2 Chronicles 30
English Standard Version
Passover Celebrated
30 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 to the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover (A)in the second month— 3 for they could not keep it (B)at that time (C)because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem— 4 and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly. 5 So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, (D)from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed. 6 (E)So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, (F)return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of (G)the kings of Assyria. 7 (H)Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the Lord God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see. 8 (I)Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, (J)that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For (K)if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children (L)will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For (M)the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, (N)if you return to him.”
10 (O)So the couriers went from city to city through the country of (P)Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but (Q)they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11 However, (R)some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded (S)by the word of the Lord.
13 And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (T)in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 They set to work and removed (U)the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away (V)and threw into the brook Kidron. 15 (W)And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. (X)And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, (Y)so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. 16 (Z)They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses (AA)the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. 18 For a majority of the people, (AB)many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise (AC)than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone 19 (AD)who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.”[a] 20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept (AE)the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might[b] to the Lord. 22 And Hezekiah spoke (AF)encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the Lord. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing (AG)peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord, the God of their fathers.
23 Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast (AH)for another seven days. So they kept it for another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah (AI)gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And the priests (AJ)consecrated themselves in great numbers. 25 The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, (AK)and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for (AL)since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then (AM)the priests and the Levites arose and (AN)blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to (AO)his holy habitation in heaven.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 30:19 Hebrew not according to the cleanness of holiness
- 2 Chronicles 30:21 Compare 1 Chronicles 13:8; Hebrew with instruments of might
2 Chronicles 30
New King James Version
Hezekiah Keeps the Passover
30 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel. 2 For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second (A)month. 3 For they could not keep it (B)at [a]the regular time, (C)because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem. 4 And the matter pleased the king and all the assembly. 5 So they [b]resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem, since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner.
6 Then the (D)runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the king: “Children of Israel, (E)return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of (F)the kings of (G)Assyria. 7 And do not be (H)like your fathers and your brethren, who trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, so that He (I)gave them up to (J)desolation, as you see. 8 Now do not be (K)stiff-necked,[c] 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, (L)that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the Lord, your brethren and your children will be treated with (M)compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the Lord your God is (N)gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you (O)return to Him.”
10 So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but (P)they laughed at them and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless (Q)some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also (R)the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, (S)at the word of the Lord.
13 Now many people, a very great assembly, gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of (T)Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14 They arose and took away the (U)altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the incense altars and cast them into the Brook (V)Kidron. 15 Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites [d]were (W)ashamed, and [e]sanctified themselves, and brought the burnt offerings to the house of the Lord. 16 They stood in their (X)place [f]according to their custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not [g]sanctified themselves; (Y)therefore the Levites had charge of the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to the Lord. 18 For a multitude of the people, (Z)many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, (AA)yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone 19 who (AB)prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” 20 And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
21 So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept (AC)the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments. 22 And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites (AD)who taught the good knowledge of the Lord; and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings and (AE)making confession to the Lord God of their fathers.
23 Then the whole assembly agreed to keep the feast (AF)another seven days, and they kept it another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah (AG)gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep, and the leaders gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep; and a great number of priests (AH)sanctified[h] themselves. 25 The whole assembly of Judah rejoiced, also the priests and Levites, all the assembly that came from Israel, the sojourners (AI)who came from the land of Israel, and those who dwelt in Judah. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of (AJ)Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests, the Levites, arose and (AK)blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to (AL)His holy dwelling place, to heaven.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 30:3 The first month, Lev. 23:5; lit. that time
- 2 Chronicles 30:5 established a decree to
- 2 Chronicles 30:8 Rebellious
- 2 Chronicles 30:15 humbled themselves
- 2 Chronicles 30:15 set themselves apart
- 2 Chronicles 30:16 Or in their proper order
- 2 Chronicles 30:17 consecrated
- 2 Chronicles 30:24 consecrated
2 Chronicles 30
Easy-to-Read Version
Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover
30 King Hezekiah sent messages to all the people of Israel and Judah. He wrote letters to the people of Ephraim and Manasseh[a] also. He invited all these people to come to the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem so that they all could celebrate the Passover for the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 King Hezekiah agreed with all his officials and all the assembly in Jerusalem to have the Passover in the second month. 3 They could not celebrate the Passover Festival at the regular time, because not enough priests had made themselves ready for holy service and the people had not gathered in Jerusalem. 4 The agreement satisfied King Hezekiah and all the assembly. 5 So they sent the announcement throughout Israel, from the town of Beersheba all the way to the town of Dan. They told the people to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover for the Lord, the God of Israel. Not many people had been celebrating it as it was described in the law. 6 So the messengers took the king’s letters all through Israel and Judah. This is what the letters said:
“Children of Israel, turn back to the Lord, the God who Abraham, Isaac, and Israel obeyed. Then God will come back to you who are still alive and have escaped from the kings of Assyria. 7 Don’t be like your fathers or your brothers. The Lord was their God, but they turned against him. So he made people hate them and speak evil about them. You can see with your own eyes that this is true. 8 Don’t be stubborn as your ancestors were. But obey the Lord with a willing heart. Come to the Temple that he has made to be holy forever. Serve the Lord your God. Then his fearful anger will turn away from you. 9 If you come back and obey the Lord, your relatives and your children will find mercy from the people who captured them. And your relatives and your children will come back to this land. The Lord your God is kind and merciful. He will not turn away from you if you come back to him.”
10 The messengers went to every town in the area of Ephraim and Manasseh. They went all the way to the area of Zebulun, but the people laughed at the messengers and made fun of them. 11 But, some men from the areas of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem. 12 Also, in Judah God’s power united the people so that they would obey the king and his officials concerning the word of the Lord.
13 Many people came together in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. It was a very large crowd. 14 The people took away the altars in Jerusalem that were for false gods and all the incense altars that were for false gods. They threw them into the Kidron Valley. 15 Then they killed the Passover lamb on the 14th day of the second month. The priests and the Levites felt ashamed. They made themselves ready for holy service. The priests and the Levites brought burnt offerings into the Lord’s Temple. 16 They took their regular places in the Temple as described in the Law of Moses, the man of God. The Levites gave the blood to the priests. Then the priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. 17 There were many people in the group who had not made themselves ready for holy service, so they were not permitted to kill the Passover lambs. That is why the Levites were responsible for killing the Passover lambs for everyone who was not clean. The Levites made each lamb holy for the Lord.
18-19 Many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not prepared themselves in the right way for the Passover Festival. They did not celebrate the Passover the right way, as the Law of Moses says. But Hezekiah prayed for the people. So he said this prayer, “Lord God, you are good. These people sincerely wanted to worship you in the right way, but they did not make themselves clean as the law says. Please forgive these people. You are the Lord, the God our ancestors worshiped. Forgive them, even if some did not make themselves clean as the rules of the Most Holy Place say.” 20 The Lord listened to King Hezekiah’s prayer and forgave the people. 21 The people of Israel in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread with great joy for seven days. And the Levites and priests praised the Lord every day with all their strength.[b] 22 King Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who understood very well how to do the service of the Lord. The people celebrated the festival for seven days and offered fellowship offerings. They gave thanks and praise to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
23 All the people agreed to stay seven more days. They were joyful as they celebrated the Passover for seven more days. 24 King Hezekiah of Judah gave 1000 bulls and 7000 sheep to the assembly to kill and eat. The leaders gave 1000 bulls and 10,000 sheep to the assembly. Many priests prepared themselves for holy service. 25 All the assembly of Judah, the priests, the Levites, all the assembly who came from Israel, and the travelers who came from Israel and moved to Judah—all these people were very happy. 26 So there was much joy in Jerusalem. There had not been a celebration like this since the time of Solomon son of King David of Israel. 27 The priests and the Levites stood up and asked God to bless the people, and he heard them. Their prayer came up to heaven, the holy place where he lives.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 30:1 Ephraim and Manasseh Joseph’s sons. Since these were the largest tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh sometimes means the whole northern kingdom of Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 30:21 with all their strength Or “with mighty instruments of the Lord.”
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International