²¹ So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves^(A) from the unclean practices^(B) of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord,^(C) the God of Israel. ²² For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread,^(D) because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude^(E) of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.