Study Desk

Now Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to ^(F1)celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel.

For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided ^(C1)to celebrate the Passover in the second month,

since they could not celebrate it ^(C1)at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem.

So the ^(F1)decision was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly.

So they established a decree to circulate a ^(F1)proclamation throughout Israel ^(C1)from Beersheba to Dan, that they are to come to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel in Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as was written.

^(C1)The ^(F1)couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, "Sons of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from ^(C2)the ^(F2)hand of the kings of Assyria.

"^(C1)Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were untrue to the LORD God of their fathers, so that ^(C2)He made them an object of horror, just as you see.

"Now do not ^(C1)stiffen your neck like your fathers, but ^(F1)yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, ^(C2)that His burning anger may turn away from you.

"For ^(C1)if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion in the presence of those who led them captive, and will return to this land. ^(C2)For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him."

So the ^(F1)couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but ^(C1)they laughed at them with scorn and mocked them.

Nevertheless, ^(C1)some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

The ^(C1)hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD.

Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread ^(C1)in the second month, a very large assembly.