II Chronicles 30

1Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.

3since they had been unable to observe it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 29:34, 2 Chronicles 29:34, Exodus 12:18, Exodus 12:6, Exodus 12:18

4This proposal pleased the king and the whole assembly.

1 Chronicles 13:4, 1 Chronicles 13:4

5So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it as a nation as prescribed.

Judges 20:1, Judges 20:1, 2 Chronicles 35:18, Ezra 6:8, Ezra 6:12

6So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, 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.

2 Kings 15:19, Esther 8:14, Jeremiah 4:1, Jeremiah 51:31, 2 Kings 15:29

7Do not be like your fathers and 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.

2 Chronicles 29:8, 2 Chronicles 29:8, Ezekiel 20:13, Ezekiel 20:18, Zechariah 1:3

8Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.

Exodus 32:9, 2 Chronicles 29:10, Exodus 32:9, 2 Chronicles 29:10, Deuteronomy 10:16

9For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

Isaiah 55:7, Isaiah 55:7, Micah 7:18, Micah 7:18, Psalms 106:46

10And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun; but the people scorned and mocked them.

2 Chronicles 36:16, 2 Chronicles 36:16, 2 Chronicles 30:6, 2 Chronicles 30:6, Job 12:4

11Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 30:21, 2 Chronicles 30:18, 2 Chronicles 30:21, 2 Chronicles 30:18, 2 Chronicles 30:25

12Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.

Jeremiah 32:39, Jeremiah 32:39, Philippians 2:13, Jeremiah 24:7, Philippians 2:13

13In the second month, a very great assembly gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

2 Chronicles 30:2, Psalms 84:7, 2 Chronicles 30:2, Psalms 84:7

14They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem and to take away the incense altars and throw them into the Kidron Valley.

2 Chronicles 28:24, 2 Chronicles 28:24, 2 Chronicles 29:16, 2 Chronicles 15:16, 2 Samuel 15:23

15And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 29:34, 2 Chronicles 29:34, Ezekiel 16:61, Ezekiel 16:63, Ezekiel 43:10

16They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites.

2 Chronicles 35:15, Deuteronomy 33:1, 2 Chronicles 35:15, Deuteronomy 33:1, Leviticus 1:5

17Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD.

2 Chronicles 29:34, 2 Chronicles 29:34, 2 Chronicles 35:3, 2 Chronicles 35:6, 2 Chronicles 35:3

18A 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 interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone

James 5:15, James 5:16, 1 Corinthians 11:28, James 5:15, James 5:16

19who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

2 Chronicles 19:3, 2 Chronicles 19:3, Proverbs 23:26, Proverbs 23:26, Psalms 10:17

20And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

Exodus 15:26, Exodus 15:26, Psalms 103:3, James 5:15, James 5:16

21The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments of praise to the LORD.

Exodus 12:15, Exodus 13:6, Exodus 12:15, Exodus 13:6, Nehemiah 8:10

22And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they ate their assigned portion, sacrificing fellowship offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 32:6, Nehemiah 9:3, 2 Chronicles 32:6, Nehemiah 9:3, Ezra 10:11

23The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy.

1 Kings 8:65, 1 Kings 8:65, 2 Chronicles 7:9, 2 Chronicles 7:9

24For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.

2 Chronicles 29:34, 2 Chronicles 29:34, 2 Chronicles 35:7, 2 Chronicles 35:8, 2 Chronicles 35:7

25Then the whole assembly of Judah rejoiced along with the priests and Levites and the whole assembly that had come from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and those who lived in Judah.

2 Chronicles 30:11, 2 Chronicles 30:11, 2 Chronicles 30:18, 2 Chronicles 30:18, Psalms 104:34

26So there was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this had happened there since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel.

2 Chronicles 7:8, 2 Chronicles 7:10, 2 Chronicles 7:8, 2 Chronicles 7:10

27Then the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard their voice, and their prayer came into His holy dwelling place in heaven.

Deuteronomy 26:15, Psalms 68:5, Deuteronomy 26:15, Psalms 68:5, 2 Chronicles 23:18

II Chronicles Chapter 30