1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. 5 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 the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. 6 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 again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. 8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 10 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. 11 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.
13 ¶ And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 14 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. 15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. 16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. 18 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 was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one 19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
21 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 the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD. 22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. 23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25 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. 26 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.
27 ¶ Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.
1 Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Εζεκιας ἐπὶ πάντα Ισραηλ καὶ Ιουδαν καὶ ἐπιστολὰς ἔγραψεν ἐπὶ τὸν Εφραιμ καὶ Μανασση ἐλθεῖν εἰς οἶκον κυρίου εἰς Ιερουσαλημ ποιῆσαι τὸ φασεκ τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ Ισραηλ· 2 καὶ ἐβουλεύσατο ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες καὶ πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία ἡ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ ποιῆσαι τὸ φασεκ τῷ μηνὶ τῷ δευτέρῳ· 3 οὐ γὰρ ἠδυνάσθησαν αὐτὸ ποιῆσαι ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ὅτι οἱ ἱερεῖς οὐχ ἡγνίσθησαν ἱκανοί, καὶ ὁ λαὸς οὐ συνήχθη εἰς Ιερουσαλημ. 4 καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐναντίον τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἐναντίον τῆς ἐκκλησίας. 5 καὶ ἔστησαν λόγον διελθεῖν κήρυγμα ἐν παντὶ Ισραηλ ἀπὸ Βηρσαβεε ἕως Δαν ἐλθόντας ποιῆσαι τὸ φασεκ κυρίῳ θεῷ Ισραηλ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ, ὅτι πλῆθος οὐκ ἐποίησεν κατὰ τὴν γραφήν. 6 καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ τρέχοντες σὺν ταῖς ἐπιστολαῖς παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων εἰς πάντα Ισραηλ καὶ Ιουδαν κατὰ τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ βασιλέως λέγοντες Υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, ἐπιστρέψατε πρὸς θεὸν Αβρααμ καὶ Ισαακ καὶ Ισραηλ, καὶ ἐπιστρέψει τοὺς ἀνασεσῳσμένους τοὺς καταλειφθέντας ἀπὸ χειρὸς βασιλέως Ασσουρ· 7 καὶ μὴ γίνεσθε καθὼς οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ὑμῶν, οἳ ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ κυρίου θεοῦ πατέρων αὐτῶν, καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς εἰς ἐρήμωσιν, καθὼς ὑμεῖς ὁρᾶτε. 8 καὶ νῦν μὴ σκληρύνητε τοὺς τραχήλους ὑμῶν· δότε δόξαν κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ καὶ εἰσέλθατε εἰς τὸ ἁγίασμα αὐτοῦ, ὃ ἡγίασεν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ δουλεύσατε τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν θυμὸν ὀργῆς. 9 ὅτι ἐν τῷ ἐπιστρέφειν ὑμᾶς πρὸς κύριον οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἔσονται ἐν οἰκτιρμοῖς ἔναντι πάντων τῶν αἰχμαλωτισάντων αὐτούς, καὶ ἀποστρέψει εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην· ὅτι ἐλεήμων καὶ οἰκτίρμων κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν καὶ οὐκ ἀποστρέψει τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἀφ᾽ ἡμῶν, ἐὰν ἐπιστρέψωμεν πρὸς αὐτόν. 10 καὶ ἦσαν οἱ τρέχοντες διαπορευόμενοι πόλιν ἐκ πόλεως ἐν τῷ ὄρει Εφραιμ καὶ Μανασση καὶ ἕως Ζαβουλων, καὶ ἐγένοντο ὡς καταγελῶντες αὐτῶν καὶ καταμωκώμενοι· 11 ἀλλὰ ἄνθρωποι Ασηρ καὶ ἀπὸ Μανασση καὶ ἀπὸ Ζαβουλων ἐνετράπησαν καὶ ἦλθον εἰς Ιερουσαλημ. 12 καὶ ἐν Ιουδα ἐγένετο χεὶρ κυρίου δοῦναι αὐτοῖς καρδίαν μίαν ἐλθεῖν τοῦ ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων ἐν λόγῳ κυρίου, 13 καὶ συνήχθησαν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ λαὸς πολὺς τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὴν ἑορτὴν τῶν ἀζύμων ἐν τῷ μηνὶ τῷ δευτέρῳ, ἐκκλησία πολλὴ σφόδρα. 14 καὶ ἀνέστησαν καὶ καθεῖλαν τὰ θυσιαστήρια τὰ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ· καὶ πάντα, ἐν οἷς ἐθυμίωσαν τοῖς ψευδέσιν, κατέσπασαν καὶ ἔρριψαν εἰς τὸν χειμάρρουν Κεδρων. 15 καὶ ἔθυσαν τὸ φασεκ τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ δευτέρου· καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἐνετράπησαν καὶ ἡγνίσθησαν καὶ εἰσήνεγκαν ὁλοκαυτώματα εἰς οἶκον κυρίου. 16 καὶ ἔστησαν ἐπὶ τὴν στάσιν αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸ κρίμα αὐτῶν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολὴν Μωυσῆ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς ἐδέχοντο τὰ αἵματα ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν Λευιτῶν. 17 ὅτι πλῆθος τῆς ἐκκλησίας οὐχ ἡγνίσθη, καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἦσαν τοῦ θύειν τὸ φασεκ παντὶ τῷ μὴ δυναμένῳ ἁγνισθῆναι τῷ κυρίῳ. 18 ὅτι τὸ πλεῖστον τοῦ λαοῦ ἀπὸ Εφραιμ καὶ Μανασση καὶ Ισσαχαρ καὶ Ζαβουλων οὐχ ἡγνίσθησαν, ἀλλὰ ἔφαγον τὸ φασεκ παρὰ τὴν γραφήν. καὶ προσηύξατο Εζεκιας περὶ αὐτῶν λέγων Κύριος ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἐξιλασάσθω ὑπὲρ 19 πάσης καρδίας κατευθυνούσης ἐκζητῆσαι κύριον τὸν θεὸν τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν ἁγνείαν τῶν ἁγίων. 20 καὶ ἐπήκουσεν κύριος τῷ Εζεκια καὶ ἰάσατο τὸν λαόν. 21 καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ οἱ εὑρεθέντες ἐν Ιερουσαλημ τὴν ἑορτὴν τῶν ἀζύμων ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ μεγάλῃ καὶ καθυμνοῦντες τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμέραν καθ᾽ ἡμέραν καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἐν ὀργάνοις τῷ κυρίῳ. 22 καὶ ἐλάλησεν Εζεκιας ἐπὶ πᾶσαν καρδίαν τῶν Λευιτῶν καὶ τῶν συνιόντων σύνεσιν ἀγαθὴν τῷ κυρίῳ· καὶ συνετέλεσαν τὴν ἑορτὴν τῶν ἀζύμων ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας θύοντες θυσίας σωτηρίου καὶ ἐξομολογούμενοι τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν. 23 καὶ ἐβουλεύσατο ἡ ἐκκλησία ἅμα ποιῆσαι ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἄλλας· καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ. 24 ὅτι Εζεκιας ἀπήρξατο τῷ Ιουδα τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ μόσχους χιλίους καὶ ἑπτακισχίλια πρόβατα, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες ἀπήρξαντο τῷ λαῷ μόσχους χιλίους καὶ πρόβατα δέκα χιλιάδας, καὶ τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἱερέων εἰς πλῆθος. 25 καὶ ηὐφράνθη πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία, οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται καὶ πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία Ιουδα καὶ οἱ εὑρεθέντες ἐξ Ισραηλ καὶ οἱ προσήλυτοι οἱ ἐλθόντες ἀπὸ γῆς Ισραηλ καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν Ιουδα. 26 καὶ ἐγένετο εὐφροσύνη μεγάλη ἐν Ιερουσαλημ· ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν Σαλωμων υἱοῦ Δαυιδ βασιλέως Ισραηλ οὐκ ἐγένετο τοιαύτη ἑορτὴ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ. 27 καὶ ἀνέστησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ Λευῖται καὶ ηὐλόγησαν τὸν λαόν· καὶ ἐπηκούσθη ἡ φωνὴ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἦλθεν ἡ προσευχὴ αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ κατοικητήριον τὸ ἅγιον αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν.