Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover
The gathered assembly removes false worship from Jerusalem and keeps the delayed Passover. Because many are not properly purified, the Levites assist, and Hezekiah prays that the LORD will provide atonement for those who seek Him; the LORD hears and heals the people.
I13n the second month, a very great assembly gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 14They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem and to take away the incense altars and throw them into the Kidron Valley. 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. 16They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splattered the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites. 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. 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 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.” 20And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
The people keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, daily praise, and thanksgiving. Hezekiah strengthens the Levites as they serve skillfully before the LORD.
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. 22And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they ate their assigned portion, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
The whole assembly chooses to continue for seven more days, supported by the generosity of Hezekiah and the officials. Judah, visitors from Israel, and foreigners rejoice together, and the priests and Levites bless the people as God hears from heaven.
23The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy. 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. 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. 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. 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.