6So the posts with the letters from the king and his princes went throughout all Israel and Judah, as the king commanded, saying, “You sons of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He will return to those of you, who have escaped from the kings of Assyria. 7And be not like your fathers, and your brothers, who were not faithful to the LORD God of their fathers, Who, then, gave them over to desolation, just as you see. 8Now be you not stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD, and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever; and serve the LORD, your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you. 9For if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion with them who led them captive, so that they shall return into this land; for the LORD, your God, is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away His face from you, if you return to Him”. 10So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun; but they laughed them to mocking scorn. 11Yet some of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12Also the hand of God was in Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and princes had commandment by the word of the LORD.

13And many people, a very great congregation, assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month. 14And they acted and removed the pagan altars that were in Jerusalem, and all these altars for incense they took away, and threw them into the brook, Kidron. 15Then, on the fourteenth day of the second month, they killed the Passover; and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought the burnt offerings into the temple of the LORD. 16And they stood in their accustomed places; and, according to the law of Moses, the man of God, the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites. 17For there were many in the assembly who were not sanctified; therefore, the Levites had the charge of the killing of the Passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. 18For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “The good LORD pardon every one 19who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary”. 20And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

21And the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and priests praised the LORD, day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD. 22And Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD; and they ate throughout the feast, seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. 23And the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast seven more days; and they kept another seven days with gladness. 24For Hezekiah, king of Judah, gave 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. 25And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly who came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and who dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 26So 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. 27Then the priests and 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.