Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
Read it in contextJosiah's Great Passover and Death
Start reading at 2 Chronicles 35:1 (2 Chronicles 35:1 to 2 Chronicles 35:27).
The entire chapter describes Josiah's Passover and his subsequent death, forming a complete narrative unit.
35:1Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
35:2And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD,
35:3And 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,
35:4And 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.
35:5And 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.
35:6So 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.
35:7And 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.
35:8And 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.
35:9Conaniah 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.
35:10So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.
35:11And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.
35:12And 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.
35:13And 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.
35:14And 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.
35:15And 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.
35:16So 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.
35:17And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
35:18And 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.
35:19In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.
35:20After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
35:21But 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.
35:22Nevertheless 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.
35:23And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
35:24His 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.
35:25And 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.
35:26Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD,
35:27And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Ezra is the traditional Jewish attribution, while the final compiler is not known with certainty. First and Second Chronicles are parts of the same historical work. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (2 Chronicles 34:1–35:27): Josiah, priests, royal officials, Huldah, and the gathered people are involved in reform, the discovered law, and Passover; the final scene concerns Josiah's battle with Egypt. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? The Jewish community after exile, especially those concerned with the temple, worship, the Davidic kings, and the call to return and rebuild. Biblical references: 2 Chronicles 36:20; 2 Chronicles 36:22; 2 Chronicles 36:23. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? King Josiah kept a great Passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem, which was the most significant Passover observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet.
What is God revealing? God reveals His expectation for His people to obey His commandments, particularly regarding the Passover, and His sovereignty over the events of kings and nations, even when His servants act contrary to His word.
What is the literary style? Narrative history.
When
When was it written? c. 450 to 425 B.C.
When does the event take place? On the fourteenth day of the first month, in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.
Where
Where did it happen? In Jerusalem.
Where was the author located? Jerusalem.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Josiah's Great Passover and Death (2 Chronicles 35:1 to 2 Chronicles 35:27).
Start reading at 2 Chronicles 35:1. The entire chapter describes Josiah's Passover and his subsequent death, forming a complete narrative unit.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This passage describes the culmination of Josiah's reforms and his devotion to the LORD, marked by the keeping of a Passover that surpassed all others since Samuel. It highlights his efforts to restore proper worship according to the Law of Moses, immediately preceding his tragic death. stated in the text
How does it point to Christ? The Passover, with the killing of a lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month, serves as a type pointing to Jesus Christ, the 'Lamb of God' (John 1:29). His sacrifice on the cross provides the ultimate deliverance from sin, fulfilling the shadow of the Old Testament Passover. interpretation
How do I apply it today? This passage encourages believers to diligently obey God's commands and to worship Him according to His word. Just as Israel was commanded to remember the Passover, believers today are called to remember and participate in the new covenant established through Christ's sacrifice, living in obedience and devotion to God. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of 2 Chronicles 35
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Second Chronicles follows Solomon and the kings of Judah, emphasizing the temple, worship, and responses to prophetic warning. The closing proclamation of Cyrus points beyond exile toward return. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Major reforms are set beside the sins of intervening reigns, preserving the tension between renewal and approaching judgment.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Major reforms are set beside the sins of intervening reigns, preserving the tension between renewal and approaching judgment.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of 2 Chronicles
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Second Chronicles follows Solomon and the kings of Judah, emphasizing the temple, worship, and responses to prophetic warning. The closing proclamation of Cyrus points beyond exile toward return.
Connection to the wholeJerusalem's fall is explained in relation to rejected warnings, and Cyrus' proclamation opens the possibility of return and rebuilding.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.