“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.” (2 Chronicles 30:1-27 AV)
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