6So the couriers30:6 Est 8:14; Jb 9:25; Jr 51:31 went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the hand of the king and his officials, and according to the king’s command, saying, “Israelites, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel so that he may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.30:6 2Ch 28:20

7Don’t be like your ancestors and your brothers who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors30:7 Ezk 20:13 so that he made them an object of horror30:7 2Ch 29:8 as you yourselves see.

8Don’t become obstinate30:8 Lit Don’t stiffen your neck30:8 Ex 32:9 now like your ancestors did. Give your allegiance30:8 Lit hand to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary that he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God so that he may turn his burning anger away from you,30:8 2Ch 29:10

9for when you return to the Lord, your brothers and your sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land.30:9 Dt 30:2–3 For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful;30:9 Ex 34:6–7; Mc 7:18 he will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.”

10The couriers traveled from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the inhabitants30:10 Lit but they laughed at them and mocked them.30:10 2Ch 36:16

11But some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.30:11 2Ch 30:18,21,25

12Also, the power of God was at work in Judah to unite them30:12 Lit to give them one heart to carry out the command of the king and his officials by the word of the Lord.

13A very large assembly of people was gathered in Jerusalem to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month.

14They proceeded to take away the altars that were in Jerusalem,30:14 2Ch 28:24 and they took away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.30:14 2Ch 29:16

15They slaughtered the Passover lamb30:15 2Ch 30:2–3 on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Lord’s temple.

16They stood at their prescribed posts,30:16 2Ch 35:10,15 according to the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests splattered the blood received from the Levites,

17for there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, and so the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the Lord.30:17 2Ch 29:34

18A large number of the people — many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun — were ritually unclean, yet they had eaten the Passover30:18 Nm 9:10 contrary to what was written.30:18 Ex 12:43–49 But Hezekiah had interceded for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement on behalf of

19whoever sets his whole heart on seeking God,30:19 2Ch 19:3 the Lord, the God of his ancestors, even though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

20So the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.30:20 Ps 41:4; Hs 14:4

21The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread seven days with great joy,30:21 Ex 12:15; 13:6 and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day after day with loud instruments.

22Then Hezekiah encouraged30:22 Lit spoke to the heart of30:22 2Ch 32:6 all the Levites who performed skillfully before the Lord. They ate at the appointed festival for seven days, sacrificing fellowship offerings and giving thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.30:22 Ezr 10:11

23The whole congregation decided to observe30:23 1Kg 8:65 seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy,

24for King Hezekiah of Judah contributed one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the congregation. Also, the officials contributed one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the congregation,30:24 2Ch 35:7–8 and many priests consecrated themselves.30:24 2Ch 29:34; 30:3

25Then the whole assembly of Judah with the priests and Levites, the whole assembly that came from Israel, the resident aliens who came from the land of Israel, and those who were living in Judah, rejoiced.

26There was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this was known since the days of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.30:26 2Ch 7:8–10

27Then the priests and the Levites30:27 2Ch 23:18 stood to bless the people,30:27 Nm 6:23–27 and God heard them, and their prayer came into his holy dwelling place30:27 Dt 26:15; Ps 68:5 in heaven.