Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover

1  וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And sent) יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ (Hezekiah) עַל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (Israel) וִֽיהוּדָ֗ה (and Judah), וְגַֽם־ (and also) אִגְּרוֹת֙ (letters) כָּתַב֙ (he wrote) עַל־ (to) אֶפְרַ֣יִם (Ephraim) וּמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה (and Manasseh), לָב֥וֹא (that they should come) לְבֵית־ (to the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) בִּֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (at Jerusalem) לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת (to keep) פֶּ֔סַח (the Passover) לַיהוָ֖ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 2  וַיִּוָּעַ֨ץ (And for had counseled) הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ (the king) וְשָׂרָ֛יו (and his leaders) וְכָל־ (and all) הַקָּהָ֖ל (the assembly) בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (in Jerusalem) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to keep) הַפֶּ֖סַח (the Passover) בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ (in the month) הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃ (second). 3  כִּ֣י (For) לֹ֧א (not) יָכְל֛וּ (they were able) לַעֲשֹׂת֖וֹ (to keep it) בָּעֵ֣ת (at the time) הַהִ֑יא (that), כִּ֤י (because) הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ (the priests) לֹֽא־ (not) הִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ (had consecrated themselves) לְמַדַּ֔י (sufficiently), וְהָעָ֖ם (and the people) לֹא־ (not) נֶאֶסְפ֥וּ (had been gathered together) לִֽירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (at Jerusalem).

4  וַיִּישַׁ֥ר (And was right) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the matter) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king) וּבְעֵינֵ֖י (and in the eyes) כָּל־ (of all) הַקָּהָֽל׃ (the assembly). 5  וַיַּֽעֲמִ֣ידוּ (And they established) דָבָ֗ר (a word) לְהַעֲבִ֨יר (to cause to pass over) ק֤וֹל (a proclamation) בְּכָל־ (throughout all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel), מִבְּאֵֽר־ (from Beer-) שֶׁ֣בַע (sheba) וְעַד־ (and to) דָּ֔ן (Dan), לָב֞וֹא (that they should come in) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to keep) פֶּ֛סַח (the Passover) לַיהוָ֥ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵֽי־ (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (at Jerusalem). כִּ֣י (For) לֹ֥א (not) לָרֹ֛ב (for a long time) עָשׂ֖וּ (they had kept it) כַּכָּתֽוּב׃ (as written).

6  וַיֵּלְכוּ֩ (And went) הָרָצִ֨ים (the runners) בָּֽאִגְּר֜וֹת (with the letters) מִיַּ֧ד (from the hand) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of the king) וְשָׂרָ֗יו (and his heads) בְּכָל־ (throughout all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה (and Judah), וּכְמִצְוַ֥ת (and according to the command) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying),

בְּנֵ֣י (Sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), שׁ֚וּבוּ (return) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵי֙ (God) אַבְרָהָם֙ (of Abraham), יִצְחָ֣ק (Isaac), וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (and Israel), וְיָשֹׁב֙ (and He will return) אֶל־ (to) הַפְּלֵיטָ֔ה (the escaped) הַנִּשְׁאֶ֣רֶת (remnant) לָכֶ֔ם (of you⁺) מִכַּ֖ף (from the hand) מַלְכֵ֥י (of the kings) אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (of Assyria). 7  וְאַל־ (And not) תִּֽהְי֗וּ (do be) כַּאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ (like your⁺ fathers) וְכַ֣אֲחֵיכֶ֔ם (and your⁺ brothers) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) מָעֲל֔וּ (trespassed) בַּיהוָ֖ה (against YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם (of their fathers) וַיִּתְּנֵ֣ם (so that He gave them up) לְשַׁמָּ֔ה (to desolation), כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) אַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺) רֹאִֽים׃ (can see).

8  עַתָּ֕ה (Now) אַל־ (not) תַּקְשׁ֥וּ (do harden) עָרְפְּכֶ֖ם (your⁺ necks) כַּאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (as your⁺ fathers); תְּנוּ־ (give) יָ֣ד (a hand) לַיהוָ֗ה (to YHWH) וּבֹ֤אוּ (and enter) לְמִקְדָּשׁוֹ֙ (His sanctuary) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הִקְדִּ֣ישׁ (He has sanctified) לְעוֹלָ֔ם (forever), וְעִבְדוּ֙ (and serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ God), וְיָשֹׁ֥ב (that may turn away) מִכֶּ֖ם (from you⁺) חֲר֥וֹן (that the burning) אַפּֽוֹ׃ (of His anger). 9  כִּ֣י (For) בְשׁוּבְכֶ֞ם (if you⁺ return) עַל־ (to) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), אֲחֵיכֶ֨ם (your⁺ brothers) וּבְנֵיכֶ֤ם (and your⁺ children) לְרַחֲמִים֙ (will receive mercy) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the faces) שֽׁוֹבֵיהֶ֔ם (of their captors) וְלָשׁ֖וּב (and will return) לָאָ֣רֶץ (to the land) הַזֹּ֑את (this). כִּֽי־ (For) חַנּ֤וּן (gracious) וְרַחוּם֙ (and merciful) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ God is), וְלֹא־ (and not) יָסִ֤יר (will He turn aside) פָּנִים֙ (the face) מִכֶּ֔ם (from you⁺) אִם־ (if) תָּשׁ֖וּבוּ (you⁺ return) אֵלָֽיו׃פ (to Him).

10  וַיִּֽהְי֨וּ (And) הָרָצִ֜ים (the runners) עֹבְרִ֨ים (passed over) מֵעִ֧יר׀ (from city) לָעִ֛יר (to city) בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ (in the land) אֶפְרַ֥יִם (of Ephraim) וּמְנַשֶּׁ֖ה (and Manasseh) וְעַד־ (and to) זְבֻל֑וּן (Zebulun); וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ (and) מַשְׂחִיקִ֣ים (they laughed) עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (at them) וּמַלְעִגִ֖ים (and mocked) בָּֽם׃ (them). 11  אַךְ־ (Nevertheless), אֲנָשִׁ֛ים (some) מֵאָשֵׁ֥ר (from Asher) וּמְנַשֶּׁ֖ה (and Manasseh) וּמִזְּבֻל֑וּן (and Zebulun) נִֽכְנְע֔וּ (humbled themselves) וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and came in) לִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (to Jerusalem). 12  גַּ֣ם (Also) בִּיהוּדָ֗ה (in Judah) הָֽיְתָה֙ (was) יַ֣ד (the hand) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), לָתֵ֥ת (to give) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) לֵ֣ב (heart) אֶחָ֑ד (one) לַעֲשׂ֞וֹת (to obey) מִצְוַ֥ת (the command) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (of the king) וְהַשָּׂרִ֖ים (and the leaders) בִּדְבַ֥ר (in the word) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover

13  וַיֵּֽאָסְפ֤וּ (And gathered) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (to Jerusalem) עַם־ (people) רָ֔ב (many) לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת (to keep) אֶת־ (-) חַ֥ג (the Feast) הַמַּצּ֖וֹת (of the Unleavened) בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (in the month) הַשֵּׁנִ֑י (second)— קָהָ֖ל (an assembly) לָרֹ֥ב (great) מְאֹֽד׃ (very). 14  וַיָּקֻ֕מוּ (And they arose) וַיָּסִ֙ירוּ֙ (and took away) אֶת־ (-) הַֽמִּזְבְּח֔וֹת (the altars) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that were) בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (in Jerusalem), וְאֵ֤ת (and) כָּל־ (all) הַֽמְקַטְּרוֹת֙ (the incense altars) הֵסִ֔ירוּ (they took away) וַיַּשְׁלִ֖יכוּ (and cast them) לְנַ֥חַל (into the Valley) קִדְרֽוֹן׃ (Kidron). 15  וַיִּשְׁחֲט֣וּ (And they slaughtered) הַפֶּ֔סַח (the Passover) בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה (on the four) עָשָׂ֖ר (and tenth) לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (of the month) הַשֵּׁנִ֑י (second). וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים (And the priests) וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם (and the Levites) נִכְלְמוּ֙ (were ashamed) וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ (and they consecrated themselves) וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ (and brought) עֹל֖וֹת (the burnt offerings) בֵּ֥ית (to the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

16  וַיַּֽעַמְד֤וּ (And they stood) עַל־ (on) עָמְדָם֙ (their station) כְּמִשְׁפָּטָ֔ם (according to their ordinance), כְּתוֹרַ֖ת (according to the Law) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (of Moses) אִישׁ־ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God). הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (The priests) זֹרְקִ֣ים (splattered) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּ֔ם (the blood) מִיַּ֖ד (from the hand) הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (of the Levites). 17  כִּי־ (For) רַבַּ֥ת (many were) בַּקָּהָ֖ל (in the assembly) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) לֹא־ (not) הִתְקַדָּ֑שׁוּ (had sanctified themselves), וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם (and the Levites) עַל־ (were over) שְׁחִיטַ֣ת (the slaughtering) הַפְּסָחִ֗ים (of the Passovers) לְכֹל֙ (for everyone) לֹ֣א (not) טָה֔וֹר (clean), לְהַקְדִּ֖ישׁ (to sanctify them) לַיהוָֽה׃ (to YHWH).

18  כִּ֣י (For) מַרְבִּ֣ית (a multitude) הָעָ֡ם (of the people), רַ֠בַּת (many) מֵֽאֶפְרַ֨יִם (from Ephraim) וּמְנַשֶּׁ֜ה (and Manasseh), יִשָּׂשכָ֤ר (Issachar), וּזְבֻלוּן֙ (and Zebulun), לֹ֣א (not) הִטֶּהָ֔רוּ (had purified themselves), כִּֽי־ (yet) אָכְל֥וּ (they ate) אֶת־ (-) הַפֶּ֖סַח (the Passover) בְּלֹ֣א (contrary to) כַכָּת֑וּב (what was written). כִּי֩ (But) הִתְפַּלֵּ֨ל (prayed) יְחִזְקִיָּ֤הוּ (Hezekiah) עֲלֵיהֶם֙ (for them), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) הַטּ֖וֹב (who is good) יְכַפֵּ֥ר (may provide atonement for) בְּעַֽד׃ (on the behalf) 19  כָּל־ (everyone who) לְבָב֣וֹ (his heart) הֵכִ֔ין (prepares) לִדְר֛וֹשׁ (to seek) הָאֱלֹהִ֥ים׀ (God)— יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) אֲבוֹתָ֑יו (of his fathers)— וְלֹ֖א (and not) כְּטָהֳרַ֥ת (according to the purifying) הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ס (of the sanctuary).

20  וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע (And listened) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ (Hezekiah) וַיִּרְפָּ֖א (and healed) אֶת־ (-) הָעָֽם׃ס (the people). 21  וַיַּעֲשׂ֣וּ (And kept) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל (of Israel) הַנִּמְצְאִ֨ים (who were found) בִּֽירוּשָׁלִַ֜ם (in Jerusalem) אֶת־ (-) חַ֧ג (the Feast) הַמַּצּ֛וֹת (of the Unleavened) שִׁבְעַ֥ת (seven) יָמִ֖ים (days) בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה (with joy) גְדוֹלָ֑ה (great), וּֽמְהַלְלִ֣ים (and were praising) לַ֠יהוָה (YHWH) י֣וֹם׀ (day) בְּי֞וֹם (by day) הַלְוִיִּ֧ם (the Levites) וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים (and the priests), בִּכְלֵי־ (accompanied by instruments) עֹ֖ז (loud) לַיהוָֽה׃ס (to YHWH). 22  וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (And spoke) יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ (Hezekiah) עַל־ (to) לֵב֙ (the heart) כָּל־ (of all) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) הַמַּשְׂכִּילִ֥ים (who gave) שֵֽׂכֶל־ (understanding) ט֖וֹב (good) לַיהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וַיֹּאכְל֤וּ (And they ate) אֶת־ (-) הַמּוֹעֵד֙ (the appointed thing) שִׁבְעַ֣ת (seven) הַיָּמִ֔ים (days), מְזַבְּחִים֙ (sacrificing) זִבְחֵ֣י (sacrifices) שְׁלָמִ֔ים (of peace offerings) וּמִ֨תְוַדִּ֔ים (and confessing) לַיהוָ֖ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ס (of their fathers).

23  וַיִּוָּֽעֲצוּ֙ (And counseled) כָּל־ (all) הַקָּהָ֔ל (the assembly) לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת (to keep it) שִׁבְעַ֥ת (seven) יָמִ֖ים (days) אֲחֵרִ֑ים (another), וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֥וּ (and they kept it) שִׁבְעַת־ (seven) יָמִ֖ים (days) שִׂמְחָֽה׃ (with joy). 24  כִּ֣י (For) חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ (Hezekiah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְ֠הוּדָה (of Judah) הֵרִ֨ים (gave) לַקָּהָ֜ל (to the assembly) אֶ֣לֶף (a thousand) פָּרִים֮ (bulls) וְשִׁבְעַ֣ת (and seven) אֲלָפִ֣ים (thousand) צֹאן֒ס (sheep), וְהַשָּׂרִ֞ים (and the leaders) הֵרִ֤ימוּ (gave) לַקָּהָל֙ (to the assembly) פָּרִ֣ים (bulls) אֶ֔לֶף (a thousand) וְצֹ֖אן (and sheep) עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת (ten) אֲלָפִ֑ים (thousand), וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ (and sanctified themselves) כֹהֲנִ֖ים (of priests) לָרֹֽב׃ (a great number).

25  וַֽיִּשְׂמְח֣וּ׀ (And rejoiced) כָּל־ (all) קְהַ֣ל (the assembly) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah), וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ (and the priests), וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם (and the Levites), וְכָל־ (and all) הַקָּהָ֖ל (the assembly) הַבָּאִ֣ים (that came) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (from Israel), וְהַגֵּרִ֗ים (and the sojourners) הַבָּאִים֙ (who came) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), וְהַיּוֹשְׁבִ֖ים (and those who dwelt) בִּיהוּדָֽה׃ (in Judah). 26  וַתְּהִ֥י (And there was) שִׂמְחָֽה־ (joy) גְדוֹלָ֖ה (great) בִּֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (in Jerusalem), כִּ֠י (for) מִימֵ֞י (from the days) שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה (of Solomon) בֶן־ (son) דָּוִיד֙ (of David) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לֹ֥א (nothing) כָזֹ֖את (like this was) בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס (in Jerusalem).

27  וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ (And arose) הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים (the priests), הַלְוִיִּם֙ (the Levites), וַיְבָרֲכ֣וּ (and blessed) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people), וַיִּשָּׁמַ֖ע (and was heard) בְּקוֹלָ֑ם (their voice). וַתָּב֧וֹא (And came up) תְפִלָּתָ֛ם (their prayer) לִמְע֥וֹן (to dwelling place) קָדְשׁ֖וֹ (His holy) לַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃פ (in the heavens).