Information Retrieved -> 2 Chronicles 29 - 31(NLT)

Book Chapter Verse Text
2 Chronicles 29 1 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
2 Chronicles 29 2 He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his ancestor David had done.
2 Chronicles 29 3 In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the LORD and repaired them.
2 Chronicles 29 4 He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple.
2 Chronicles 29 5 He said to them, "Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the LORD, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary.
2 Chronicles 29 6 Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned the LORD and his Temple; they turned their backs on him.
2 Chronicles 29 7 They also shut the doors to the Temple's foyer, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.
2 Chronicles 29 8 That is why the LORD's anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made us an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can so plainly see.
2 Chronicles 29 9 Our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity.
2 Chronicles 29 10 But now I will make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.
2 Chronicles 29 11 My dear Levites, do not neglect your duties any longer! The LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and make offerings to him."
2 Chronicles 29 12 Then these Levites got right to work: From the clan of Kohath: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah. From the clan of Merari: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel. From the clan of Gershon: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah.
2 Chronicles 29 13 From the family of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel. From the family of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah.
2 Chronicles 29 14 From the family of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei. From the family of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.
2 Chronicles 29 15 These men called together their fellow Levites, and they purified themselves. Then they began to purify the Temple of the LORD, just as the king had commanded. They were careful to follow all the LORD's instructions in their work.
2 Chronicles 29 16 The priests went into the sanctuary of the Temple of the LORD to cleanse it, and they took out to the Temple courtyard all the defiled things they found. From there the Levites carted it all out to the Kidron Valley.
2 Chronicles 29 17 The work began on a day in early spring, and in eight days they had reached the foyer of the LORD's Temple. Then they purified the Temple of the LORD itself, which took another eight days. So the entire task was completed in sixteen days.
2 Chronicles 29 18 Then the Levites went to King Hezekiah and gave him this report: "We have purified the Temple of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the Bread of the Presence with all its utensils.
2 Chronicles 29 19 We have also recovered all the utensils taken by King Ahaz when he was unfaithful and closed the Temple. They are now in front of the altar of the LORD, purified and ready for use."
2 Chronicles 29 20 Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went to the Temple of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 29 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the Temple, and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, to sacrifice the animals on the altar of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 29 22 So they killed the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Next they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. And finally, they did the same with the lambs.
2 Chronicles 29 23 The male goats for the sin offering were then brought before the king and the assembly of people, who laid their hands on them.
2 Chronicles 29 24 The priests then killed the goats as a sin offering and sprinkled their blood on the altar to make atonement for the sins of all Israel. The king had specifically commanded that this burnt offering and sin offering should be made for all Israel.
2 Chronicles 29 25 King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres. He obeyed all the commands that the LORD had given to King David through Gad, the king's seer, and the prophet Nathan.
2 Chronicles 29 26 The Levites then took their positions around the Temple with the instruments of David, and the priests took their positions with the trumpets.
2 Chronicles 29 27 Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be placed on the altar. As the burnt offering was presented, songs of praise to the LORD were begun, accompanied by the trumpets and other instruments of David, king of Israel.
2 Chronicles 29 28 The entire assembly worshiped the LORD as the singers sang and the trumpets blew, until all the burnt offerings were finished.
2 Chronicles 29 29 Then the king and everyone with him bowed down in worship.
2 Chronicles 29 30 King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the psalms of David and Asaph the seer. So they offered joyous praise and bowed down in worship.
2 Chronicles 29 31 Then Hezekiah declared, "The dedication ceremony has come to an end. Now bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the LORD." So the people brought their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and those whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings, too.
2 Chronicles 29 32 The people brought to the LORD seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs for burnt offerings.
2 Chronicles 29 33 They also brought six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep as sacrifices.
2 Chronicles 29 34 But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings, so their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and until more priests had been purified. For the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests.
2 Chronicles 29 35 There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual drink offerings, and a great deal of fat from the many peace offerings. So the Temple of the LORD was restored to service.
2 Chronicles 29 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced greatly because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.
2 Chronicles 30 1 King Hezekiah now sent word to all Israel and Judah, and he wrote letters of invitation to Ephraim and Manasseh. He asked everyone to come to the Temple of the LORD at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.
2 Chronicles 30 2 The king, his officials, and all the community of Jerusalem decided to celebrate Passover a month later than usual.
2 Chronicles 30 3 They were unable to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests could be purified by then, and the people had not yet assembled at Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 30 4 This plan for keeping the Passover seemed right to the king and all the people.
2 Chronicles 30 5 So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north, inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as prescribed in the law.
2 Chronicles 30 6 At the king's command, messengers were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters which said: "O people of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings.
2 Chronicles 30 7 Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see.
2 Chronicles 30 8 Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the LORD. Come to his Temple which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the LORD your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
2 Chronicles 30 9 For if you return to the LORD, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you."
2 Chronicles 30 10 The messengers went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the messengers and made fun of them.
2 Chronicles 30 11 However, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 30 12 At the same time, God's hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them a strong desire to unite in obeying the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 30 13 And so a huge crowd assembled at Jerusalem in midspring to celebrate Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
2 Chronicles 30 14 They set to work and removed the pagan altars from Jerusalem. They took away all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.
2 Chronicles 30 15 On the appointed day in midspring, one month later than usual, the people slaughtered their Passover lambs. Then the priests and Levites became ashamed, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 30 16 They took their places at the Temple according to the regulations found in the law of Moses, the man of God. The Levites brought the sacrificial blood to the priests, who then sprinkled it on the altar.
2 Chronicles 30 17 Since many of the people there had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lambs for them, to set them apart for the LORD.
2 Chronicles 30 18 Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to God's laws. For Hezekiah said, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon those
2 Chronicles 30 19 who decide to follow the LORD, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony."
2 Chronicles 30 20 And the LORD listened to Hezekiah's prayer and healed the people.
2 Chronicles 30 21 So the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Each day the Levites and priests sang to the LORD, accompanied by loud instruments.
2 Chronicles 30 22 Hezekiah encouraged the Levites for the skill they displayed as they served the LORD. So for seven days the celebration continued. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people confessed their sins to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.
2 Chronicles 30 23 The entire assembly then decided to continue the festival another seven days, so they celebrated joyfully for another week.
2 Chronicles 30 24 King Hezekiah gave the people one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for offerings, and the officials donated one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep. Meanwhile, many more priests purified themselves.
2 Chronicles 30 25 The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah.
2 Chronicles 30 26 There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David's son.
2 Chronicles 30 27 Then the Levitical priests stood and blessed the people, and God heard them from his holy dwelling in heaven.
2 Chronicles 31 1 Now when the festival ended, the Israelites who attended went to all the towns of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and removed the pagan shrines and altars. After this, the Israelites returned to their own towns and homes.
2 Chronicles 31 2 Hezekiah then organized the priests and Levites into divisions to offer the burnt offerings and peace offerings, and to worship and give thanks and praise to the LORD at the gates of the Temple.
2 Chronicles 31 3 The king also made a personal contribution of animals for the daily morning and evening burnt offerings, as well as for the weekly Sabbath festivals and monthly new moon festivals, and for the other annual festivals as required in the law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31 4 In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring the prescribed portion of their income to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31 5 The people responded immediately and generously with the first of their crops and grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tithe of all they owned.
2 Chronicles 31 6 The people who had moved to Judah from Israel, and the people of Judah themselves, brought in the tithes of their cattle and sheep and a tithe of the things that had been dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them up in great heaps.
2 Chronicles 31 7 The first of these tithes was brought in late spring, and the heaps continued to grow until early autumn.
2 Chronicles 31 8 When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw these huge piles, they thanked the LORD and his people Israel!
2 Chronicles 31 9 "Where did all this come from?" Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites.
2 Chronicles 31 10 And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied, "Since the people began bringing their gifts to the LORD's Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, for the LORD has blessed his people."
2 Chronicles 31 11 Hezekiah decided to have storerooms prepared in the Temple of the LORD, and this was done.
2 Chronicles 31 12 Then all the gifts and tithes were faithfully brought to the Temple. Conaniah the Levite was put in charge, assisted by his brother Shimei.
2 Chronicles 31 13 The supervisors under them were Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. These appointments were made by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the chief official in the Temple of God.
2 Chronicles 31 14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, who was the gatekeeper at the East Gate, was put in charge of distributing the freewill offerings of God, the gifts, and the things that had been dedicated to the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31 15 His faithful assistants were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the gifts among the families of priests in their towns, by their divisions, dividing the gifts fairly among young and old alike.
2 Chronicles 31 16 They also distributed the gifts to all males three years old or older, regardless of their place in the genealogical records, who came daily to the LORD's Temple to perform their official duties, by their divisions.
2 Chronicles 31 17 And they distributed gifts to the priests who were listed in the genealogical records by families, and to the Levites twenty years old or older who were listed according to their jobs and their divisions.
2 Chronicles 31 18 Food allotments were also given to all the families listed in the genealogical records, including the little babies, the wives, and the sons and daughters. For they had all been faithful in purifying themselves.
2 Chronicles 31 19 As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who were living in the open villages around the towns, men were appointed to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to all the Levites listed in the genealogical records.
2 Chronicles 31 20 In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God.
2 Chronicles 31 21 In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow the law and the commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.
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