And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.
The entire group of people decided together to celebrate for another seven days, and they joyfully celebrated for those additional seven days.
The people were having such a meaningful time of worship and celebration that they spontaneously decided to extend their festival for another full week.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred during King Hezekiah's restoration of proper worship in Judah around 715 BC, when he reinstituted the Passover celebration that had been neglected for generations. The original Passover was meant to last seven days, but the people were so moved by this return to God that they voluntarily extended it. This was particularly significant because many people from the northern kingdom of Israel had also come to participate, making it a rare moment of unity between the divided kingdoms.
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