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Second Book of Paralipomenon 549

30 And Ezechias and the princes commanded 3 For they could not keep it in its time; be-
the Levites to praise the Lord with the words cause there were not priests enough sanctified,
of David, and Asaph the seer: and they praised and the people was not as yet gathered together
him with great joy, and bowing the knee adored. to Jerusalem.
31 And Ezechias added, and said: You have 4 And the thing pleased the king, and all the
filled your hands to the Lord, come and offer vic- people.
tims, and praises in the house of the Lord. And 5 And they decreed to send messengers to
all the multitude offered victims, and praises, all Israel from Bersabee even to Dan, that they
and holocausts with a devout mind. should come, and keep the phase to the Lord
32 And the number of the holocausts which the God of Israel in Jerusalem: for many had
the multitude offered, was seventy bullocks, a not kept it as it is prescribed by the law.
hundred rams, and two hundred lambs. 6 And the posts went with letters by com-
33 And they consecrated to the Lord six hun- mandment of the king, and his princes, to all
dred oxen, and three thousand sheep. Israel and Juda, proclaiming according to the
34 But the priests were few, and were not king’s orders: Ye children of Israel, turn again
enough to flay the holocausts: wherefore the to the Lord the God of Abraham, and of Isaac,
Levites their brethren helped them, till the work and of Israel: and he will return to the remnant
was ended, and priests were sanctified, for the of you that have escaped the hand of the king of
Levites are sanctified with an easier rite than the Assyrians.
the priests. 7 Be not like your fathers, and brethren, who
35 So there were many holocausts, and the departed from the Lord the God of their fathers,
fat of peace offerings, and the libations of holo- and he hath given them up to destruction, as you
causts: and the service of the house of the Lord see.
was completed. 8 Harden not your necks, as your fathers
36 And Ezechias, and all the people rejoiced did: yield yourselves to the Lord, and come to
because the ministry of the Lord was accom- his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified forever:
serve the Lord the God of your fathers, and the
plished. For the resolution of doing this thing
was taken suddenly. wrath of his indignation shall be turned away
from you.
9 For if you turn again to the Lord, your
Chapter 30 brethren, and children shall find mercy before
their masters, that have led them away captive,
And Ezechias sent to all Israel and Juda: and and they shall return into this land: for the Lord
he wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasses, that your God is merciful, and will not turn away his
they should come to the house of the Lord in face from you, if you return to him.
Jerusalem, and keep the phase to the Lord the 10 So the posts went speedily from city to city,
God of Israel, through the land of Ephraim, and of Manasses,
2 For the king, taking counsel, and the princes, even to Zabulon, whilst they laughed at them
and all the assembly of Jerusalem, decreed to and mocked them.
keep the phase the second month. 11 Nevertheless some men of Aser, and of