2 Chronicles 30

1 And Hezekiah (Chizkiyahu) sent to all Yisrael and Judah (Yehudah), and wrote letters also to Efrayim and Menashsheh, that they should come to the house of יהוה at Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), to keep the Passover (Pesach) unto יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael).

2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), to keep the Passover (Pesach) in the second month.

3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests (kohanim) had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

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

5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Yisrael, from Beer-Sheva even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover (Pesach) unto יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) at Jerusalem (Yerushalayim); 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 Yisrael and Judah (Yehudah), and according to the commandment of the king, saying, “You children of Yisrael, turn again unto יהוה God (Elohim) of Avraham, Isaac (Yitschaq), and Yisrael, and He will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria (Ashshur).

7 And be not you like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against יהוה God (Elohim) of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as you see.

8 Now be you not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto יהוה, and enter into His sanctuary, which He hath sanctified forever; and serve יהוה your God (Elohim), that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.

9 For if you turn again unto יהוה, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land; for יהוה your God (Elohim) is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away His face from you, if you return unto Him.”

10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Efrayim and Menashsheh even unto Zevulun; but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

11 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Menashsheh and of Zevulun humbled themselves, and came to Yerushalayim.

12 Also in Judah (Yehudah) the hand of God (Elohim) was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of יהוה.

13 And there assembled at Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) much people to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) in the second month, a very great congregation.

14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the Brook Kidron.

15 Then they killed the Passover (Pesach) on the fourteenth day of the second month; and the priests (kohanim) and the Levites (Lewiyim) were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of יהוה.

16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the Torah by Moses the man of God (Elohim); the priests (kohanim) sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites (Lewiyim).

17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified; therefore the Levites (Lewiyim) had the charge of the killing of the Passover lambs (Pesachim) for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto יהוה.

18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Efrayim, and Menashsheh, Yissaskhar, and Zevulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover lamb (Pesach) otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah (Chizkiyahu) prayed for them, saying, “May יהוה Who is good, pardon every one,

19 who prepareth his heart to seek God (Elohim), יהוה God (Elohim) of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.”

20 And יהוה hearkened to Hezekiah (Chizkiyahu), and healed the people.

21 And the children of Yisrael that were present at Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) seven days with great gladness; and the Levites (Lewiyim) and the priests (kohanim) praised יהוה day by day, singing with loud instruments unto יהוה.

22 And Hezekiah (Chizkiyahu) spake comfortably unto all the Levites (Lewiyim) that taught the good knowledge of יהוה; and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to יהוה God (Elohim) 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 (Chizkiyahu) king of Judah (Yehudah) 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 (kohanim) sanctified themselves.

25 And all the congregation of Judah (Yehudah), with the priests (kohanim) and the Levites (Lewiyim), and all the congregation that came out of Yisrael, and the strangers that came out of the land of Yisrael, and that dwelt in Judah (Yehudah), rejoiced.

26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), for since the time of Solomon (Shelomoh) the son of Dawid king of Yisrael there was not the like in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

27 Then the priests (kohanim) the Levites (Lewiyim) arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.