1 Hezekiah sent word throughout Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. 2 The king, his officials, and the whole assembly in Jerusalem agreed to celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3 They had been unable to celebrate it at the appointed time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not gathered in Jerusalem. 4 The plan seemed right to the king and the whole assembly. 5 They decreed that a proclamation should go throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel, for they had not celebrated it in large numbers as prescribed. 6 The couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, proclaiming the king's command: “Israelites, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he may return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hands of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that he made them an object of horror, as you can see. 8 Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God so that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. The LORD your God is gracious and merciful; he will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.”

10 The couriers went from city to city through the lands of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the people laughed at them and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also at work in Judah, giving them one heart to carry out the command of the king and the officials according to the word of the LORD. 13 A large crowd gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month—a very great assembly. 14 They set about removing the altars in Jerusalem. They also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Brook. 15 They slaughtered the Passover sacrifices on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD. 16 They took their positions according to the regulations in the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests dashed the blood handed to them by the Levites. 17 For many in the assembly had not consecrated themselves, so the Levites were responsible for slaughtering the Passover sacrifices for everyone who was unclean, so that the offerings could be consecrated to the LORD. 18 For a large number of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon 19 everyone who has set his heart to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, even if he does not meet the sanctuary's requirements for purity.”

20 The LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Day after day the Levites and the priests praised the LORD with resounding instruments in his honor.

22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good understanding in the service of the LORD. They feasted for the seven days, offering peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

23 The whole assembly agreed to celebrate another seven days, so they celebrated joyfully for seven more days. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah provided the assembly with 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats, and the officials provided the assembly with 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. A great many priests consecrated themselves.

25 The whole assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and the Levites, the whole assembly that had come from Israel, and the foreigners who had come from the land of Israel and those living in Judah. 26 There was great joy in Jerusalem, for nothing like this had happened in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.

27 The Levitical priests stood and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer reached his holy dwelling place, heaven.