1 King|strong="H5921" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" sent|strong="H7971" messages to|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478" and|strong="H0935" Judah|strong="H3063". He|strong="H0430" wrote|strong="H3789" letters|strong="H0107" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" people of|strong="H1004" Ephraim|strong="H0669" and|strong="H0935" Manasseh|strong="H4519" also|strong="H1571". He|strong="H0430" invited all|strong="H3605" these|strong="H3605" people to|strong="H0935" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004" in|strong="H5921" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" so|strong="H6213" that|strong="H3605" they|strong="H5921" all|strong="H3605" could|strong="H1571" celebrate the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478".
2 King|strong="H4428" Hezekiah agreed with|strong="H3389" all|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" officials|strong="H8269" and|strong="H4428" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" assembly|strong="H6951" in|strong="H4428" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" to|strong="H3389" have|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" in|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" second|strong="H8145" month|strong="H2320".
3 They|strong="H3588" could|strong="H3201" not|strong="H3808" celebrate the|strong="H3588" Passover Festival at|strong="H0622" the|strong="H3588" regular time|strong="H6256", because|strong="H3588" not|strong="H3808" enough|strong="H6213" priests|strong="H3548" had|strong="H3588" made|strong="H6213" themselves|strong="H6942" ready for|strong="H3588" holy|strong="H6942" service and|strong="H3548" the|strong="H3588" people|strong="H5971" had|strong="H3588" not|strong="H3808" gathered|strong="H0622" in|strong="H0622" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
4 The|strong="H3605" agreement|strong="H1697" satisfied King|strong="H4428" Hezekiah and|strong="H4428" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" assembly|strong="H6951".
5 So|strong="H6213" they|strong="H3588" sent the|strong="H3605" announcement|strong="H3068" throughout|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478", from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" town of|strong="H0430" Beersheba|strong="H0884" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" way|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" town of|strong="H0430" Dan|strong="H1835". They|strong="H3588" told|strong="H1697" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3808" to|strong="H0935" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" to|strong="H0935" celebrate the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" for|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0430" Israel|strong="H3478". Not|strong="H3808" many|strong="H7230" people|strong="H3808" had|strong="H3068" been|strong="H3808" celebrating it|strong="H3588" as|strong="H5704" it|strong="H3588" was|strong="H3068" described|strong="H3789" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" law.
6 So|strong="H7725" the|strong="H3605" messengers|strong="H7323" took|strong="H7725" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" letters|strong="H0107" all|strong="H3605" through|strong="H3027" Israel|strong="H3478" and|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063". This|strong="H3068" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H6413" the|strong="H3605" letters|strong="H0107" said|strong="H0559":
7 Don’t|strong="H0408" be|strong="H1961" like|strong="H1961" your|strong="H3068" fathers|strong="H0001" or|strong="H0408" your|strong="H3068" brothers|strong="H0251". The|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" was|strong="H1961" their|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430", but|strong="H1961" they|strong="H0834" turned|strong="H5414" against him|strong="H5414". So|strong="H1961" he|strong="H0834" made|strong="H5414" people|strong="H0834" hate them|strong="H5414" and|strong="H3068" speak evil about|strong="H1961" them|strong="H5414". You|strong="H0859" can|strong="H0834" see|strong="H7200" with|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" own|strong="H1961" eyes that|strong="H0834" this|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" true|strong="H3068".
8 Don’t|strong="H0408" be|strong="H0408" stubborn|strong="H7185" as|strong="H0834" your|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001" were|strong="H0834". But|strong="H0935" obey the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" with|strong="H3068" a|strong="H5414" willing heart. Come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" Temple|strong="H4720" that|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" has|strong="H3068" made|strong="H5414" to|strong="H0935" be|strong="H0408" holy|strong="H6942" forever|strong="H5769". Serve|strong="H5647" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430". Then|strong="H6258" his|strong="H5414" fearful anger|strong="H0639" will|strong="H3068" turn|strong="H7725" away|strong="H7725" from|strong="H4480" you|strong="H0834".
9 If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H3588" come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" and|strong="H1121" obey the|strong="H6440" LORD|strong="H3068", your|strong="H3068" relatives|strong="H0251" and|strong="H1121" your|strong="H3068" children|strong="H1121" will|strong="H3068" find mercy|strong="H7356" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H6440" people|strong="H1121" who|strong="H3068" captured|strong="H7617" them|strong="H0413". And|strong="H1121" your|strong="H3068" relatives|strong="H0251" and|strong="H1121" your|strong="H3068" children|strong="H1121" will|strong="H3068" come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" this|strong="H2063" land|strong="H0776". The|strong="H6440" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" is|strong="H3068" kind and|strong="H1121" merciful|strong="H7349". He|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" turn|strong="H7725" away|strong="H5493" from|strong="H4480" you|strong="H3588" if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H3588" come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413".”
10 The|strong="H5921" messengers|strong="H7323" went|strong="H1961" to|strong="H5704" every town|strong="H5892" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" area|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Ephraim|strong="H0669" and|strong="H0776" Manasseh|strong="H4519". They|strong="H5921" went|strong="H1961" all|strong="H5704" the|strong="H5921" way|strong="H5921" to|strong="H5704" the|strong="H5921" area|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Zebulun|strong="H2074", but|strong="H1961" the|strong="H5921" people|strong="H0776" laughed|strong="H7832" at|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" messengers|strong="H7323" and|strong="H0776" made|strong="H1961" fun of|strong="H0776" them|strong="H5921".
11 But|strong="H0389", some|strong="H0376" men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" areas of|strong="H0376" Asher|strong="H0836", Manasseh|strong="H4519", and|strong="H0935" Zebulun|strong="H2074" humbled|strong="H3665" themselves|strong="H3665" and|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
12 Also|strong="H1571", in|strong="H0430" Judah|strong="H3063" God’s|strong="H0430" power|strong="H3027" united|strong="H0259" the|strong="H5414" people|strong="H3820" so|strong="H6213" that|strong="H1697" they|strong="H3068" would|strong="H3068" obey|strong="H6213" the|strong="H5414" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H3068" his|strong="H5414" officials|strong="H8269" concerning|strong="H1697" the|strong="H5414" word|strong="H1697" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H5414" LORD|strong="H3068".
13 Many|strong="H7227" people|strong="H5971" came together|strong="H0622" in|strong="H0622" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" to|strong="H3389" celebrate|strong="H2282" the|strong="H0853" Festival|strong="H2282" of|strong="H6951" Unleavened|strong="H4682" Bread|strong="H4682" in|strong="H0622" the|strong="H0853" second|strong="H8145" month|strong="H2320". It|strong="H6213" was|strong="H3389" a|strong="H3389" very|strong="H3966" large|strong="H7230" crowd|strong="H6951".
14 The|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0834" took|strong="H5493" away|strong="H5493" the|strong="H3605" altars|strong="H4196" in|strong="H4196" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" that|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" for|strong="H3605" false gods and|strong="H6965" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" incense|strong="H6999" altars|strong="H4196" that|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" for|strong="H3605" false gods. They|strong="H0834" threw|strong="H7993" them|strong="H0853" into|strong="H7993" the|strong="H3605" Kidron|strong="H6939" Valley|strong="H5158".
15 Then|strong="H0935" they|strong="H3068" killed|strong="H7819" the|strong="H0935" Passover|strong="H6453" lamb on|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" 14th day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0935" second|strong="H8145" month|strong="H2320". The|strong="H0935" priests|strong="H3548" and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" Levites|strong="H3881" felt ashamed|strong="H3637". They|strong="H3068" made|strong="H6942" themselves|strong="H6942" ready for|strong="H1004" holy|strong="H6942" service|strong="H1004". The|strong="H0935" priests|strong="H3548" and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" Levites|strong="H3881" brought|strong="H0935" burnt|strong="H5930" offerings|strong="H6453" into|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004".
16 They|strong="H5921" took|strong="H0853" their|strong="H5921" regular places in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" Temple as|strong="H0376" described in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" Law|strong="H8451" of|strong="H0376" Moses|strong="H4872", the|strong="H0853" man|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" God|strong="H0430". The|strong="H0853" Levites|strong="H3881" gave the|strong="H0853" blood|strong="H1818" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" priests|strong="H3548". Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" priests|strong="H3548" sprinkled|strong="H2236" the|strong="H0853" blood|strong="H1818" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" altar.
17 There|strong="H3068" were|strong="H0834" many|strong="H7227" people|strong="H0834" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" group who|strong="H0834" had|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" made|strong="H6942" themselves|strong="H6942" ready for|strong="H3588" holy|strong="H6942" service, so|strong="H3808" they|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" permitted to|strong="H5921" kill the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" lambs. That|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" why|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881" were|strong="H0834" responsible for|strong="H3588" killing the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" lambs for|strong="H3588" everyone|strong="H3605" who|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" clean|strong="H2889". The|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881" made|strong="H6942" each|strong="H3605" lamb holy|strong="H6942" for|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068".
20 The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" listened|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" King Hezekiah’s|strong="H2396" prayer and|strong="H3068" forgave the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971".
21 The|strong="H0853" people|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478" in|strong="H3068" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" celebrated|strong="H6213" the|strong="H0853" Festival|strong="H2282" of|strong="H1121" Unleavened|strong="H4682" Bread|strong="H4682" with|strong="H3068" great|strong="H1419" joy|strong="H8057" for|strong="H3117" seven|strong="H7651" days|strong="H3117". And|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" Levites|strong="H3881" and|strong="H1121" priests|strong="H3548" praised|strong="H1984" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" every|strong="H3117" day|strong="H3117" with|strong="H3068" all|strong="H3117" their|strong="H3068" strength|strong="H5797".
22 King|strong="H5921" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" encouraged all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881" who|strong="H3605" understood|strong="H7919" very well|strong="H2896" how to|strong="H1696" do|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" service of|strong="H0430" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068". The|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3820" celebrated the|strong="H3605" festival|strong="H4150" for|strong="H5921" seven|strong="H7651" days|strong="H3117" and|strong="H3068" offered|strong="H2076" fellowship offerings|strong="H8002". They|strong="H3117" gave|strong="H3034" thanks|strong="H3034" and|strong="H3068" praise|strong="H3034" to|strong="H1696" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0430" their|strong="H3605" ancestors|strong="H0001".
23 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people agreed to|strong="H3117" stay seven|strong="H7651" more|strong="H0312" days|strong="H3117". They|strong="H3117" were|strong="H3117" joyful as|strong="H3117" they|strong="H3117" celebrated|strong="H6213" the|strong="H3605" Passover for|strong="H3605" seven|strong="H7651" more|strong="H0312" days|strong="H3117".
24 King|strong="H4428" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" gave 1000 bulls|strong="H6499" and|strong="H3063" 7000 sheep|strong="H6629" to|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3588" assembly|strong="H6951" to|strong="H4428" kill and|strong="H3063" eat. The|strong="H3588" leaders|strong="H8269" gave 1000 bulls|strong="H6499" and|strong="H3063" 10,000 sheep|strong="H6629" to|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3588" assembly|strong="H6951". Many|strong="H7230" priests|strong="H3548" prepared themselves|strong="H6942" for|strong="H3588" holy|strong="H6942" service.
25 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" assembly|strong="H6951" of|strong="H0776" Judah|strong="H3063", the|strong="H3605" priests|strong="H3548", the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881", all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" assembly|strong="H6951" who|strong="H3605" came|strong="H0935" from|strong="H0935" Israel|strong="H3478", and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" travelers who|strong="H3605" came|strong="H0935" from|strong="H0935" Israel|strong="H3478" and|strong="H0935" moved|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Judah|strong="H3063"—all|strong="H3605" these|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3427" were|strong="H3478" very|strong="H8055" happy|strong="H8055".
26 So|strong="H1961" there|strong="H1961" was|strong="H1961" much|strong="H1419" joy|strong="H8057" in|strong="H3478" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". There|strong="H1961" had|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" been|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" celebration|strong="H8057" like|strong="H1961" this|strong="H2063" since|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3588" time|strong="H3117" of|strong="H1121" Solomon|strong="H8010" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H1732" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478".
27 The|strong="H0853" priests|strong="H3548" and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" Levites|strong="H3881" stood|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" and|strong="H0935" asked God|strong="H8064" to|strong="H0935" bless|strong="H1288" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971", and|strong="H0935" he|strong="H0853" heard|strong="H8085" them|strong="H0853". Their|strong="H8085" prayer|strong="H8605" came|strong="H0935" up|strong="H6965" to|strong="H0935" heaven|strong="H8064", the|strong="H0853" holy|strong="H6944" place|strong="H6944" where he|strong="H0853" lives|strong="H0935".