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預備守逾越節

30 希西家派人去見以色列猶大眾人,又寫信給以法蓮瑪拿西人,要他們到耶路撒冷耶和華的殿,向耶和華—以色列的 神守逾越節, 因為王和眾領袖,以及耶路撒冷全會眾已經商議,要在二月份守逾越節。 那時他們不能守,因為分別為聖的祭司不夠,百姓也還沒有聚集在耶路撒冷 這事在王與全會眾眼中都看為合宜。 於是他們下令,通告全以色列,從別是巴直到,吩咐百姓都來,在耶路撒冷向耶和華—以色列的 神守逾越節,因為他們已經許久沒有照所寫的守這節了[a] 信差遵着王命,拿着王和眾領袖所發的信,送達全以色列猶大,說:「以色列人哪,當轉向耶和華—亞伯拉罕以撒以色列的 神,好叫他轉向你們這些脫離亞述諸王之手的餘民。 不要效法你們的祖先和你們的弟兄;他們干犯耶和華—他們列祖的 神,以致耶和華使他們令人驚駭,正如你們所見的。 現在,不要像你們祖先硬着頸項,只要歸順耶和華,進入他的聖所,就是永遠成聖的居所,又要事奉耶和華—你們的 神,好使他的烈怒轉離你們。 你們若轉向耶和華,你們的弟兄和兒女必在擄掠他們的人面前蒙憐憫,得以歸回這地,因為耶和華—你們的 神有恩惠,有憐憫。你們若轉向他,他必不會轉臉不顧你們。」

10 信差從這城跑到那城,傳遍了以法蓮瑪拿西之地,直到西布倫;那裏的人卻戲笑他們,譏誚他們。 11 然而亞設瑪拿西西布倫中也有人謙卑自己,來到耶路撒冷 12  神也按手在猶大人身上,使他們一心遵行王與眾領袖照着耶和華的話所發的命令。

守逾越節

13 二月時,許多百姓聚集在耶路撒冷,成為一個盛大的會,要守除酵節。 14 他們起來,把耶路撒冷的祭壇和燒香的壇盡都除去,扔在汲淪溪中。 15 二月十四日,他們宰了逾越節的羔羊。祭司與利未人覺得慚愧,就使自己分別為聖,把燔祭奉到耶和華的殿中。 16 他們遵照神人摩西的律法,按定例站在自己的地方;祭司從利未人手裏接過血來,灑出去。 17 會眾中有許多人尚未分別為聖,所以利未人為所有不潔的人宰逾越節的羔羊,使他們歸耶和華為聖。 18 以法蓮瑪拿西以薩迦西布倫來的許多百姓尚未自潔,他們卻吃逾越節的羔羊,不合所寫的條例。希西家為他們禱告說:「求至善的耶和華饒恕 19 那凡專心尋求 神耶和華—他列祖的 神,卻未照聖所潔淨禮自潔的人。」 20 耶和華應允希西家,醫治了百姓。 21 耶路撒冷以色列人守除酵節七日,大大喜樂。利未人和祭司為耶和華演奏響亮的樂器,天天頌讚耶和華。 22 希西家慰勞所有精通禮儀,事奉耶和華的利未人。於是眾人吃節期的筵席七日,又獻平安祭,並且稱謝耶和華—他們列祖的 神。

再度守節

23 全會眾商議,要再守節七日;於是他們歡歡喜喜地又守節七日。 24 猶大希西家賜給會眾一千頭公牛、七千隻羊;眾領袖也賜給會眾一千頭公牛、一萬隻羊,並有許多祭司將自己分別為聖。 25 猶大全會眾、祭司、利未人和從以色列來的全會眾,以及那些從以色列地來的和住在猶大的寄居的人,盡都喜樂。 26 這樣,在耶路撒冷大有喜樂,因自從以色列大衛的兒子所羅門以來,在耶路撒冷從未有過這樣的喜樂。 27 那時,祭司和利未人起來,為百姓祝福。他們的聲音蒙 神垂聽,他們的禱告達到他天上的聖所。

Footnotes

  1. 30.5 「他們已經…守這節了」或譯「照所寫的條例守這節的人已經不多了」。

預備守逾越節

30 希西迦派人通告以色列和猶大全境,又寫信通知以法蓮人和瑪拿西人,叫他們到耶路撒冷耶和華的殿,向以色列的上帝耶和華守逾越節。 王、眾官員及耶路撒冷的全體會眾決定在二月守逾越節。 他們不能在一月守節期,因為潔淨自己的祭司不夠多,民眾也沒有聚集在耶路撒冷。 王與全體會眾都很贊成這個計劃。 於是,他們下令通告全以色列,從別示巴直到但,讓人們到耶路撒冷向以色列的上帝耶和華守逾越節,因為人們不常照律例守這節期。

信差遵照王的命令帶著王和眾官員的信走遍以色列和猶大,宣告說:「以色列人啊,你們應當歸向亞伯拉罕、以撒和以色列的上帝耶和華,好使祂轉向你們這些從亞述王手中逃脫的餘民。 不要效法你們的祖先和親族,他們對他們祖先的上帝耶和華不忠,以致耶和華使他們的下場很可怕,正如你們所見的。 現在,不要像你們的祖先那樣頑固不化;要順服耶和華,進入祂永遠聖潔的聖所,事奉你們的上帝耶和華,好使祂的烈怒轉離你們。 你們若歸向祂,你們的弟兄和兒女必蒙擄走他們之人的憐憫,得以回歸此地,因為你們的上帝耶和華有恩典,好憐憫。你們若歸向祂,祂必不會轉臉不顧你們。」

10 信差將這通告逐城傳遍以法蓮和瑪拿西,直到西布倫,可是那些地方的人卻嘲笑、戲弄他們。 11 然而,有些亞設人、瑪拿西人和西布倫人謙卑悔改,來到耶路撒冷。 12 耶和華上帝感動猶大人,使他們一心遵從王與眾官員奉祂的指示所下的命令。

守逾越節

13 二月,大群的人聚到耶路撒冷守除酵節。 14 他們除去耶路撒冷的祭壇和所有香壇,把它們丟進汲淪溪。 15 二月十四日,他們宰了逾越節的羊羔。祭司和利未人覺得慚愧,就潔淨自己,把燔祭帶到耶和華的殿裡, 16 然後照上帝的僕人摩西的律法照常供職。祭司從利未人手中接過血,灑在壇上。 17 因為會眾中間有許多人沒有潔淨自己,利未人就為所有不潔之人宰逾越節的羊羔獻給耶和華。 18-19 有許多以法蓮人、瑪拿西人、以薩迦人和西布倫人沒有潔淨自己就吃了逾越節的羊羔,違背了律法的規定。希西迦就為他們禱告說:「凡誠心尋求他祖先的上帝耶和華的人,雖然沒有照聖所的律例潔淨自己,願良善的耶和華赦免他!」 20 耶和華垂聽希西迦的禱告,就赦免[a]了他們。

21 在耶路撒冷的以色列人非常喜樂地守除酵節七天。利未人和祭司用響亮的樂器天天頌讚耶和華。 22 希西迦慰勞所有善於事奉耶和華的利未人。於是,眾人歡宴過節七天,又獻上平安祭,稱謝他們祖先的上帝耶和華。

再次守節期

23 全體會眾商議要再守節期七天,於是大家又歡歡喜喜地守節期七天。 24 猶大王希西迦送給會眾一千頭公牛和七千隻羊,眾官員也送給會眾一千頭公牛和一萬隻羊,並且很多祭司都已潔淨自己。 25 猶大全體會眾、祭司、利未人和從以色列來的全體會眾,以及寄居在以色列和猶大的人盡都歡喜。 26 全耶路撒冷都喜氣洋洋,因為自以色列王大衛的兒子所羅門時代以來,耶路撒冷從未有過這樣的盛會。 27 利未祭司起來為民眾祝福,他們的禱告得蒙垂聽,達到天上的聖所。

Footnotes

  1. 30·20 赦免」希伯來文是「醫治」。

Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover

30 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel(A) and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh,(B) inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover(C) to the Lord, the God of Israel. The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate(D) the Passover in the second month. They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated(E) themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. The plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan,(F) calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written.

At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read:

“People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your parents(G) and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful(H) to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror,(I) as you see. Do not be stiff-necked,(J) as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger(K) will turn away from you. If you return(L) to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion(M) by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate.(N) He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”

10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed(O) them. 11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled(P) themselves and went to Jerusalem.(Q) 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity(R) of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.

13 A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread(S) in the second month. 14 They removed the altars(T) in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.(U)

15 They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated(V) themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the Lord. 16 Then they took up their regular positions(W) as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them by the Levites. 17 Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill(X) the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs[a] to the Lord. 18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves,(Y) yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” 20 And the Lord heard(Z) Hezekiah and healed(AA) the people.(AB)

21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread(AC) for seven days with great rejoicing, while the Levites and priests praised the Lord every day with resounding instruments dedicated to the Lord.[b]

22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the Lord. For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings and praised[c] the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

23 The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate(AD) the festival seven more days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully. 24 Hezekiah king of Judah provided(AE) a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep and goats for the assembly, and the officials provided them with a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. A great number of priests consecrated themselves. 25 The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and Levites and all who had assembled from Israel(AF), including the foreigners who had come from Israel and also those who resided in Judah. 26 There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon(AG) son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 The priests and the Levites stood to bless(AH) the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 30:17 Or consecrate themselves
  2. 2 Chronicles 30:21 Or priests sang to the Lord every day, accompanied by the Lord’s instruments of praise
  3. 2 Chronicles 30:22 Or and confessed their sins to