Hezekiah- Invited Everyone to the Best Party Ever

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 30

From the Journals of Hezekiah

I am so excited. 

The service of the temple had restarted. What amazed me the most was how fast the people worked to get things done.

I immediately wrote letters to our brothers in Israel, in all of Judah, in Ephraim, and Manassah, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem to celebrate the Lord's Passover, the God of Israel.

I met with the assembly of men and together we decided to hold the Passover in the second month. Unfortunately we couldn't celebrate at the appointed time because not all of the priests had made themselves clean in time. Also, we needed more time for the rest of our brothers to arrive in Jerusalem.

I commanded couriers to go throughout Israel and Judah with my letters and ordered them to deliver the messages to the kings. This is the letter I wrote:

"People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to those of you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.

"Do not be like your fathers and brothers, who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their fathers, which brought punishment on them. Do not be stubborn as your fathers were. Submit to the Lord. Come to the sanctuary, which he has made clean forever. Serve the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. If you return to the Lord, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him."

The curriers obeyed my command and went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as the sea of Zebulun, but the people made fun of them and wouldn't listen. There are some men from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun, though, who humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 

In Judah, the hand of God was on our people. He helped us work together to carry out the orders following the word of the Lord to prepare for Passover.

As the large crowd of people arrived, we removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altar and thew these evil things in the Kidron Valley.

So many more wonderful things have happened. I'll tell you more next time.

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1.  Why was Hezekiah excited?
2.  Why did Hezekiah write to Israel, Ephraim, Manasseh, and all Judea?
3.  Hezekiah tol the people to not be foolish like their fathers. What did he say God would do? He would ________ his _______ from_______ if you return to him.
4.  What happened to the curriers?
5.  What happened in Judah as they prepared?

6.  Where did they throw the evil incense altar and other altars?