² The king, his officials, and all the community of Jerusalem decided to celebrate Passover a month later than usual.^[a]

¹⁰ “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people now or in future generations are ceremonially unclean at Passover time because of touching a dead body, or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they may still celebrate the Lord’s Passover. ¹¹ They must offer the Passover sacrifice one month later, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month.^[a] They must eat the Passover lamb at that time with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast.

The Futility of Political Power

¹³ It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.

¹⁵ On the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual,^[a] the people slaughtered the Passover lamb. This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the Lord.

¹³ So a huge crowd assembled at Jerusalem in midspring^[a] to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

David Attempts to Move the Ark

13 David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army.^{[a] 2} Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: “If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us. ³ It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul.”