(KJV) 2 Chronicles 30¹

⥃Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover

[1] And Hezekiah sent to all Israel² and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim³ and Manasseh, that they should come to the house⁴ of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep⁵ the passover unto the Lord God of Israel. [2] For the king⁶ had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month⁷. [3] For they could not keep it at that time⁸, because⁹ the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. [4] And the thing pleased the king¹⁰ and all the congregation. [5] So they established¹¹ a decree to make proclamation¹² throughout all Israel, from Beer–sheba¹³ even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they¹⁴ had not done [it] of a long [time in such sort] as it was written. [6] So the posts went¹⁵ with the letters from the king¹⁶ and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again¹⁷ unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will¹⁸ return to the remnant of you, that are escaped¹⁹ out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. [7] And be not ye like²⁰ your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespas²¹sed against the Lord God of their fathers, [who] therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. [8] Now be ye not stiffnecked²², as your fathers [were], [but] yield yourselves²³ unto the Lord, and enter into²⁴ his sanctuary, which he hath²⁵ sanctified for ever: and serve²⁶ the Lord your God, that the fierceness²⁷ of his wrath may turn away from you. [9] For if ye turn²⁸ again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children [shall find] compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall²⁹ come again into this land: for the Lord³⁰ your God [is] gracious and merciful, and will not³¹ turn away³² [his] face from you, if ye return unto him. [10] So the posts³³ passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed³⁴ them to scorn, and mocked them. [11] Nevertheless divers of Asher³⁵ and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves³⁶, and came to Jerusalem. [12] Also in Judah the hand of God³⁷ was to give them one heart to do the commandment³⁸ of the king and of the princes, by the word³⁹ of the Lord.

⥃Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover

[13] And there assembled⁴⁰ at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month⁴¹, a very great congregation. [14] And they arose and took away the altars⁴² that [were] in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast [them] into the brook⁴³ Kidron. [15] Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed⁴⁴, and sanctified⁴⁵ themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. [16] And they stood⁴⁶ in their place⁴⁷ after their manner⁴⁸, according to the law of Moses⁴⁹ the man of God: the priests⁵⁰ sprinkled the blood, [which they received] of the hand of the Levites. [17] For [there were] many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites⁵¹ had the charge of the killing⁵² of the passovers for every one [that was] not clean, to sanctify [them] unto the Lord. [18] For a multitude of the people, [even] many of Ephraim⁵³, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed⁵⁴ themselves, yet did they eat the passover⁵⁵ otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed⁵⁶ for them, saying, The good⁵⁷ Lord pardon every one [19] [That] prepareth⁵⁸ his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though [he be] not⁵⁹ [cleansed] according to the purification of the sanctuary. [20] And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed⁶⁰ the people. [21] And the children of Israel that were present⁶¹ at Jerusalem kept the feast⁶² of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness⁶³: and the Levites and the priests⁶⁴ praised the Lord day by day, [singing] with loud instruments⁶⁵ unto the Lord. [22] And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all⁶⁶ the Levites that taught⁶⁷ the good⁶⁸ knowledge of the Lord: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making⁶⁹ confession to the Lord God of their fathers. [23] And the whole assembly took counsel⁷⁰ to keep⁷¹ other seven days: and they kept [other] seven days with gladness. [24] For Hezekiah king of Judah did give⁷² 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 great⁷³ number of priests sanctified themselves. [25] And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers⁷⁴ that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced⁷⁵. [26] So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time⁷⁶ of Solomon the son of David king of Israel [there was] not the like in Jerusalem.

[27] [¶]Then the priests⁷⁷ the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer⁷⁸ came [up] to his holy dwelling place⁷⁹, [even] unto heaven.