Read 2 Chronicles 35
Josiah Keeps the Passover
35 Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 He appointed the priests to their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of the Lord. 3 And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the Lord, “Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. You need not carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel. 4 Prepare yourselves according to your fathers’ houses by your divisions, as prescribed in the writing of David king of Israel and the document of Solomon his son. 5 And stand in the Holy Place according to the groupings of the fathers’ houses of your brothers the lay people, and according to the division of the Levites by fathers’ household. 6 And slaughter the Passover lamb, and consecrate yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to the word of the Lord by Moses.”
7 Then Josiah contributed to the lay people, as Passover offerings for all who were present, lambs and young goats from the flock to the number of 30,000, and 3,000 bulls; these were from the king’s possessions. 8 And his officials contributed willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings 2,600 Passover lambs and 300 bulls.9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 bulls.
10 When the service had been prepared for, the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their divisions according to the king’s command. 11 And they slaughtered the Passover lamb, and the priests threw the blood that they received from them while the Levites flayed the sacrifices. 12 And they set aside the burnt offerings that they might distribute them according to the groupings of the fathers’ houses of the lay people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And so they did with the bulls. 13 And they roasted the Passover lamb with fire according to the rule; and they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in cauldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the lay people. 14 And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron, were offering the burnt offerings and the fat parts until night; so the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. 15 The singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers were at each gate. They did not need to depart from their service, for their brothers the Levites prepared for them.
16 So all the service of the Lord was prepared that day, to keep the Passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, according to the command of King Josiah. 17 And the people of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days.18 No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.
Josiah Killed in Battle
20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. 21 But he sent envoys to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.” 22 Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.”24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.25 Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds according to what is written in the Law of the Lord, 27 and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
Go Deeper
This chapter, the next to last in 2 Chronicles, is one of mixed emotions. We read of the celebratory Passover dinner, which was well attended by people from both the north and south. Every detail in the Law was accounted for and God was honored through their celebration. The reign of Josiah was still going strong! He was righting the wrongs of so many of his predecessors and he was one of the most faithful kings in all of Judah’s history. But then, a sudden downturn.
A battle broke out and Josiah decided to insert himself into it, even though Neco (the king of Egypt) warned him against participating on God’s behalf (v. 21). For whatever reason, Josiah trusted his own instincts and impulses instead of trusting the message God has sent him through Neco. Josiah even went so far as to disguise himself so he could participate in the battle. As a result, Josiah was taken down in the battle by an archer. All of a sudden, the reign of this faithful king was over in a fateful moment.
The end of the passage ends in mourning. All of Judah and Jerusalem were grieving the loss of the king, as well as the prophet Jeremiah (v. 24-25). The Chronicler makes a point of mentioning just how grieved everyone was. This is a testament to Josiah’s faithfulness as their ruler. By seeking the heart of God during his reign as king, God’s blessing was on Josiah’s reign. As a result, the people prospered. It was clear that the Lord rewarded Josiah’s righteousness and faithfulness, which is consistent with God’s character (1 Samuel 26:23).
Reading this passage, it is hard to not feel a tinge of sorrow for the way Josiah’s reign ended. As we have read through 2 Chronicles, we have read of so many wicked and unrighteous kings. Josiah was one of the good guys! This passage serves as a reminder to always test our motives alongside God’s Word. While Josiah had Neco bring him a message on God’s behalf, we have the benefit of having the Holy Spirit inside of us and God’s Word to test our motives. If our hearts aren’t aligned with God’s heart, we will ultimately pursue our own desires and fall short, just as Josiah did.
Questions
- What stuck out to you as you first read through this chapter? Why?
- Why was the Passover so significant to King Josiah? What was the importance of it being so perfect?
- The end of Josiah’s reign was ultimately a result of his poor choices. What can you proactively do to ensure that you will finish well?
A Quote
Pastor and author Tim Keller, who passed away in 2023, is a great example of finishing well. Here are the last words he said as he went to be with Jesus:
“I’m thankful for all the people who’ve prayed for me over the years. I’m thankful for my family that loves me. I’m thankful for the time God has given me, but I’m ready to see Jesus. I can’t wait to see Jesus. Send me home.”
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10 responses to “2 Chronicles 35”
“…and the gatekeepers were at each gate….”
– 2 Chronicles 35:15
People often remark how sad it is that we need security at Churches today…but there is nothing new under the sun, as we see here in this Old Testament account.
God is a God of justice. (law & order) After the fall in Genesis 3 we ultimately sought to be God of our lives. Because of that, and the dark consequences that result, we’ve always needed God to raise up those, who under the authority of the Church and the government (Romans 13) stand in the gap to help attain law and order.
The following from Perplexity (an AI platform):
Who the gatekeepers were
The “gatekeepers” (or porters) were Levites assigned to guard and manage access to the temple gates. Their duties included controlling who entered, preserving holiness in the temple area, and maintaining order among the worshipers during major festivals.
Lord God, bless all those serving in law enforcement, security, medical, greeters, parking, hosts, to be your instruments of the Gospel, and law and order to your body, the Church. Give them wisdom and discernment to be your ambassadors in all that you put before them. Amen
Amen. Thanks for sharing that perspective.
Thank you for serving and being there for all.
Amen!
As I read chapter 35, I was truly saddened at Josiah’s death. I felt sorrow for he was one of the “good guys” as a king because he was doing what’s right in the eyes of the Lord. If I can be saddened for a king of 2700 years ago, I can only imagine how the people must have grieved his death. Thanks Josiah for being true to the Lord.
True that!
What captured my heart when reading of King Josiah’s legacy is that “all fall short of the glory of God.” 0or righteousness is as filthy rags in light of our holy God. Hence our desperate need of a sinless Savior. Thanks be to God for this unspeakable gift!
Remember our redemption.
God told all the Kings to read the book of the law. This is exactly why Moses dictated that every king must read the Book of the Law. To ensure they remember the Passover, the celebration of their redemption.
Remember what God has done, then and now for our redemption.
What is redemption? The action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt. The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.
AI Overview
According to the Bible, redemption is the act of being rescued or bought back from bondage, sin, and its consequences through a payment or a ransom. This rescue is ultimately accomplished through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, which pays the penalty for sin and frees believers from spiritual slavery, allowing them to be reconciled to God. The concept is described as a spiritual purchase that makes forgiveness, righteousness, and reconciliation possible
Do we remember what all God has done to and for our redemption? Do we tell our kids, our grands, our family, our friends, our co-workers?
God thank You for redeeming from my past. Thank You that I can remember minutely of all that You have done in my life. God You are so amazing, beyond words or thoughts to thank and glorify You!! Thank You for Your light so shining forth and that my words, deeds, and hands are to glorify You today in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
22 “Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him . . . “
Josiah, come on man! You did well, that was a weak finish!
Lord, help me to finish strong!
The Passover celebration was a time to remember God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. This act of remembrance is crucial for our faith, as it keeps us grounded in God’s past faithfulness. “No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet” (2 Chronicles 35:18). Remembering God’s works strengthens our trust in His promises.