Old/New Testament
Israel Celebrates the Passover
30 Hezekiah also sent word to all of Israel and Judah, and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh that they should come to the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem to observe the Passover to the Lord God of Israel. 2 The king, his princes, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem had mutually decided to observe the Passover in the second month, 3 but they had been unable to celebrate it then because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not yet been gathered together in Jerusalem. 4 This decision seemed to be a good one in the opinion of the king and of the entire assembly, 5 so they published a decree that was circulated throughout Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan that they are to come celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel in Jerusalem. The Passover[a] had not been celebrated in great numbers as was being prescribed by the decree.[b]
6 Couriers were sent throughout all of Israel and Judah with letters written by the king and his princes, just as the king had commanded:
“Listen, you descendants of Israel! Come back to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so he may come back to those of you who have escaped and survived from domination by[c] the kings of Assyria. 7 Don’t be like your ancestors and your relatives, who weren’t faithful to the Lord God of their ancestors, who, as a result, made them a desolate horror, as you well know. 8 So don’t be stiff-necked like your ancestors were. Instead, submit to the Lord, enter his sanctuary that he has sanctified forever, and serve the Lord your God so that he’ll stop being angry with you. 9 If you return to the Lord, your relatives and children will receive compassion from those who took them away captive, and they’ll return to this land, because the Lord is both gracious and compassionate—he will not turn away from you if you return to him.”
10 Couriers crossed from city to city throughout the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but those people[d] just mocked them and laughed at them. 11 Nevertheless, a few men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and traveled to Jerusalem. 12 God also poured out his grace throughout[e] Judah, giving them a dedicated[f] heart to do what the king and princes had decreed according to the message from the Lord. 13 Many of the people gathered together in Jerusalem to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread during the second month. It was a very large assembly. 14 They all got to work and removed the idolatrous[g] altars that were throughout Jerusalem. They also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Brook. 15 Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month.
The priests and descendants of Levi felt ashamed of themselves, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Lord’s Temple. 16 Then they took their customary places, as the Law of Moses the man of God prescribes, and the priests sprinkled the blood that they were given by the descendants of Levi. 17 Because there were so many in the assembly that had not consecrated themselves, therefore the descendants of Levi supervised the slaughter of the Passover sacrifices on behalf of everyone who remained unclean, so they could be consecrated to the Lord. 18 Even though a large crowd of people from as far away as Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not completed consecrating themselves, they still ate the Passover in a manner not proscribed by the Law,[h] because Hezekiah had prayed like this for them: “May the good Lord extend a pardon on behalf of 19 everyone who prepares his own heart to seek God, the Lord God of his ancestors, even though he does so inconsistent with the laws of consecration.” 20 The Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
The Festival of Unleavened Bread is Observed
21 The Israelis who were present in Jerusalem observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with immense gladness, and the descendants of Levi and priests praised the Lord throughout each day, singing mightily to the Lord. 22 Hezekiah encouraged all the descendants of Levi who demonstrated significant insight in their service to the Lord, so they all participated in the festival meals for seven days, all the while sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord God of their ancestors. 23 After this, the whole assembly agreed to celebrate for another seven days, and so they did—and they were very happy to do so! 24 King Hezekiah of Judah gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes contributed 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep, and a large number of priests consecrated themselves.
25 Everyone in the assembly of Judah rejoiced, as did the priests, the descendants of Levi, and the people who gathered together from throughout Israel, including those who came from the land of Israel and those who lived in Judah. 26 There was great joy throughout Jerusalem, because nothing had happened like this in Jerusalem since the days of David’s son Solomon, king of Israel. 27 After this, the priests arose, blessed the people, and their voices were heard in prayer all the way to heaven, where God resides in holiness.
Idols are Eliminated from Judah(A)
31 At the conclusion of all of these activities, everybody in Israel who was in attendance traveled throughout the cities of Judah, broke down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and altars throughout the territories of[i] Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh until they had eliminated all of them. Then the people of Israel went back to their cities and back to their work.[j]
Hezekiah Continues His Reforms
2 Hezekiah appointed the priestly divisions and the divisions of the descendants of Levi, each according to their service duties, including both priests and descendants of Levi who offered morning and evening burnt offerings, peace offerings, general[k] ministry, thanksgiving, and praise in the gateways to the Lord’s campgrounds.[l] 3 He also gave a portion of his own income for both morning and evening burnt offerings, for burnt offerings on the Sabbath, New Moons, and for the scheduled festivals, as is recorded in the Lord’s Law.[m] 4 Hezekiah[n] also directed the people who lived in Jerusalem to give what was due to the priests and descendants of Levi, so they could be strengthened in the Lord’s Law. 5 As the word spread around, the people of Israel gave generously for the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and all of the produce of the fields. They generously gave a tithe of everything. 6 The descendants of Israel and Judah who lived throughout the cities of Judah also brought tithes of cattle and sheep, as well as tithes of gifts that had been dedicated to the Lord their God.
As these gifts were given, they were laid in piles. 7 They began to make these piles of gifts[o] during the third month, and it took them until the seventh month to finish. 8 When Hezekiah and the officials arrived and saw the piles of gifts,[p] they blessed the Lord and his people Israel, 9 and Hezekiah quizzed the priests and the descendants of Levi about the piles of gifts.[q] 10 Azariah replied, “Since they began to bring their gifts into the Lord’s Temple, we have eaten and have been satisfied. Now we still have plenty left, because the Lord has blessed his people so that we have all of this left over.”
The Priests and Descendants of Levi Reorganized
11 Hezekiah gave an order to prepare storerooms in the Lord’s Temple, and so they did. 12 They faithfully brought in the gifts, tithes, and consecrated materials, and Conaniah the descendant of Levi was placed in charge of them. His brother Shimei was second in command, 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah served as supervisors under Conaniah and his brother Shimei, who had been appointed by King Hezekiah. Azariah served as senior officer of God’s Temple. 14 Imnah the descendant of Levi’s son Kore, keeper of the eastern gate, was in charge of voluntary offerings to God, apportioning contributions for the Lord and the most holy things. 15 Under his authority, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah served in the priestly cities, making sure contributions were distributed faithfully to their relatives division by division, no matter how large or how small, 16 without regard to genealogical enrollment, to every male 30[r] years old and older—that is, to everyone who entered the Lord’s Temple as their duty obligations required—for their work and duties according to their divisions 17 as well as the priests who were enrolled in the genealogies according to their ancestral households. 18 These genealogical enrollments also included all of their little children, their wives, and their sons and daughters for the entire assembly, because they were being faithful to consecrating themselves in holiness. 19 Furthermore, with respect to the descendants of Aaron, that is, the priests who lived out in the country away from the cities, or who lived in each and every city, men were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone who had been enrolled by genealogy among the descendants of Levi.
20 Hezekiah did this throughout all of Judah, and he acted well, doing what the Lord his God considered to be right and true. 21 Everything that Hezekiah[s] began in the service of God’s Temple was done according to the Law and to the commandments as he sought his God, worked with all of his heart, and became successful.
Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested(A)
18 After Jesus had said all of this, he went with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas took a detachment of soldiers and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen, went forward and asked them, “Who are you looking for?”
5 They answered him, “Jesus from Nazareth.”[a]
Jesus told them, “I AM.” Judas, the man who betrayed him, was standing with them.
6 When Jesus[b] told them, “I AM,” they backed away and fell to the ground.
7 So he asked them again, “Who are you looking for?”
They said, “Jesus from Nazareth.”[c]
8 Jesus replied, “I told you that I am the one,[d] so if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill what he had said, “I did not lose a single one of those you gave me.”[e]
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shouldn’t I drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Jesus before the High Priest(B)
12 Then the soldiers, along with their commander and the Jewish officers, arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they brought him to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus(C)
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, he accompanied Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 Peter, however, stood outside the gate. So this other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter inside. 17 The young woman at the gate asked Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples, too, are you?”
“I am not,” he replied.
18 Meanwhile, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was also standing with them, keeping himself warm.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.