18 For a multitude of the people, even
many of Ephraim, and
Manasseha, Issachar, and Zebulun,
had not acleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover
otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good
LORD pardon every one
19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.
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18a many of Ephraim, and
Manasseh As Hezekiah had proclaimed and posted throughout all
Israel and Judah to come to the keeping of the 'passover', many of Ephraim
and Manasseh had so come, they being faithful in their worship of Jehovah
also. Now this was just prior to the 'destruction of the kingdom of Israel
and their scattering. And as recorded many of Ephraim and Manasseh when
the kingdom of Israel was destroyed and scattered, did come and seek refuge
in Judah and this more likely so since King Hezekiah had so invited them
to come and worship Jehovah and keep this passover previously. Now some think
that his may be when Lehi came into the land of Jerusalem, but remember,
many high official and princes of the people of the tribes had lived in
'Jerusalem' and its suburbs since King David had structured his 'courts' to
so include many from the various different tribes. Lehi and such as Laban,
perhaps a near cousin of Lehi, had position and inheritances in the land,
which suggests that Lehi's family had long been established there, perhaps
even in the land near Bethlehem, it being the location of the grave of their
ancestral mother Rachel.
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