¹⁸ A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—were ritually unclean, yet they had eaten the Passover^(A) contrary to what was written.^(B) But Hezekiah had interceded for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement on behalf of

²¹ The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread seven days with great joy,^(A) and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day after day with loud instruments.

²⁵ Then the whole assembly of Judah with the priests and Levites, the whole assembly that came from Israel, the resident aliens who came from the land of Israel, and those who were living in Judah, rejoiced.