2 Chronicles Chapter 35
Josiah’s Passover
A. Josiah’s great Passover.
1. (2 Chronicles 35:1–6) Josiah directs the priests and the Levites for the Passover.
“Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem, and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD, 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, 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. 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. 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.”
Josiah kept the Passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem at the proper, appointed time, on the fourteenth day of the first month. This detail is significant because the previous great Passover under Hezekiah had been delayed to the second month due to ceremonial unpreparedness, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 30:1–3. Josiah’s Passover, by contrast, took place exactly as prescribed in the Law. This reflects the fruit of sustained reform and careful obedience to Scripture. The nation was no longer improvising obedience, but conforming itself to the written Word of God.
Josiah set the priests in their proper charges and encouraged them in their service. He understood that true worship requires both order and exhortation. Organization without encouragement produces cold ritual, and encouragement without order produces chaos. Josiah ensured that the priests were properly assigned and spiritually motivated. This Passover was not a spontaneous emotional event, but a carefully prepared act of covenant obedience. As Charles Spurgeon later observed, every man must first be placed rightly, and then serve faithfully in that place.
Josiah addressed the Levites who taught all Israel, identifying them as holy unto the LORD. Teaching the people the Law was a central Levitical responsibility, and Josiah relied upon their instruction to ensure the Passover was conducted correctly. He commanded that the holy ark be returned to the house that Solomon had built. This reveals that under the apostate reigns of Manasseh and Amon, the ark had been removed from its rightful resting place. The ark, symbolizing the presence and covenant authority of God, had no place among idols. Now it was restored to the Most Holy Place, where it belonged.
The statement that the ark would no longer be a burden upon their shoulders indicates that it had been in a state of displacement, perhaps even carried from place to place. The time had come for stability, reverence, and proper worship. Jewish tradition suggests that faithful priests had removed the ark to protect it from desecration during idolatrous times. Whether or not that detail is historically verifiable, the biblical point is clear. Josiah restored what had been displaced and honored what had been neglected.
Josiah commanded the Levites to prepare themselves according to their fathers’ houses and divisions, following the written instructions of David and Solomon. Worship was regulated by Scripture and by God ordained order, not personal preference. The priests and Levites were to stand in the holy place according to their divisions and to slaughter the Passover offerings, sanctifying themselves so that the people might obey according to the word of the LORD given by Moses. The emphasis throughout is obedience to written revelation.
2. (2 Chronicles 35:7–9) Lambs provided for the Passover sacrifice.
“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. 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. 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.”
Josiah personally provided an extraordinary number of Passover offerings from his own possessions. Thirty thousand lambs and young goats, along with three thousand cattle, were given so that every household could participate. This generosity demonstrates Josiah’s desire that no one be excluded from covenant worship due to poverty or lack. He removed every practical barrier to obedience. His leadership was not symbolic, but sacrificial.
The scale of this generosity exceeded even that of Hezekiah’s Passover, underscoring the exceptional nature of this event. Josiah was not content with minimal compliance. He sought wholehearted national participation in obedience to the LORD. His willingness to bear the cost reflects the heart of a godly ruler who understands that leadership requires personal investment.
Josiah’s generosity inspired others to give willingly. His princes followed his example, contributing to the people, the priests, and the Levites. Hilkiah and the other rulers of the house of God gave substantial offerings for the priests, while Conaniah and the chief Levites provided generously for the Levites. This pattern is consistent throughout Scripture. When leaders give sacrificially, the people are encouraged to do the same. Godly leadership multiplies godly response.
This section highlights that true revival is not merely emotional or doctrinal, but practical. It involves time, resources, effort, and personal sacrifice. Josiah’s Passover was not only properly timed and biblically ordered, but abundantly supplied. It stands as one of the greatest covenant celebrations in Israel’s history, rooted in obedience to the Word of God and supported by the willing generosity of a repentant nation.
3. (2 Chronicles 35:10–14) The slaughter of the Passover lambs and the sacrificial meal.
“So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandment. And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them. 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. 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. 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.”
The Chronicler states that the service was prepared, a rare and weighty phrase indicating that everything had been arranged exactly as God required. This language emphasizes completeness and obedience. Nothing was improvised, rushed, or left to chance. The priests stood in their appointed places and the Levites served according to their divisions, all in submission to the king’s command, which itself was governed by the written Word of God. This moment represents worship ordered by Scripture, leadership, and preparation rather than emotion alone.
The Passover offerings were slaughtered, and the priests sprinkled the blood while the Levites skinned the animals. This division of labor highlights both the sacred and practical aspects of worship. Blood application belonged to the priests as mediators at the altar, while the Levites assisted with the necessary work that made the sacrifices possible. Whether the sacrifices were slain exclusively by the Levites or involved the heads of households presenting the animals, the emphasis is on order and reverence rather than novelty.
The burnt offerings were carefully separated and distributed according to the families of the people so they could offer them to the LORD as written in the Book of Moses. Obedience to Scripture governed every detail. The roasting of the Passover lambs with fire followed the ordinance given in Exodus 12, preserving the typological picture of redemption through sacrifice. The other holy offerings were boiled and distributed quickly among the people, ensuring that everyone could participate fully in the covenant meal.
This meal was not merely ceremonial but communal. The entire nation ate together in obedience, joy, and gratitude. The roasting of the Passover lamb points prophetically to Christ bearing divine judgment on behalf of His people, enduring the fire of God’s wrath in their place. The cattle served as peace offerings to sustain the days of feasting that followed during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
After the people were served, the Levites prepared portions for themselves and for the priests. The priests had been occupied all day offering burnt offerings and fat until nightfall. The order is significant. The people were served first, then the servants of the altar. Faithful ministry prioritizes the people of God without neglecting those whom God has appointed to serve.
4. (2 Chronicles 35:15–19) The greatness of Josiah’s Passover.
“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. 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. And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. 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. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.”
The sons of Asaph, the appointed singers, were stationed in their places according to the command of David and the prophetic guidance given through Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. Although the Law of Moses did not prescribe organized singing as part of the Passover, Josiah incorporated worship that reflected Israel’s mature liturgical tradition. This was not innovation detached from Scripture, but reverent expansion consistent with Davidic worship. Josiah sought not only obedience, but joyful remembrance.
The gatekeepers remained at every gate and did not leave their posts. This detail reveals the king’s wisdom and vigilance. Even during a great national celebration, security and order were maintained. Worship did not lead to negligence. The Levites prepared food for the gatekeepers so that no one had to abandon their duty. Every role mattered, and every servant was supported.
All the service of the LORD was prepared the same day. The scale of sacrifice, worship, and feasting was immense, yet everything was completed according to the commandment of King Josiah and in obedience to the Law of Moses. This required extraordinary preparation, coordination, and discipline. The people kept the Passover and then observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days, marking a full covenant celebration rooted in Scripture.
The Chronicler makes a remarkable evaluation. There had been no Passover like this since the days of Samuel the prophet. Not even David, Solomon, or Hezekiah had kept such a Passover. This statement emphasizes not only the magnitude of the celebration, but its faithfulness, unity, and joy. All Judah and Israel were present, including remnants from the northern tribes, showing a rare moment of national unity centered on covenant obedience.
This Passover stands out for several reasons. It included an unprecedented gathering of people from both north and south. It followed the Law of Moses with exceptional precision. It shone brightly against the dark spiritual backdrop of Judah’s final years. It was the fruit of long preparation, faithful leadership, and wholehearted repentance.
Josiah’s Passover represents the high point of spiritual life in Judah before the final decline. It shows what is possible when God’s Word is honored, leadership is faithful, and the people respond with obedience.
B. The death of King Josiah.
1. (2 Chronicles 35:20–22) Josiah disregards God’s warning and goes to war.
“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. 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. 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.”
After all the spiritual reforms, covenant renewal, and the great Passover, the narrative takes a sobering turn. Necho king of Egypt marched north to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, a strategic military engagement tied to the larger struggle between the fading Assyrian Empire and the rising Babylonian Empire. Egypt had allied itself with Assyria in an attempt to halt Babylonian expansion. Judah stood geographically between these world powers, but Josiah involved himself where God had not commanded him to do so.
Josiah went out to confront Necho, a decision that Scripture presents as a tragic error in judgment. Necho’s response was unexpected and, remarkably, carried divine authority. He declared that his campaign was not against Judah and warned Josiah not to interfere, stating plainly that God had commanded him to make haste. Though Necho’s theological understanding was undoubtedly incomplete and filtered through pagan assumptions, the Chronicler explicitly affirms that these words were from the mouth of God.
Josiah’s failure was not merely political, but spiritual. He did not inquire of the LORD, nor did he weigh this warning carefully. Instead, he stubbornly pressed forward. His decision to disguise himself reveals a lack of faith and spiritual confidence. There is no recorded prayer, no prophetic consultation, and no appeal to God’s guidance. This stands in stark contrast to his earlier humility and submission to the Word of God.
Josiah’s sin was compounded by the fact that he was implicitly aiding the Assyrian cause, a nation long used by God as an instrument of judgment against Israel and Judah. Scripture consistently warns against trusting foreign alliances rather than the LORD. Josiah’s action appears motivated by political calculation rather than divine direction. The irony is severe. A king who had submitted himself so thoroughly to the Law of God now refused to heed a warning that God Himself delivered through an unexpected source.
The battle took place in the Valley of Megiddo, a location already heavy with historical and prophetic significance. This valley would later become associated with mourning, judgment, and ultimately the great eschatological conflict known as Armageddon. Josiah’s refusal to turn back sealed his fate.
2. (2 Chronicles 35:23–25) Josiah’s death and burial.
“And the archers shot at king Josiah, and the king said to his servants, Have me away, for I am sore wounded. 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. 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.”
Despite his disguise, Josiah was struck by archers and mortally wounded. His attempt to evade the danger proved futile. Like Ahab before him, disguise did not thwart divine providence. The king was removed from his chariot and transported back to Jerusalem, where he died and was buried among his fathers. His death marked the end of the last godly reign in Judah.
The nation responded with profound grief. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah, recognizing the magnitude of their loss. The prophet Jeremiah himself composed laments for the fallen king. This is one of the few instances where Scripture explicitly records a prophet lamenting a king’s death. Josiah was not merely respected, he was loved. His reforms, humility, and devotion to God had earned genuine affection from the people.
The mourning became institutionalized. Singing men and women commemorated Josiah in formal laments that continued for generations. This mourning was so significant that the prophet Zechariah later used it as a benchmark for national grief. Zechariah 12:11 states, “In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.” Josiah’s death became a symbol of tragic loss and unfulfilled hope.
The reference to writings in the Laments points to a now lost collection of funeral dirges. This is distinct from the Book of Lamentations and from Jeremiah’s later laments over Jerusalem’s fall. The Chronicler emphasizes that God’s promise to Josiah was still honored. Josiah did not live to see the destruction of Jerusalem or the Babylonian exile. His death, though violent, occurred before national catastrophe, fulfilling God’s word that he would be gathered to his grave in peace.
3. (2 Chronicles 35:26–27) The summary of the reign of good King Josiah.
“Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD, And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.”
The Chronicler closes Josiah’s account with a warm and respectful summary. His acts are remembered not merely for political success, but for goodness measured by obedience to the Law of the LORD. This is the defining metric of his reign. Josiah’s greatness did not lie in military conquest or territorial expansion, but in his submission to Scripture and his desire to lead the nation in covenant faithfulness.
Josiah is remembered with particular affection because he was the last king of Judah who genuinely sought the LORD. After his death, the nation quickly unraveled. His sons and successors lacked his devotion, and the reforms he enacted were not rooted deeply enough in the hearts of the people to endure. Josiah’s reign delayed judgment, but could not prevent it.
His passing removed the final restraint on Judah’s collapse. Yet Scripture does not diminish his legacy because of that. Josiah stands as a powerful example of sincere repentance, faithful leadership, and wholehearted obedience to God’s Word. His tragic end serves as a sober reminder that even godly men can falter when they cease to listen carefully to God’s voice.
