أخبار الأيام الثاني ٣٥:٦

Josiah celebrates a passover, Ch2 35:1; regulates the courses of the priests; assigns them, the Levites, and the people, their portions; and completes the greatest passover ever celebrated since the days of Solomon, vv. 2-19. Pharaoh Necho passes with his army through Judea, Ch2 35:20. Josiah meets and fights with him at Megiddo, and is mortally wounded, Ch2 35:21-23. He is carried to Jerusalem, where he dies, Ch2 35:24. Jeremiah laments for him, Ch2 35:25. Of his acts and deeds, and where recorded, Ch2 35:26, Ch2 35:27.

So kill the passover, &c.--The design of the minute directions given here was to facilitate the distribution of the paschal lambs. These were to be eaten by the respective families according to their numbers (Exo 12:3). But multitudes of the people, especially those from Israel, having been reduced to poverty through the Assyrian devastations, were to be provided with the means of commemorating the passover. Therefore, the king enjoined the Levites that when the paschal lambs were brought to them to be killed (Ch2 35:7-9) they should take care to have everything put in so orderly a train, that the lambs, after due presentation, might be easily delivered to the various families to be roasted and eaten by themselves apart.

So kill the passover,.... In the manner, time, and place, and for the persons it should be killed: and sanctify yourselves: by washing themselves and garments, that they might be fit for this service: and prepare your brethren; prepare a lamb for your brethren, or instruct them how to perform their office that needed instruction: that they may do according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses; celebrate the ordinance of the passover in all its rites, according to the law of Moses, at least in every rite in which they were more peculiarly concerned.

We are here to attend Josiah, I. To the temple, where we see his religious care for the due observance of the ordinance of the passover, according to the law (v. 1-19). II. To the field of battle, where we see his rashness in engaging with the king of Egypt, and how dearly it cost him (Ch2 35:20-23). III. To the grave, where we see him bitterly lamented (Ch2 35:24-27). And so we must take our leave of Josiah.