2. King Hezekiah, his officers and all the people in Jerusalem agreed to celebrate the Passover in the second month.
3. They could not celebrate it at the normal time. This was because not enough priests had made themselves ready to serve the Lord. And the people had not gathered yet in Jerusalem.
4. This plan satisfied King Hezekiah and all the people.
5. So they made an announcement everywhere in Israel, from Beersheba to Dan. They told the people to come to Jerusalem. There they would celebrate the Passover for the Lord, the God of Israel. For a long time most of the people had not celebrated the Passover as the law commanded.
6. So the messengers took letters from the king and his officers all through Israel and Judah. This is what the letters said:People of Israel, come back to obeying the Lord. He is the God that Abraham, Isaac and Israel obeyed. Then God will come back to you who are still alive. You have escaped from the kings of Assyria.
7. Don’t be like your ancestors or your relatives. They turned against the Lord, the God their fathers obeyed. So the Lord caused other people to be disgusted with them. You know this is true.