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But the Priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Leuites did helpe them, till the worke was ended, and vntill the other Priestes had sanctified themselues: for the Leuites were more vpright in heart, to sanctifie themselues, then the Priests.

And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, & the drinke offrings, for euery burnt offering. So the seruice of the house of the Lord was set in order.

So they established a decree, to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba euen to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passeouer vnto the Lord God of Israel at Ierusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort, as it was written.

So the Postes went with the letters from the King and his Princes, throughout all Israel and Iudah, and according to the commandement of the king, saying; Yee children of Israel, turne againe vnto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and hee wil returne to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

For if yee turne againe vnto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall finde compassion before them that leade them captiue, so that they shall come againe into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and mercifull, and will not turne away his face from you, if ye returne vnto him.

So the Posts passed from citie to citie, through the countrey of Ephraim and Manasseh, euen vnto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorne, and mocked them.

So there was great ioy in Ierusalem: for since the time of Solomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel, there was not the like in Ierusalem.

So there was gathered much people together, who stopt all the fountaines, and the brooke that ranne through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and finde much water?

Hee wrote also letters to raile on the Lord God of Israel, & to speake against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands haue not deliuered their people out of mine hand: so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliuer his people out of mine hand.

And the Lord sent an Angel, which cut off all the mightie men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the campe of the king of Assyria: so hee returned with shame of face to his owne land. And when hee was come into the house of his god, they that came foorth of his owne bowels, slew him there with the sword.

And many brought gifts vnto the Lord to Ierusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Iudah: so that hee was magnified in the sight of all nations, from thenceforth.

Notwithstanding, Hezekiah humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart, (both hee and the inhabitants of Ierusalem) so that the wrath of the Lord came not vpon them in the dayes of Hezekiah.

Neither will I any more remoue the foot of Israel from out of the land which I haue appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to doe all that I haue commanded them, according to the whole Law, and the statutes, and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.

So Manasseh made Iudah, and the inhabitants of Ierusalem to erre, and to doe worse then the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.

So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his owne house: and Amon his sonne reigned in his stead.

And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, euen vnto Naphtali, with their mattockes, round about.

And as for the king of Iudah, who sent you to enquire of the Lord, so shal ye say vnto him: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, concerning the words which thou hast heard:

Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt bee gathered to thy graue in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the euill that I will bring vpon this place, and vpon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word againe.

So kill the Passeouer, and sanctifie your selues, and prepare your brethren, that they may doe according to the word of the Lord, by the hand of Moses.

So the seruice was prepared, and the Priests stood in their place, and the Leuites in their courses, according to the kings commandement.