2 Chronicles 30

All 27 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Hezekiah sent messages throughout all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, asking them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel.
2. 2The king had consulted with his officials and the entire assembly in Jerusalem, and they decided to celebrate the Passover in the 2nd month.
3. 3They couldn't hold it at the normal time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves, and the people hadn't yet gathered in Jerusalem.
4. 4The plan seemed right to the king and the whole assembly.
5. 5So they issued an official decree and sent it throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling everyone to come celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel in Jerusalem. It had been a long time since they had celebrated it as it was written.
6. 6Couriers carried letters from the king and his officials throughout all Israel and Judah. The king's message read: "People of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you who escaped the grip of the kings of Assyria."
7. 7Do not be like your fathers and your brothers who trespassed against the LORD God of their ancestors. He handed them over to desolation, as you can see.
8. 8Don't be stubborn like your ancestors were. Submit yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has set apart forever. Serve the LORD your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
9. 9If you return to the LORD, those who captured your brothers and your children will show them mercy, and they'll be allowed to come back to this land. The LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and he won't turn his face away from you if you return to him."
10. 10The couriers traveled from city to city through the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the way to Zebulun, but they ridiculed and mocked them.
11. 11Even so, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and made the journey to Jerusalem.
12. 12In Judah, the hand of God gave them one heart to follow the commandment of the king and the princes, according to the word of the LORD.
13. 13A massive crowd assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the 2nd month — an enormous gathering.
14. 14They arose and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, taking away all the incense altars and throwing them into the Kidron Valley.
15. 15Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the 14th day of the 2nd month. The priests and Levites were ashamed of their lack of preparation, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the LORD's temple.
16. 16They took their assigned positions according to the Law of Moses, the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood that the Levites handed to them.
17. 17For there were many in the congregation who were not sanctified. Therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to the LORD.
18. 18A large number of people — especially many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun — hadn't purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover anyway, which wasn't how it was supposed to be done. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good LORD pardon everyone
19. 19who has set their heart on seeking God — the LORD, the God of their ancestors — even if they aren't clean according to the sanctuary's rules of purification."
20. 20The LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
21. 21The Israelites who were in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Every day, the Levites and priests praised the LORD, singing with loud instruments to the LORD.
22. 22Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD. They ate throughout the feast for seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.
23. 23The whole assembly then decided to celebrate for another 7 days, and they did — with great joy.
24. 24King Hezekiah contributed 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for the assembly, and his officials donated another 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. A great number of priests consecrated themselves for the occasion.
25. 25The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced — the priests, the Levites, all the people who had come from Israel, the foreigners who had traveled from the land of Israel, and those foreigners living in Judah.
26. 26Jerusalem was filled with incredible joy. Nothing like this had happened in the city since the days of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.
27. 27Then the Levitical priests stood and blessed the people. Their voices were heard, and their prayer rose up to God's holy dwelling place in heaven.