sincethey couldnot celebrateit at that time,becausethe priestshad not consecratedthemselves in sufficientnumbers,norhad the peoplebeen gatheredto Jerusalem.
Now they beganthe consecrationon the first[day] of the firstmonth,and on the eighthdayof the monththey enteredthe porchof the LORD.Then they consecratedthe houseof the LORDin eightdays,and finishedon the sixteenthdayof the firstmonth.
But the priestswere too few,so that they were unableto skinallthe burntofferings;therefore their brothersthe Leviteshelpedthem untilthe workwas completedand untilthe [other] priestshad consecratedthemselves. For the Leviteswere moreconscientiousto consecratethemselves thanthe priests.
Then they slaughteredthe Passover[lambs] on the fourteenthof the secondmonth.And the priestsand Leviteswere ashamedof themselves, and consecratedthemselves and broughtburntofferingsto the houseof the LORD.
For Hezekiahkingof Judahhad contributedto the assembly1000bullsand 7,000sheep,and the princeshad contributedto the assembly1000bullsand 10,000sheep;and a largenumberof priestsconsecratedthemselves.
Thus the thingwas rightin the sightof the kingand allthe assembly.
"Now slaughterthe Passover[animals], sanctifyyourselves and preparefor your brethrento doaccording to the wordof the LORDby Moses."
In the first[month], on the fourteenthdayof the monthat evening,you shall eatunleavenedbread,untilthe twenty-firstdayof the monthat evening.
You shall keepit untilthe fourteenthdayof the samemonth,then the wholeassemblyof the congregationof Israelis to killit at twilight.
