Hizkiyahu's Pesach and Yeshayahu's Prophecies

Amid the looming threat of Assyria, Hizkiyahu prepares to commemorate  a national Pesach sacrifice and festival on a grand scale, inviting those from the other Israelite tribes, as well. We analyze the chapters and background of this monumental event, and look at Hazal's praise and criticism of various aspects of Hizkiyahu's choices. Was Hizkiyahu's unusual (and belated) Pesach a good thing? And where does Yeshayahu fit in? It was a fine thing for Hizkiyahu to inspire the people to greater religious involvement and revival. But ritual alone is not enough. It is Yeshayahu's task to remind the people that the religious involvement at Pesach needs to be taken to the next step - implementing the social commandments to build an ethical society.