King Josiah orchestrated an unprecedented Passover celebration in Jerusalem, meticulously organizing the priests and Levites and providing vast resources for the offerings. Following this, he confronted Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Megiddo, disregarding a divine warning conveyed by Necho. Josiah was mortally wounded in the battle, leading to his death and widespread mourning throughout Judah.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
¶ 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.
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.
And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Study Notes for 2 Chronicles 35
Verse 1
This Passover occurred late in Josiah's reign (v. 19), likely following the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Chr 34:14) and the subsequent nationwide reforms. The celebration strictly adhered to the Mosaic requirements, marking a high point of spiritual renewal.
Verse 3
The instruction to 'Put the holy ark in the house' suggests the Ark had been moved, perhaps for safekeeping during Manasseh's idolatrous reign or during the recent temple repairs. Placing it back symbolizes the complete restoration of proper, legitimate worship.
Verse 4
The organization of the priests and Levites 'after your courses' follows the detailed administrative plans established by King David (1 Chr 24-26) and reinforced by Solomon, ensuring orderly and efficient temple service.
Verse 7
Josiah's personal contribution of 30,000 animals demonstrates the immense scale of the celebration and the king's commitment to ensuring that all the people could fulfill the requirements of the Law, particularly those who traveled great distances.
Verse 8
The generous contributions from the royal officials, priests, and Levite leaders underscore the widespread support for Josiah's reforms and the communal nature of the restored worship.
Verse 12
The careful separation and distribution of the offerings ensured that the sacrifices were handled according to the specific legal instructions found in 'the book of Moses' (the Pentateuch, cf. Lev 1:1-17).
Verse 13
While the Passover lamb had to be roasted (Exod 12:8-9), other accompanying peace or fellowship offerings ('the other holy offerings') could be cooked by boiling ('sod'), illustrating the careful distinction made between different types of sacrifices.
Verse 18
This verse highlights the unparalleled nature of Josiah's Passover. The comparison to the days of Samuel emphasizes that such a comprehensive, nationwide observance had not occurred since the early monarchy, marking a spiritual high point for Judah.
Verse 20
This transition marks the tragic end of the godly king. Pharaoh Necho II was marching north (609 BC) to aid Assyria against the rising power of Babylon. Josiah likely intervened to prevent Egypt from aiding Assyria, hoping to secure Judah's independence from foreign powers.
Verse 21
Necho's claim that 'God commanded me' is significant. The Chronicler suggests that, even though Necho was a pagan, his military action was divinely directed, making Josiah's decision to intercept him an act of disobedience against a prophetic warning.
Verse 22
Josiah’s refusal to heed the warning and his use of disguise show his stubborn determination to fight. His death in the Valley of Megiddo (Armageddon) became a symbol of national tragedy (cf. Zech 12:11).
Verse 25
The prophet Jeremiah, who was active during Josiah’s reign, composed a formal lament (dirge) for the king, emphasizing the depth of national sorrow. Josiah’s death was a catastrophic loss, signaling the imminent collapse of the kingdom.
Verse 26
The Chronicler concludes the account by emphasizing Josiah’s piety—his 'goodness' was measured precisely 'according to that which was written in the law of the LORD,' confirming his status as a truly righteous reformer.
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