5. Everyone from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north was invited. This was the largest crowd of people that had ever celebrated Passover, according to the official records.
6. Hezekiah's messengers went everywhere in Israel and Judah with the following letter:People of Israel, now that you have survived the invasion of the Assyrian kings, it's time for you to turn back to the Lord God our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshipped. If you do this, he will stop being angry.
7. Don't follow the example of your ancestors and your Israelite relatives in the north. They were unfaithful to the Lord, and he punished them horribly.
8. Don't be stubborn like your ancestors. Decide now to obey the Lord our God! Come to Jerusalem and worship him in the temple that will belong to him for ever. Then he will stop being angry,
9. and the enemies who have captured your families will show pity and send them back home. The Lord God is kind and merciful, and if you turn back to him, he will no longer turn his back on you.
10. The messengers went to every town in Ephraim and West Manasseh as far north as the territory of Zebulun, but everyone laughed and insulted them.
11. Only a few people from the tribes of Asher, West Manasseh, and Zebulun were humble and went to Jerusalem.
12. God also made everyone in Judah eager to do what Hezekiah and his officials had commanded.
13. In the second month, a large crowd of people gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Thin Bread.
14. They took all the foreign altars and incense altars in Jerusalem and threw them into Kidron Valley.
20. The Lord answered Hezekiah's prayer and did not punish them.
21. The worshippers in Jerusalem were very happy and celebrated the Festival for seven days. The Levites and priests sang praises to the Lord every day and played their instruments.
22. Hezekiah thanked the Levites for doing such a good job, leading the celebration.The worshippers celebrated for seven days by offering sacrifices, by eating the sacred meals, and by praising the Lord God of their ancestors.
23. Everyone was so excited that they agreed to celebrate seven more days.