And HezekiahsenttoallIsraeland Judah, and wrotelettersalsotoEphraimand Manasseh, that they should cometo the houseof the LORDat Jerusalem, to keepthe passoverunto the LORDGodof Israel. For the kinghad taken counsel, and his princes, and allthe congregationin Jerusalem, to keepthe passoverin the secondmonth. Forthey couldnotkeepit at thattime, becausethe priestshad notsanctified themselvessufficiently, neitherhad the peoplegathered themselves togetherto Jerusalem. And the thingpleasedthe kingand allthe congregation. So they establisheda decreeto make proclamationthroughout allIsrael, from Beer-sheba even toDan, that they should cometo keepthe passoverunto the LORDGodof Israelat Jerusalem: forthey had notdone it of a long time in such sort as it was written. So the postswentwith the lettersfromthe kingand his princesthroughout allIsraeland Judah, and according to the commandmentof the king, saying, Ye childrenof Israel, turn againuntothe LORDGodof Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will returntothe remnantof you, that are escapedout of the handof the kingsof Assyria. And benotye like your fathers, and like your brethren, whichtrespassedagainst the LORDGodof their fathers, who therefore gave them upto desolation, asyesee. Nowbe ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yieldyourselves unto the LORD, and enterinto his sanctuary, whichhe hath sanctifiedforever: and servethe LORDyour God, that the fiercenessof his wrathmay turn awayfromyou. Forif ye turn againuntothe LORD, your brethrenand your children shall find compassionbeforethem that lead them captive, so that they shall come againinto thisland: forthe LORDyour God is graciousand merciful, and will notturn away his facefromyou, ifye returnuntohim. So the postspassedfrom cityto citythrough the countryof Ephraimand Manasseheven untoZebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mockedthem. Neverthelessdiversof Asherand Manassehand of Zebulunhumbled themselves, and cameto Jerusalem. Alsoin Judahthe handof Godwasto givethem oneheartto dothe commandmentof the kingand of the princes, by the wordof the LORD. And there assembledat Jerusalemmuchpeopleto keepthe feastof unleavened breadin the secondmonth, a verygreatcongregation. And they aroseand took awaythe altarsthat were in Jerusalem, and allthe altars for incensetook they away, and cast them into the brookKidron. Then they killedthe passoveron the fourteenth day of the secondmonth: and the priestsand the Leviteswere ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought inthe burnt offeringsinto the houseof the LORD. And they stoodintheir placeafter their manner, according to the lawof Mosesthe manof God: the priestssprinkledthe blood, which they received of the handof the Levites. For there were manyin the congregationthatwere notsanctified: therefore the Leviteshad the charge ofthe killingof the passoversfor every one that was notclean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. Fora multitudeof the people, even manyof Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had notcleansed themselves, yetdid they eatthe passoverotherwisethan it was written. ButHezekiahprayedforthem, saying, The goodLORDpardonevery one That preparethhis heartto seekGod, the LORDGodof his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purificationof the sanctuary. And the LORDhearkenedtoHezekiah, and healedthe people. And the childrenof Israelthat were presentat Jerusalemkeptthe feastof unleavened breadsevendayswith greatgladness: and the Levitesand the priestspraisedthe LORDdayby day, singing with loudinstrumentsunto the LORD. And Hezekiahspokecomfortablyunto allthe Levitesthat taughtthe goodknowledgeof the LORD: and they did eatthroughoutthe feastsevendays, offeringpeaceofferings, and making confessionto the LORDGodof their fathers. And the wholeassemblytook counselto keepothersevendays: and they kept other sevendayswith gladness. ForHezekiahkingof Judahdid giveto the congregationa thousandbullocksand seventhousandsheep; and the princesgaveto the congregationa thousandbullocksand tenthousandsheep: and a great numberof priestssanctified themselves. And allthe congregationof Judah, with the priestsand the Levites, and allthe congregationthat cameout of Israel, and the strangersthat cameout of the landof Israel, and that dweltin Judah, rejoiced. So there wasgreatjoyin Jerusalem: forsince the timeof Solomonthe sonof Davidkingof Israel there was notthe likein Jerusalem. Then the prieststhe Levitesaroseand blessedthe people: and their voicewas heard, and their prayercame up to his holydwelling place, even unto heaven.