weremany in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every onethat wasnot clean, to sanctifythemunto theLORD.
For a multitude of the people,evenmany of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The goodLORDpardon every one
Thatprepareth his heart to seek God, theLORDGod of his fathers, thoughhe benotcleansedaccording to the purification of the sanctuary.
And theLORDhearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
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 theLORDday by day,singingwith loud instruments unto theLORD.
And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of theLORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to theLORDGod of their fathers.
And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they keptotherseven days with gladness.
For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.
So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israelthere wasnot the like in Jerusalem.
Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer cameupto his holy dwelling place,evenunto heaven.