2 Chronicles 30

1 Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.

2 For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month,

3 since they had been unable to keep it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.

4 This plan pleased the king and the whole assembly.

5 So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it in great numbers as prescribed.

6 At the command of the king, the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.

7 Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see.

8 Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.

9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

10 And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the people scorned and mocked them.

11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

12 Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.

13 In the second month, a very great assembly gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

14 They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem and to take away the incense altars and throw them into the Kidron Valley.

15 And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.

16 They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splattered the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites.

17 Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD.

18 A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone

19 who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments of praise to the LORD.

22 And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they ate their assigned portion, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

23 The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy.

24 For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.

25 Then the whole assembly of Judah rejoiced along with the priests and Levites and the whole assembly that had come from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and those who lived in Judah.

26 So there was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this had happened there since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel.

27 Then the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard their voice, and their prayer came into His holy dwelling place in heaven.

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 the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.

2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation 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 sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.

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 unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done [it] of a long [time in such sort] as it was 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 the LORD God 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.

7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, [who] therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.

8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers [were, but] yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children [shall find] compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD 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 divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

12 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 the LORD.

13 ¶ And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.

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 in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.

16 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 received] of the hand of the Levites.

17 For [there were] many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one [that was] not clean, to sanctify [them] unto the LORD.

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 was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one

19 [That] prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though [he be] not [cleansed] according to the purification of the sanctuary.

20 And the LORD 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 the LORD day by day, [singing] with loud instruments unto the LORD.

22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD 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 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.

25 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.

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 dwelling place, [even] unto heaven.

1 And Hezekiah sent unto all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters unto Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD to Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.

2 And the king took counsel with the princes thereof, and with all the congregation that were at Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.

3 For they could not keep it that day, because the priests were not sanctified enough, and the people were not yet come in multitude to Jerusalem.

4 And it pleased the king well, and all the congregation,

5 And they commanded to be proclaimed throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even unto Dan, to come and keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for it was not kept for a long time, as it is written.

6 And the runners went with the letters by the hand of the king and of his princes throughout all Israel and Judah out of the king's commandment, saying: Ye children of Israel, turn ye unto the LORD God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel, and he will turn unto the remnant that are left of you out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

7 And be not ye like your fathers and your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, and he gave them up to desolation, as ye yourselves see.

8 Be not stiffnecked therefore, as your fathers were, but give your hand unto the LORD, and come unto his sanctuary, which he hath hallowed for ever, and serve the LORD your God: and the fury of his wrath shall be turned away from you.

9 For if ye turn unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall have mercy upon them that hold them captive, that they may come again into this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn his face from you, if ye turn unto him.

10 And the runners went from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

11 And some of Asher, and Manasseh, and Zebulun, humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

12 And the hand of God came upon Judah, to give them one heart to do according to the commandment of the king, and according to the commandment of the princes, from the word of the LORD.

13 And there came a great multitude to Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.

14 And they arose, and took down the altars that were in Jerusalem, and put away all the incense, and cast it into the brook Kidron.

15 And they slew the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites confessed their shame, and sanctified themselves, and brought the burnt offerings unto the house of the LORD.

16 And they kept their charge according to the law of Moses the man of God. And the priests sprinkled the blood from the hand of the Levites.

17 For there were many of them in the congregation that had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites slew the passover for them that were not clean, that they might be sanctified unto the LORD.

18 And there were many of the people of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and Issachar, and Zebulun, which were not clean, but did eat the passover, as it is written. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The LORD, which is good, will be gracious.

19 To all who send their hearts to seek God, the Lord, the God of their fathers, and not for the sake of holy purity.

20 And the LORD hearkened unto Hezekiah, and healed the people.

21 So the children of Israel that were found at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great joy. And the Levites and the priests praised the LORD all the days with strong singing of the LORD.

22 And Hezekiah spake heartily unto all the Levites, which had good understanding in the LORD. And they did eat the feast seven days, and offered peace offerings, and gave thanks unto the LORD God of their fathers.

23 And the whole congregation were counselled to keep seven days more: and they kept the seven days with joy.

24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave a tribute for the congregation, a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep. And the princes gave a tribute for the congregation, a thousand bullocks, and ten thousand sheep. So many priests sanctified themselves.

25 And all the congregation of Judah, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the congregation that were come out of Israel, and the strangers that were come out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.

26 And there was great joy in Jerusalem. For not since the days of Solomon the son of David king of Israel had such things been in Jerusalem.

27 And the priests and the Levites arose, and blessed the people; and their voice was heard, and their prayer came in before his holy habitation which is in heaven.