Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Hezekiah sent letters throughout all Israel and Judah, including Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to Jerusalem's temple to celebrate the Passover in honor of the Lord God of Israel. The king had taken counsel with his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem to keep the Passover in the second month.

They couldn't observe it at that time because the priests hadn't purified themselves sufficiently, and the people hadn't gathered in Jerusalem yet. The king and everyone else agreed that this was a good plan. So they issued a decree to proclaim throughout all Israel from Beersheba to Dan, saying that everyone should come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover before the Lord God of Israel.

The couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, according to the commandment of the king. They said, "You children of Israel, turn again to the Lord your God, who is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. He may return to the remnant of you who have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria."

Don't be like your fathers and brothers, who rebelled against the Lord their God. He gave them up to desolation, just as you see today. Don't be stiff-necked like your ancestors were, but instead yield yourselves to the Lord and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever.

For if you turn back to the Lord, your brothers and children will find compassion with those who led them captive. They will come back into this land because the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. He won't turn his face away from you if you return to him.

The messengers passed through the regions of Ephraim and Manasseh all the way to Zebulun, but they were ridiculed and mocked by the people. However, some men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

In Judah, God's hand was at work to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes according to the word of the Lord. Many people gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of unleavened bread in the second month; it was a very great congregation.

They arose and removed the altars in Jerusalem, taking away all incense altars and casting them into the brook Kidron. The priests and Levites were ashamed, sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings to the house of the Lord on the fourteenth day of the second month.

The Levites stood in their designated positions according to the law of Moses, and the priests sprinkled the blood they received from the Levites. Many people had not been purified; the Levites were responsible for slaughtering Passover lambs on behalf of those who were ritually unclean so that they could be purified for the Lord.

A multitude of the people, including many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves. Yet they ate the Passover in a way that did not follow the written instructions. Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good Lord pardon everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of their fathers, even if he isn't purified according to the purification of the sanctuary."

The Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people. The children of Israel who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the feast of unleavened bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests praised the Lord each day, singing to Him with loud instruments.

Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had a good understanding in the service of the Lord. They ate throughout the festival for seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the Lord God of their ancestors.

The whole assembly decided to keep an additional seven days, and they observed them with great joy. Hezekiah, king of Judah, gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep. The princes contributed a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep, while a great number of priests sanctified themselves.

The congregation of Judah, including the priests and Levites, and all who had come from Israel – even those living in Judah as foreigners – rejoiced greatly. There was joy in Jerusalem like never before since the time of Solomon son of David king of Israel.

Then the priests, who were Levites, arose and blessed the people. Their voices were heard, and their prayer ascended to His holy dwelling place in heaven.