And Hezekiah{H3169} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} to all Israel{H3478} and Judah{H3063}, and wrote{H3789}{(H8804)} letters{H107} also to Ephraim{H669} and Manasseh{H4519}, that they should come{H935}{(H8800)} to the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068} at Jerusalem{H3389}, to keep{H6213}{(H8800)} the passover{H6453} unto the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}.

For the king{H4428} had taken counsel{H3289}{(H8735)}, and his princes{H8269}, and all the congregation{H6951} in Jerusalem{H3389}, to keep{H6213}{(H8800)} the passover{H6453} in the second{H8145} month{H2320}.

For they could{H3201}{(H8804)} not keep{H6213}{(H8800)} it at that time{H6256}, because the priests{H3548} had not sanctified{H6942}{(H8694)} themselves sufficiently{H4078}{(H8676)}{H1767}, neither had the people{H5971} gathered themselves together{H622}{(H8738)} to Jerusalem{H3389}.

And the thing{H1697} pleased{H3474}{(H8799)}{H5869} the king{H4428} and all the congregation{H6951}.

So they established{H5975}{(H8686)} a decree{H1697} to make proclamation{H5674}{(H8687)}{H6963} throughout all Israel{H3478}, from Beersheba{H884} even to Dan{H1835}, that they should come{H935}{(H8800)} to keep{H6213}{(H8800)} the passover{H6453} unto the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478} at Jerusalem{H3389}: for they had not done{H6213}{(H8804)} it of a long{H7230} time in such sort as it was written{H3789}{(H8803)}.

So the posts{H7323}{(H8801)} went{H3212}{(H8799)} with the letters{H107} from{H3027} the king{H4428} and his princes{H8269} throughout all Israel{H3478} and Judah{H3063}, and according to the commandment{H4687} of the king{H4428}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Ye children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, turn again{H7725}{(H8798)} unto the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Abraham{H85}, Isaac{H3327}, and Israel{H3478}, and he will return{H7725}{(H8799)} to the remnant{H7604}{(H8737)} of you, that are escaped{H6413} out of the hand{H3709} of the kings{H4428} of Assyria{H804}.

And be not ye like your fathers{H1}, and like your brethren{H251}, which trespassed{H4603}{(H8804)} against the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of their fathers{H1}, who therefore gave them up{H5414}{(H8799)} to desolation{H8047}, as ye see{H7200}{(H8802)}.

Now be ye not stiffnecked{H7185}{(H8686)}{H6203}, as your fathers{H1} were, but yield{H5414}{(H8798)} yourselves{H3027} unto the LORD{H3068}, and enter{H935}{(H8798)} into his sanctuary{H4720}, which he hath sanctified{H6942}{(H8689)} for ever{H5769}: and serve{H5647}{(H8798)} the LORD{H3068} your God{H430}, that the fierceness{H2740} of his wrath{H639} may turn away{H7725}{(H8799)} from you.

For if ye turn again{H7725}{(H8800)} unto the LORD{H3068}, your brethren{H251} and your children{H1121} shall find compassion{H7356} before{H6440} them that lead them captive{H7617}{(H8802)}, so that they shall come again{H7725}{(H8800)} into this land{H776}: for the LORD{H3068} your God{H430} is gracious{H2587} and merciful{H7349}, and will not turn away{H5493}{(H8686)} his face{H6440} from you, if ye return{H7725}{(H8799)} unto him.

So the posts{H7323}{(H8801)} passed{H5674}{(H8802)} from city{H5892} to city{H5892} through the country{H776} of Ephraim{H669} and Manasseh{H4519} even unto Zebulun{H2074}: but they laughed them to scorn{H7832}{(H8688)}, and mocked{H3932}{(H8688)} them.

Nevertheless divers{H582} of Asher{H836} and Manasseh{H4519} and of Zebulun{H2074} humbled{H3665}{(H8738)} themselves, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to Jerusalem{H3389}.

Also in Judah{H3063} the hand{H3027} of God{H430} was to give{H5414}{(H8800)} them one{H259} heart{H3820} to do{H6213}{(H8800)} the commandment{H4687} of the king{H4428} and of the princes{H8269}, by the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068}.

And there assembled{H622}{(H8735)} at Jerusalem{H3389} much{H7227} people{H5971} to keep{H6213}{(H8800)} the feast{H2282} of unleavened bread{H4682} in the second{H8145} month{H2320}, a very{H3966} great{H7230} congregation{H6951}.

And they arose{H6965}{(H8799)} and took away{H5493}{(H8686)} the altars{H4196} that were in Jerusalem{H3389}, and all the altars for incense{H6999} took they away{H5493}{(H8689)}, and cast{H7993}{(H8686)} them into the brook{H5158} Kidron{H6939}.

Then they killed{H7819}{(H8799)} the passover{H6453} on the fourteenth{H702}{H6240} day of the second{H8145} month{H2320}: and the priests{H3548} and the Levites{H3881} were ashamed{H3637}{(H8738)}, and sanctified{H6942}{(H8691)} themselves, and brought in{H935}{(H8686)} the burnt offerings{H5930} into the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}.

And they stood{H5975}{(H8799)} in their place{H5977} after their manner{H4941}, according to the law{H8451} of Moses{H4872} the man{H376} of God{H430}: the priests{H3548} sprinkled{H2236}{(H8802)} the blood{H1818}, which they received of the hand{H3027} of the Levites{H3881}.

For there were many{H7227} in the congregation{H6951} that were not sanctified{H6942}{(H8694)}: therefore the Levites{H3881} had the charge of the killing{H7821} of the passovers{H6453} for every one that was not clean{H2889}, to sanctify{H6942}{(H8687)} them unto the LORD{H3068}.

For a multitude{H4768} of the people{H5971}, even many{H7227} of Ephraim{H669}, and Manasseh{H4519}, Issachar{H3485}, and Zebulun{H2074}, had not{H3808} cleansed{H2891}{(H8694)} themselves, yet did they eat{H398}{(H8804)} the passover{H6453} otherwise than it was written{H3789}{(H8803)}. But Hezekiah{H3169} prayed{H6419}{(H8694)} for them, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, The good{H2896} LORD{H3068} pardon{H3722}{(H8762)} every one

That prepareth{H3559}{(H8689)} his heart{H3824} to seek{H1875}{(H8800)} God{H430}, the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of his fathers{H1}, though he be not cleansed according to the purification{H2893} of the sanctuary{H6944}.

And the LORD{H3068} hearkened{H8085}{(H8799)} to Hezekiah{H3169}, and healed{H7495}{(H8799)} the people{H5971}.

And the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} that were present{H4672}{(H8737)} at Jerusalem{H3389} kept{H6213}{(H8799)} the feast{H2282} of unleavened bread{H4682} seven{H7651} days{H3117} with great{H1419} gladness{H8057}: and the Levites{H3881} and the priests{H3548} praised{H1984}{(H8764)} the LORD{H3068} day{H3117} by day{H3117}, singing with loud{H5797} instruments{H3627} unto the LORD{H3068}.

And Hezekiah{H3169} spake{H1696}{(H8762)} comfortably{H3820} unto all the Levites{H3881} that taught{H7919}{(H8688)} the good{H2896} knowledge{H7922} of the LORD{H3068}: and they did eat{H398}{(H8799)} throughout the feast{H4150} seven{H7651} days{H3117}, offering{H2076}{(H8764)} peace{H8002} offerings{H2077}, and making confession{H3034}{(H8693)} to the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of their fathers{H1}.

And the whole assembly{H6951} took counsel{H3289}{(H8735)} to keep{H6213}{(H8800)} other{H312} seven{H7651} days{H3117}: and they kept{H6213}{(H8799)} other seven{H7651} days{H3117} with gladness{H8057}.

For Hezekiah{H2396} king{H4428} of Judah{H3063} did give{H7311}{(H8689)} to the congregation{H6951} a thousand{H505} bullocks{H6499} and seven{H7651} thousand{H505} sheep{H6629}; and the princes{H8269} gave{H7311}{(H8689)} to the congregation{H6951} a thousand{H505} bullocks{H6499} and ten{H6235} thousand{H505} sheep{H6629}: and a great number{H7230} of priests{H3548} sanctified{H6942}{(H8691)} themselves.

And all the congregation{H6951} of Judah{H3063}, with the priests{H3548} and the Levites{H3881}, and all the congregation{H6951} that came out{H935}{(H8802)} of Israel{H3478}, and the strangers{H1616} that came out{H935}{(H8802)} of the land{H776} of Israel{H3478}, and that dwelt{H3427}{(H8802)} in Judah{H3063}, rejoiced{H8055}{(H8799)}.

So there was great{H1419} joy{H8057} in Jerusalem{H3389}: for since the time{H3117} of Solomon{H8010} the son{H1121} of David{H1732} king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} there was not the like in Jerusalem{H3389}.

Then the priests{H3548} the Levites{H3881} arose{H6965}{(H8799)} and blessed{H1288}{(H8762)} the people{H5971}: and their voice{H6963} was heard{H8085}{(H8735)}, and their prayer{H8605} came{H935}{(H8799)} up to his holy{H6944} dwelling place{H4583}, even unto heaven{H8064}.