Why was Josiah’s Passover described as unlike any since the days of Samuel?

The passage says there had been no Passover like Josiah’s since the days of Samuel. This points to how fully and carefully it was kept. It was held at the right time, in the first month on the fourteenth day, in the place God chose, Jerusalem. The priests and Levites followed the written law, the king and princes gave huge numbers of animals so everyone could join, and people from Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem were there. It was a wide, united, and ordered return to what God had commanded.

What roles did the priests and Levites have in Josiah’s Passover?

The priests and Levites each had clear jobs. Josiah set the priests in their charges and encouraged them in the service of the house of the Lord. The priests stood in their place, sprinkled the blood from the sacrifices, and stayed busy at the altar until night. The Levites taught Israel, handled the ark, killed the Passover animals, skinned them, boiled and roasted the meat, and prepared portions for the people, the priests, the singers, and the gatekeepers. They served according to their courses and family divisions, just as the law and the writings of David and Solomon directed.

Why did Josiah and the leaders give so many animals for the Passover?

Josiah gave thirty thousand lambs and kids and three thousand bullocks from his own resources. The princes and chief Levites also gave thousands of animals. This generosity meant that all who were present could keep the Passover and the other offerings, not just the wealthy. It shows a king and leaders who wanted the whole nation to join in true worship without being held back by cost. By providing freely, they helped make obedience to God’s commands about Passover possible for every family, including the poor.

What does the end of this passage teach about ignoring God’s warning?

After the great Passover, Necho king of Egypt marched to fight at Carchemish. Josiah went out against him. Necho sent a message saying he was not attacking Judah but another house, and that God had commanded him to hurry. He warned Josiah not to meddle with God’s work, so God would not destroy him. Josiah did not listen to these words, which the passage says were from the mouth of God. He disguised himself, went into battle at Megiddo, was shot by archers, and died. This shows that even a godly king can fall into trouble when he refuses a clear warning from God.

Who was Necho in this passage, and why did he speak of God’s command?

Necho was the king of Egypt who came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates. When Josiah went out against him, Necho sent messengers saying he had no quarrel with Judah that day. He said he was at war with another house and added that God had commanded him to make haste. The passage shows that God can direct the actions of foreign rulers and use them to carry out his purposes. Necho’s warning to Josiah is presented as coming from God, even though Necho was not part of Israel.

Why did Jeremiah and the people mourn so deeply for Josiah?

When Josiah died, all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him. Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and singing men and women spoke of him in their laments and made it an ordinance in Israel. This shows how much the people loved and respected him. He had led them back to proper worship, repaired the temple, and kept a careful Passover that united the nation. His death in battle felt like a great loss of a good and faithful king. Their ongoing laments show that his life and his death left a deep mark on the people’s hearts.

What does this passage show about true worship and preparation?

This passage shows that true worship is not careless. Josiah told the Levites to put the ark in its place, to sanctify themselves, and to prepare their brothers. The priests and Levites served in order, by their families and courses, and did everything “as it is written in the book of Moses” and according to the writings linked to David and Solomon. The Passover animals were killed, the blood was sprinkled, and the offerings were cooked and shared quickly so all could take part. Careful preparation, obedience to God’s written word, and willing service all stand out as marks of proper worship.

How can Josiah’s example of leadership in this chapter guide spiritual leaders today?

Josiah’s leadership in this chapter shows a leader who cares about God’s word and the people’s worship. He encourages priests and Levites, gives clear instructions, and makes sure the ark and the temple are treated rightly. He gives from his own resources so that others can obey God, and he involves princes and Levites in generous giving. He honors the order God set up for priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. At the same time, his later choice to ignore God’s warning through Necho is a sober reminder that leaders must keep listening to God and not trust their own plans above his word.

2Chr.35.1

2 Chronicles 35:1

KJV

Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

Josiah Restores the Passover

1 Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord,

3 And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the Lord, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the Lord your God, and his people Israel,

4 And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.

5 And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.

6 So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

7 And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king’s substance.

8 And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.

9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.

10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandment.

11 And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

12 And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.

13 And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.

14 And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.

15 And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.

16 So all the service of the Lord was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josiah.

17 And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.

18 And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.

The Death of Josiah

20 ¶ After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.

21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.

22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.

24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

Laments over Josiah

25 ¶ And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.

26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the Lord,

27 And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Cross References

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