Book 39 : KETUVIM - 2 CHRONICLES - Chapter 030
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And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote
letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of
HaShem at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto HaShem, the G-d of Israel
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For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all
the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month
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For they could not keep it at that time, because the
priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, neither had the
people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem
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And the thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all
the congregation
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So they established a decree to make proclamation
throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to
keep the passover unto HaShem, the G-d of Israel, at Jerusalem; for they had not
kept it in great numbers according as it is written
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So the posts went with the letters from the king and his
princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the
king, saying: 'Ye children of Israel, turn back unto HaShem, the G-d of Abraham,
Isaac, and Israel, that He may return to the remnant that are escaped of you out
of the hand of the kings of Assyria
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And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren,
who acted treacherously against HaShem, the G-d of their fathers, so that He
delivered them to be an astonishment, as ye see
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Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were; but yield
yourselves unto HaShem, and enter into His sanctuary, which He hath sanctified
for ever, and serve HaShem your G-d, that His fierce anger may turn away from
you
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For if ye turn back unto HaShem, your brethren and your
children shall find compassion before them that led them captive, and shall come
back into this land; for HaShem your G-d is gracious and merciful, and will not
turn away His face from you, if ye return unto Him.
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So the posts passed from city to city through the country
of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn, and
mocked them
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Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun
humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem
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Also in Judah was the hand of G-d to give them one heart,
to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of HaShem
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And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the
feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation
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And they arose and took away the altars that were in
Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the
brook Kidron
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Then they killed the passover lamb on the fourteenth day
of the second month; and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and
sanctified themselves, and brought burnt-offerings into the house of HaShem
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And they stood in their place after their order, according
to the law of Moses the man of G-d; the priests dashed the blood, which they
received of the hand of the Levites
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For there were many in the congregation that had not
sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the
passover lambs for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto HaShem
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For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and
Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat
the passover otherwise than it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them,
saying: 'The good HaShem pardo
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every one that setteth his heart to seek G-d, HaShem, the
G-d of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification that
pertaineth to holy things.
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And HaShem hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people
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And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem
kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the
Levites and the priests praised HaShem day by day, singing with loud instruments
unto HaShem
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And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly unto all the Levites that
were well skilled in the service of HaShem. So they did eat throughout the feast
for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and giving thanks to
HaShem, the G-d of their fathers
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And the whole congregation took counsel to keep other
seven days; and they kept other seven days with gladness
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For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation
for offerings a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave
to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep; and priests
sanctified themselves in great numbers
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And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and
the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers
that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced
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So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of
Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem
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Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people;
and their voice was heard of HaShem, and their prayer came up to His holy
habitation, even unto heaven
Book 39 : KETUVIM - 2 CHRONICLES - Chapter 030
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