Evening of the Passover in the great court of the temple: the long, plain stone house glowing in the last light, and across the court below dozens of small cooking fires with lambs roasting on spits, families gathered round them and Levites carrying pots between the fires; a calm amber and deep-blue sky above.

The Book of

2 Chronicles 35

The greatest Passover since Samuel, and then the battle Josiah should never have fought.

27 verses≈ 6 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1SolomonWisdom asked at Gibeon
2–5The templeBuilt on Mount Moriah
6–7DedicationIf My people humble themselves
8–9Solomon's gloryThe queen of Sheba
10–16DivisionRehoboam to Asa
17–20JehoshaphatThe battle is God's
21–24Dark yearsJehoram to Joash
25–28Proud kingsAmaziah to Ahaz
29–32HezekiahDoors opened, Passover kept
33–35Manasseh to JosiahMercy and the Book foundChapter 35
36Exile and returnMay he go up

Josiah Restores the Passover

Then Josiah kept the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.

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Morning in the temple court: King Josiah, young and bearded in a deep-blue robe, stands on a low stone step before the temple's porch and speaks with one hand raised to rows of Levites in undyed linen gathered by families below him; a few priests in white linen to one side.

To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.

Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and Solomon his son.

Moreover, stand in the Holy Place by the divisions of the families of your kinsmen the lay people, and by the divisions of the families of the Levites. Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses.”

Early morning on the road climbing to Jerusalem from the east: a great flood of sheep and goats, a herd of bulls behind, driven uphill by herdsmen with staffs, dust rising gold in the low sun; the city's plain walls and flat roofs on the ridge ahead.

From his own flocks and herds Josiah contributed 30,000 lambs and goats plus 3,000 bulls for the Passover offerings for all the people who were present.

His officials also contributed willingly to the people and priests and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officials of the house of God, gave the priests 2,600 Passover offerings and 300 bulls. Additionally, Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, as well as Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, officers of the Levites, contributed to the Levites 5,000 Passover offerings and 500 bulls.

contributed willingly

2 Chronicles 35:8

Afterward, they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were offering up burnt offerings and fat until nightfall. So the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

Late afternoon on the steps at the side of the temple court: Levite singers in long white linen robes stand in their places with lyres, upright harps and bronze cymbals, singing; beyond them at a plain stone gate two gatekeepers stand at their posts as another Levite brings them bowls of food.

The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

So on that day the entire service of the LORD was carried out for celebrating the Passover and offering burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah. The Israelites who were present also observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

2 Chronicles 35:18

None of the kings of Israel ever observed a Passover like the one that Josiah observed with the priests, the Levites, all Judah, the Israelites who were present, and the people of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was observed.

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Megiddo and Carchemish

In 609 BC Neco marched up the coast road from Egypt toward Carchemish on the Euphrates. Josiah went out to meet him where the road runs through the pass at Megiddo, and he was brought home to Jerusalem to die.

Question

Quick question

Josiah kept the Passover in Jerusalem, at the time the law set.

On what day was the Passover lamb slaughtered?

The Death of Josiah

Early morning at the mouth of the pass below the great mound of Megiddo, its plain wall and gate on the rise: far off, a long column of Egyptian soldiers with tall round-topped shields and spears marches out of the pass with a few light chariots, dust in the low sun; a pale, hazy sky above.

After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty, and God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”

0:25

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Early morning on the Plain of Megiddo seen from very far off: below the great flat-topped mound of Megiddo, a small Judean force waits in the grass with one light chariot among them, a man in a plain soldier's corselet beside its driver; far across the valley a dust cloud where an army comes.

Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.

There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”

Dusk on a road climbing through the hills toward Jerusalem, seen from far off: a single chariot moves slowly up the road with servants and soldiers walking beside it, heads bowed; far ahead on the ridge, the city's plain walls.

So his servants took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. And Josiah was buried in the tomb of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.

Reflect

From the mouth of God

Josiah had sought God all his life. When the book was found he sent to inquire of the LORD. Yet this once he did not stop to ask: “He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God.” Where are you most likely to act on your own judgment without asking God, even after years of walking with Him? Write it down.

Laments over Josiah

Evening at a gate of Jerusalem: Jeremiah, a lean bearded man in a plain wool robe and brown mantle, sits on the stone bench of the gate room singing a lament with his eyes closed; men and women singers sit and stand around him in mourning, townspeople listening in the lane.

Then Jeremiah lamented over Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers recite laments over Josiah.

They established them as a statute for Israel, and indeed they are written in the Book of Laments.

As for the rest of the acts of Josiah and his deeds of loving devotion according to what is written in the Law of the LORD— his acts from beginning to end—they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

Pray

To the end

Thank God for Josiah’s love for His word and His worship. Ask for glad, willing hearts like his officials’, who “contributed willingly” to the people. Ask for grace to keep asking God’s will to the end and not lean on your own understanding. Pray for anyone you know who is grieving a faithful life cut short.

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2 Chronicles 35

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A verse to carry with you

No such Passover had been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel ever observed a Passover like the one that Josiah observed with the priests, the Levites, all Judah, the Israelites who were present, and the people of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 35:18

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