Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover
1And Hezekiahsentto all Israeland Judah,and wrotelettersalso to Ephraimand Manasseh,that they should cometo the houseof the LORDat Jerusalem,to keepthe passoverunto the LORDGodof Israel.2For the kinghad taken counsel,and his princes,and all the congregationin Jerusalem,to keepthe passoverin the secondmonth.3For they couldnot keepit at that time,because the priestshad not sanctifiedthemselves sufficiently,neither had the peoplegathered themselves togetherto Jerusalem.4And the thingpleasedthe kingand all the congregation.5So they establisheda decreeto make proclamationthroughout all Israel,from Beershebaeven to Dan,that they should cometo keepthe passoverunto the LORDGodof Israelat Jerusalem:for they had not done[it] of a long[time in such sort] as it was written.6So the postswentwith the lettersfromthe kingand his princesthroughout all Israeland Judah,and according to the commandmentof the king,saying,Ye childrenof Israel,turn againunto the LORDGodof Abraham,Isaac,and Israel,and he will returnto the remnantof you, that are escapedout of the handof the kingsof Assyria.7And be not ye like your fathers,and like your brethren,which trespassedagainst the LORDGodof their fathers,[who] therefore gave them upto desolation,as ye see.8Now be ye not stiffnecked,as your fathers[were, but] yieldyourselvesunto the LORD,and enterinto his sanctuary,which he hath sanctifiedfor ever:and servethe LORDyour God,that the fiercenessof his wrathmay turn awayfrom you.9For if ye turn againunto the LORD,your brethrenand your children[shall find] compassionbeforethem that lead them captive,so that they shall come againinto this land:for the LORDyour God[is] graciousand merciful,and will not turn away[his] facefrom you, if ye returnunto him.
10So the postspassedfrom cityto citythrough the countryof Ephraimand Manasseheven unto Zebulun:but they laughed them to scorn,and mockedthem.11Nevertheless diversof Asherand Manassehand of Zebulunhumbledthemselves, and cameto Jerusalem.12Also in Judahthe handof Godwas to givethem oneheartto dothe commandmentof the kingand of the princes,by the wordof the LORD.
Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover
13And there assembledat Jerusalemmuchpeopleto keepthe feastof unleavened breadin the secondmonth,a verygreatcongregation.14And they aroseand took awaythe altarsthat [were] in Jerusalem,and all the altars for incensetook they away,and cast[them] into the brookKidron.15Then they killedthe passoveron the fourteenth[day] of the secondmonth:and the priestsand the Leviteswere ashamed,and sanctifiedthemselves, and brought inthe burnt offeringsinto the houseof the LORD.16And they stoodin their placeafter their manner,according to the lawof Mosesthe manof God:the priestssprinkledthe blood,[which they received] of the handof the Levites.17For [there were] manyin the congregationthat were not sanctified:therefore the Leviteshad the charge of the killingof the passoversfor every one [that was] not clean,to sanctify[them] unto the LORD.18For a multitudeof the people,[even] manyof Ephraim,and Manasseh,Issachar,and Zebulun,had notcleansedthemselves, yet did they eatthe passoverotherwise than it was written.But Hezekiahprayedfor them, saying,The goodLORDpardonevery one19[That] preparethhis heartto seekGod,the LORDGodof his fathers,though [he be] not [cleansed] according to the purificationof the sanctuary.20And the LORDhearkenedto Hezekiah,and healedthe people.21And the childrenof Israelthat were presentat Jerusalemkeptthe feastof unleavened breadsevendayswith greatgladness:and the Levitesand the priestspraisedthe LORDdayby day,[singing] with loudinstrumentsunto the LORD.22And Hezekiahspakecomfortablyunto all the Levitesthat taughtthe goodknowledgeof the LORD:and they did eatthroughout the feastsevendays,offeringpeaceofferings,and making confessionto the LORDGodof their fathers.
23And the whole assemblytook counselto keepothersevendays:and they kept[other] sevendayswith gladness.24For Hezekiahkingof Judahdid giveto the congregationa thousandbullocksand seventhousandsheep;and the princesgaveto the congregationa thousandbullocksand tenthousandsheep:and a great numberof priestssanctifiedthemselves.25And all the congregationof Judah,with the priestsand the Levites,and all the congregationthat came outof Israel,and the strangersthat came outof the landof Israel,and that dweltin Judah,rejoiced.26So there was greatjoyin Jerusalem:for since the timeof Solomonthe sonof Davidkingof Israel[there was] not the like in Jerusalem.27Then the prieststhe Levitesaroseand blessedthe people:and their voicewas heard,and their prayercame[up] to his holydwelling place,[even] unto heaven.
