35 1 Josiah keepeth the Passover. 2 He setteth forth God’s service. 20 He fighteth against the king of Egypt, and dieth. 24 The people bewail him.

Moreover, (A)Josiah kept a Passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem, and they slew the [a]Passover in the fourteenth day of the first month.

And he appointed the Priests to their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord,

And he said unto the Levites that [b]taught all Israel and were sanctified unto the Lord, Put the holy Ark in the house which Solomon the son of David King of Israel did build: it shall be no more a [c]burden upon your shoulders: serve now the Lord your God, and his people Israel,

And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers according to your courses, as (B)David the king of Israel hath written, and according to the writing of Solomon his son,

And stand in the Sanctuary according to the division of the families of your brethren [d]the children of the people, and after the division of the family of the Levites:

So kill the Passover, and sanctify yourselves, and [e]prepare your brethren that they may do according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

Josiah also gave to the [f]people sheep, lambs and kids, all for the Passover, even to all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king’s substance.

And his princes offered 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, even two thousand and six hundred sheep, and three hundred bullocks.

[g]Conaniah also and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel, and Jozabad, chief of the Levites gave unto the Levites for the Passover, five thousand sheep, and five hundred bullocks.

10 Thus the service was prepared, and the Priests stood in their places, also the Levites in their orders, according to the king’s commandment:

11 And they slew the Passover, and the Priests [h]sprinkled the blood with their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

12 And they took away from the [i]burnt offering to give it according to the divisions of the families of the children of the people, to offer unto the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses, and so of the bullocks.

13 And (C)they roasted the Passover with fire, according to the custom, but the sanctified things they sod in pots, pans, and cauldrons, and distributed them quickly to all the people.

14 Afterward also they prepared for themselves and for the Priests: for the Priests the sons of Aaron were occupied 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 stood in their standing (D)according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s [j]Seer: and the porters at every gate, who might not depart from their service: therefore 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 the same time, and the feast of the unleavened bread seven days.

18 And there was no Passover kept like that 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 [k]present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

19 This Passover was kept in [l]the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.

20 (E)After all this, when Josiah had prepared the Temple Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against [m]Carchemish by [n]Perath and Josiah went out against him.

21 But he sent messengers 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 [o]of mine enemy, and God commanded me to make haste: leave off to come against God, which is with me, lest he destroy thee.

22 But Josiah would not turn his face from him, but [p]changed his apparel to fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho, which were of the mouth of God, but came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

23 And the shooters shot at king Josiah: then the king said to his servants, Carry me away, for I am very sick.

24 So his servants took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot which he had, and when they had brought him to Jerusalem, he died, and was buried in the sepulchers of his fathers: and all Judah and Jerusalem [q]mourned for Josiah.

25 And Jeremiah lamented Josiah, and all singing men and singing women mourned for Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made the same for an ordinance unto Israel: and behold, they be written in the [r]Lamentations.

26 Concerning the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, doing as it 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.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 35:1 The Scripture useth in sundry places to call the lamb the Passover, which was but the sign of the Passover, because in all sacraments the signs have the names of the things which are signified.
  2. 2 Chronicles 35:3 So that the Levite’s charge was not only to minister in the Temple, but also to instruct the people in the word of God.
  3. 2 Chronicles 35:3 As it was before the Temple was built: therefore your office only is now to teach the people, and to praise God.
  4. 2 Chronicles 35:5 Or, the people.
  5. 2 Chronicles 35:6 Exhort everyone to examine themselves, that they be not unmeet to eat of the Passover.
  6. 2 Chronicles 35:7 Hebrew, sons of the people.
  7. 2 Chronicles 35:9 So that everyone and of all sorts gave of that they had, a liberal portion to the service of God.
  8. 2 Chronicles 35:11 Meaning, of the Lamb, which was called the Passover: for only the Priests might sprinkle, and in necessity the Levites might kill the sacrifice.
  9. 2 Chronicles 35:12 They reserved for the people that which was not expedient to be offered, that every man might offer peace offerings, and so have his portion.
  10. 2 Chronicles 35:15 Meaning hereby his Prophet, because he appointed the Psalms and prophecies which were to be sung.
  11. 2 Chronicles 35:18 Hebrew, found.
  12. 2 Chronicles 35:19 Which was in his six and twentieth year of his age.
  13. 2 Chronicles 35:20 Which was a city of the Assyrians, and Josiah fearing lest he passing through Judah, would have taken his kingdom, made war against him, and consulted not with the Lord.
  14. 2 Chronicles 35:20 Or, Euphrates.
  15. 2 Chronicles 35:21 Hebrew, of my battle.
  16. 2 Chronicles 35:22 That is, armed himself, or disguised himself, because he might not be known.
  17. 2 Chronicles 35:24 The people so much lamented the loss of this good king, that after when there was any great lamentation this was spoken of as a proverb, read Zech. 12:11.
  18. 2 Chronicles 35:25 Which some think Jeremiah made, wherein he lamenteth the state of the Church after this king’s death.

35 וַיַּ֨עַשׂ יֹאשִׁיָּ֧הוּ בִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם פֶּ֖סַח לַיהוָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁחֲט֣וּ הַפֶּ֔סַח בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃

וַיַּעֲמֵ֥ד הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים עַל־מִשְׁמְרוֹתָ֑ם וַֽיְחַזְּקֵ֔ם לַעֲבוֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לַ֠לְוִיִּם ׳הַמְּבוּנִים׳ ״הַמְּבִינִ֨ים״ לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל הַקְּדוֹשִׁ֣ים לַיהוָ֗ה תְּנ֤וּ אֶת־אֲרוֹן־הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ בַּ֠בַּיִת אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֜ה שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה בֶן־דָּוִיד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵין־לָכֶ֥ם מַשָּׂ֖א בַּכָּתֵ֑ף עַתָּ֗ה עִבְדוּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת עַמּ֥וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

׳וְהִכּוֹנוּ׳ ״וְהָכִ֥ינוּ״ לְבֵית־אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם כְּמַחְלְקוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בִּכְתָ֗ב דָּוִיד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבְמִכְתַּ֖ב שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנֽוֹ׃

וְעִמְד֣וּ בַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ לִפְלֻגּוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית הָֽאָב֔וֹת לַאֲחֵיכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וַחֲלֻקַּ֥ת בֵּֽית־אָ֖ב לַלְוִיִּֽם׃

וְשַׁחֲט֖וּ הַפָּ֑סַח וְהִתְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ וְהָכִ֣ינוּ לַאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת כִּדְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ פ

וַיָּ֣רֶם יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ לִבְנֵ֪י הָעָ֟ם צֹ֞אן כְּבָשִׂ֣ים וּבְנֵֽי־עִזִּים֮ הַכֹּ֣ל לַפְּסָחִים֒ לְכָל־הַנִּמְצָ֗א לְמִסְפַּר֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים אֶ֔לֶף וּבָקָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֑ים אֵ֖לֶּה מֵרְכ֥וּשׁ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס

וְשָׂרָ֞יו לִנְדָבָ֥ה לָעָ֛ם לַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֖ם הֵרִ֑ימוּ חִלְקִיָּ֨ה וּזְכַרְיָ֜הוּ וִֽיחִיאֵ֗ל נְגִידֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים נָתְנ֣וּ לַפְּסָחִ֗ים אַלְפַּ֙יִם֙ וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וּבָקָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃

׳וְכוֹנַנְיָהוּ׳ ״וְ֠כָֽנַנְיָהוּ״ וּשְׁמַֽעְיָ֨הוּ וּנְתַנְאֵ֜ל אֶחָ֗יו וַחֲשַׁבְיָ֧הוּ וִיעִיאֵ֛ל וְיוֹזָבָ֖ד שָׂרֵ֣י הַלְוִיִּ֑ם הֵרִ֨ימוּ לַלְוִיִּ֤ם לַפְּסָחִים֙ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים וּבָקָ֖ר חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃

10 וַתִּכּ֖וֹן הָעֲבוֹדָ֑ה וַיַּֽעַמְד֨וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים עַל־עָמְדָ֛ם וְהַלְוִיִּ֥ם עַל־מַחְלְקוֹתָ֖ם כְּמִצְוַ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

11 וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ הַפָּ֑סַח וַיִּזְרְק֤וּ הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ מִיָּדָ֔ם וְהַלְוִיִּ֖ם מַפְשִׁיטִֽים׃

12 וַיָּסִ֨ירוּ הָעֹלָ֜ה לְ֠תִתָּם לְמִפְלַגּ֤וֹת לְבֵית־אָבוֹת֙ לִבְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם לְהַקְרִיב֙ לַיהוָ֔ה כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּסֵ֣פֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה וְכֵ֖ן לַבָּקָֽר׃

13 וַֽיְבַשְּׁל֥וּ הַפֶּ֛סַח בָּאֵ֖שׁ כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְהַקֳּדָשִׁ֣ים בִּשְּׁל֗וּ בַּסִּיר֤וֹת וּבַדְּוָדִים֙ וּבַצֵּ֣לָח֔וֹת וַיָּרִ֖יצוּ לְכָל־בְּנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃

14 וְאַחַ֗ר הֵכִ֤ינוּ לָהֶם֙ וְלַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים כִּ֤י הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֔ן בְּהַֽעֲל֛וֹת הָעוֹלָ֥ה וְהַחֲלָבִ֖ים עַד־לָ֑יְלָה וְהַלְוִיִּם֙ הֵכִ֣ינוּ לָהֶ֔ם וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בְּנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹֽן׃

15 וְהַמְשֹֽׁרֲרִ֨ים בְּנֵי־אָסָ֜ף עַל־מַעֲמָדָ֗ם כְּמִצְוַ֤ת דָּוִיד֙ וְאָסָ֞ף וְהֵימָ֤ן וִֽידֻתוּן֙ חוֹזֵ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֖ים לְשַׁ֣עַר וָשָׁ֑עַר אֵ֣ין לָהֶ֗ם לָסוּר֙ מֵעַ֣ל עֲבֹֽדָתָ֔ם כִּֽי־אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם הַלְוִיִּ֖ם הֵכִ֥ינוּ לָהֶֽם׃

16 וַ֠תִּכּוֹן כָּל־עֲבוֹדַ֨ת יְהוָ֜ה בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת הַפֶּ֔סַח וְהַעֲל֣וֹת עֹל֔וֹת עַ֖ל מִזְבַּ֣ח יְהוָ֑ה כְּמִצְוַ֖ת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃

17 וַיַּעֲשׂ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֛ים אֶת־הַפֶּ֖סַח בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑יא וְאֶת־חַ֥ג הַמַּצּ֖וֹת שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃

18 וְלֹֽא־נַעֲשָׂ֨ה פֶ֤סַח כָּמֹ֙הוּ֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִימֵ֖י שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל הַנָּבִ֑יא וְכָל־מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל׀ לֹֽא־עָשׂ֡וּ כַּפֶּ֣סַח אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֣ה יֹֽ֠אשִׁיָּהוּ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם וְכָל־יְהוּדָה֙ וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הַנִּמְצָ֔א וְיוֹשְׁבֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ ס

19 בִּשְׁמוֹנֶ֤ה עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לְמַלְכ֖וּת יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ נַעֲשָׂ֖ה הַפֶּ֥סַח הַזֶּֽה׃

20 אַחֲרֵ֣י כָל־זֹ֗את אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵכִ֤ין יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת עָלָ֞ה נְכ֧וֹ מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם בְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ עַל־פְּרָ֑ת וַיֵּצֵ֥א לִקְרָאת֖וֹ יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃

21 וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אֵלָ֣יו מַלְאָכִ֣ים׀ לֵאמֹר֩׀ מַה־לִּ֨י וָלָ֜ךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה לֹא־עָלֶ֨יךָ אַתָּ֤ה הַיּוֹם֙ כִּ֚י אֶל־בֵּ֣ית מִלְחַמְתִּ֔י וֵאלֹהִ֖ים אָמַ֣ר לְבַֽהֲלֵ֑נִי חֲדַל־לְךָ֛ מֵאֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־עִמִּ֖י וְאַל־יַשְׁחִיתֶֽךָ׃

22 וְלֹֽא־הֵסֵב֩ יֹאשִׁיָּ֨הוּ פָנָ֜יו מִמֶּ֗נּוּ כִּ֤י לְהִלָּחֵֽם־בּוֹ֙ הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֛ע אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י נְכ֖וֹ מִפִּ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֕א לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בְּבִקְעַ֥ת מְגִדּֽוֹ׃

23 וַיֹּרוּ֙ הַיֹּרִ֔ים לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ לַעֲבָדָיו֙ הַעֲבִיר֔וּנִי כִּ֥י הָחֳלֵ֖יתִי מְאֹֽד׃

24 וַיַּֽעֲבִירֻ֨הוּ עֲבָדָ֜יו מִן־הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֗ה וַֽיַּרְכִּיבֻהוּ֮ עַ֣ל רֶ֣כֶב הַמִּשְׁנֶה֮ אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֒ וַיּוֹלִיכֻ֙הוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיָּ֕מָת וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּקִבְר֣וֹת אֲבֹתָ֑יו וְכָל־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם מִֽתְאַבְּלִ֖ים עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ פ

25 וַיְקוֹנֵ֣ן יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ֒ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ כָֽל־הַשָּׁרִ֣ים׀ וְ֠הַשָּׁרוֹת בְּקִינ֨וֹתֵיהֶ֤ם עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ עַד־הַיּ֔וֹם וַיִּתְּנ֥וּם לְחֹ֖ק עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהִנָּ֥ם כְּתוּבִ֖ים עַל־הַקִּינֽוֹת׃

26 וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ וַחֲסָדָ֑יו כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃

27 וּדְבָרָ֕יו הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֔ים עַל־סֵ֥פֶר מַלְכֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וִיהוּדָֽה׃

Josiah Celebrates the Passover(A)

35 Josiah celebrated the Passover(B) 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 Lord’s temple. He said to the Levites, who instructed(C) all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel. Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions,(D) according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and by his son Solomon.

“Stand in the holy place with a group of Levites for each subdivision of the families of your fellow Israelites, the lay people. Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves(E) and prepare the lambs for your fellow Israelites, doing what the Lord commanded through Moses.”

Josiah provided for all the lay people who were there a total of thirty thousand lambs and goats for the Passover offerings,(F) and also three thousand cattle—all from the king’s own possessions.(G)

His officials also contributed(H) voluntarily to the people and the priests and Levites. Hilkiah,(I) Zechariah and Jehiel, the officials in charge of God’s temple, gave the priests twenty-six hundred Passover offerings and three hundred cattle. Also Konaniah(J) along with Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel and Jozabad,(K) the leaders of the Levites, provided five thousand Passover offerings and five hundred head of cattle for the Levites.

10 The service was arranged and the priests stood in their places with the Levites in their divisions(L) as the king had ordered.(M) 11 The Passover lambs were slaughtered,(N) and the priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them, while the Levites skinned the animals. 12 They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the subdivisions of the families of the people to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle. 13 They roasted the Passover animals over the fire as prescribed,(O) and boiled the holy offerings in pots, caldrons and pans and served them quickly to all the people. 14 After this, they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fat portions(P) until nightfall. So the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the Aaronic priests.

15 The musicians,(Q) the descendants of Asaph, were in the places prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun the king’s seer. The gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made the preparations for them.

16 So at that time the entire service of the Lord was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, as King Josiah had ordered. 17 The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. 18 The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. 19 This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign.

The Death of Josiah(R)

20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish(S) on the Euphrates,(T) and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. 21 But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told(U) me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”

22 Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised(V) himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.

23 Archers(W) shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, “Take me away; I am badly wounded.” 24 So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.

25 Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments.(X) These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments.(Y)

26 The other events of Josiah’s reign and his acts of devotion in accordance with what is written in the Law of the Lord 27 all the events, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.