1
And Hezekiahsent to all Israel and Judah, and wroteletters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORDGod of Israel.
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For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently*, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
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So they established a decree to make proclamation* throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORDGod of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.
6
So the postswent with the lettersfrom the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king,saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORDGod of Abraham,Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
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And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORDGod of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
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Now be ye not stiffnecked*, as your fathers were, but yieldyourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
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For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassionbefore them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
10
So the postspassed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
15
Then they killed the passover on the fourteenthday of the secondmonth: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.
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And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priestssprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.
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For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.
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For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh,Issachar, and Zebulun, had notcleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiahprayed for them, saying, The goodLORDpardon every one
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And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalemkept the feast of unleavened breadsevendays with greatgladness: and the Levites and the priestspraised the LORDday by day, singing with loudinstruments unto the LORD.
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And Hezekiahspakecomfortably unto all the Levites that taught the goodknowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feastsevendays,offeringpeaceofferings, and making confession to the LORDGod of their fathers.
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For Hezekiahking of Judah did give to the congregation a thousandbullocks and seventhousandsheep; and the princesgave to the congregation a thousandbullocks and tenthousandsheep: and a great number of priestssanctified themselves.
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And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah,rejoiced.
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Then the priests the Levitesarose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayercame up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.