II Chronicles 35
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
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.
Open source ↗JOSIAH KEEPS A SOLEMN PASSOVER. (2Ch. 35:1-19) Moreover Josiah kept a passover--(See on Kg2 23:21). The first nine verses give an account of the preparations made for the celebration of the solemn feast [Ch2 35:1-9]. The day appointed by the law was kept on this occasion (compare Ch2 30:2, Ch2 30:13). The priests were ranged in their courses and exhorted to be ready for their duties in the manner that legal purity required (compare Ch2 29:5). The Levites, the ministers or instructors of the people in all matters pertaining to the divine worship, were commanded (Ch2 35:3) to "put the holy ark in the house which Solomon did build." Their duty was to transport the ark from place to place according to circumstances. Some think that it had been ignominiously put away from the sanctuary by order of some idolatrous king, probably Manasseh, who set a carved image in the house of God (Ch2 33:7), or Amon; while others are of opinion that it had been temporarily removed by Josiah himself into some adjoining chamber, during the repairs on the temple. In replacing it, the Levites had evidently carried it upon their shoulders, deeming that still to be the duty which the law imposed on them. But Josiah reminded them of the change of circumstances. As the service of God was now performed in a fixed and permanent temple, they were not required to be bearers of the ark any longer; and, being released from the service, they should address themselves with the greater alacrity to the discharge of other functions.
Open source ↗Moreover, Josiah kept a passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem,.... Where only it was to be kept: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month; the month Nisan, as the Targum, which was the exact time of killing the passover lamb, according to the law of Moses, Exo 12:6, in the Vulgate Latin version of the Apocrypha in:"And Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his Lord, and offered the passover the fourteenth day of the first month;'' (1 Esdras 1:1)it is called the fourteenth moon of the first month; a phrase often used in ecclesiastical writers, when speaking of the time of the passover; and so we now call one of the days of the week "dies lunae", Monday.
Open source ↗The solemnization of the passover. - To ratify the renewal of the covenant, and to confirm the people in the communion with the Lord into which it had entered by the making of the covenant, Josiah, immediately after the finding of the book of the law and the renewal of the covenant, appointed a solemn passover to be held at the legal time, which is only briefly mentioned in Kg2 23:21-23, but in the Chronicle is minutely described. Ch2 35:1 Ch2 35:1 contains the superscription-like statement, that Josiah held a passover to the Lord; and they held the passover in the 14th day of the first month, consequently at the time fixed in the law. It happened otherwise under Hezekiah (Ch2 30:2, Ch2 30:13, and Ch2 30:15). With Ch2 35:2 commences the description of the festival: and first we have the preparations, the appointment of the priests and Levites to perform the various services connected with the festival (Ch2 35:2-6), and the procuring of the necessary beasts for sacrifice (Ch2 35:10-15); then the offering of the sacrifices and the preparation of the meals (Ch2 35:10-15); and finally the characterization of the whole festival (Ch2 35:16-19). Ch2 35:2 He appointed the priests according to their guards or posts, i.e., according to the service incumbent upon each division, and "he strengthened them for the service of the house of Jahve," namely, by encouraging speech, and by teaching as to the duties devolving upon them, according to the provisions of the law. Cf. the summons of Hezekiah, Ch2 29:5.; and as to the יחזּק, Neh 2:18. Ch2 35:3-4 The Levites are designated "those teaching all Israel, those holy to the Lord," in reference to what is commanded them in the succeeding verses. The Keth. מבונים does not elsewhere occur, and must be regarded as a substantive: the teachers…
Open source ↗The destruction which Josiah made of idols and idolatry was more largely related in the Kings, but just mentioned here in the foregoing chapter (v. 33); but his solemnizing the passover, which was touched upon there (Kg2 23:21), is very particularly related here. Many were the feasts of the Lord, appointed by the ceremonial law, but the passover was the chief. It began them all in the night wherein Israel came out of Egypt; it concluded them all in the night wherein Christ was betrayed; and in the celebration of it Hezekiah and Josiah, those two great reformers, revived religion in their day. The ordinance of the Lord's supper resembles the passover more than it does any of the Jewish festivals; and the due observance of that ordinance, according to the rule, is an instance and means both of the growing purity and beauty of churches and of the growing piety and devotion of particular Christians. Religion cannot flourish where that passover is either wholly neglected or not duly observed; return to that, revive that, make a solemn business of that affecting binding ordinance, and then, it is to be hoped, there will be a reformation in other instances also. In the account we had of Hezekiah's passover the great zeal of the people was observable, and the transport of devout affection that they were in; but little of the same spirit appears here. It was more in compliance with the king that they all kept the passover (Ch2 35:17, Ch2 35:18) than from any great inclination they had to it themselves. Some pride they took in this form of godliness, but little pleasure in the power of it. But, whatever defect there was among the people in the spirit of the duty, both the magistrates and the ministers did their part and took care that the external part of the service should be pe…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יֹאשִׁיָּה (Yôʼshîyâh, H2977) — Joshijah, the name of two Israelites עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application פֶּסַח (peçach, H6453) — a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine שָׁחַט (shâchaṭ, H7819) — to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre) אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth רִאשׁוֹן (riʼshôwn, H7223) — first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun) חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month
Open source ↗עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mishmereth, H4931) — watch, i.e. the act (custody), or (concretely) the sentry, the post; objectively… חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively… עֲבֹדָה (ʻăbôdâh, H5656) — work of any kind בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi בִּין (bîyn, H995) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand מָבוֹן (mâbôwn, H4000) — instructing יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity קָדוֹשׁ (qâdôwsh, H6918) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse
Open source ↗כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application מַחֲלֹקֶת (machălôqeth, H4256) — a section (of Levites, people or soldiers) כָּתָב (kâthâb, H3791) — something written, i.e. a writing, record or book דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity מִכְתָּב (miktâb, H4385) — a thing written, the characters, or a document (letter, copy, edict, poem) שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity פְּלֻגָּה (pᵉluggâh, H6391) — a section בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… חֲלֻקָּה (chăluqqâh, H2515) — a distribution לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi
Open source ↗שָׁחַט (shâchaṭ, H7819) — to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre) פֶּסַח (peçach, H6453) — a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the… קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
Open source ↗יֹאשִׁיָּה (Yôʼshîyâh, H2977) — Joshijah, the name of two Israelites רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) כֶּבֶשׂ (kebes, H3532) — a ram (just old enough to butt) עֵז (ʻêz, H5795) — a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for… פֶּסַח (peçach, H6453) — a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the… מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… מִסְפָּר (miçpâr, H4557) — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also… שְׁלוֹשִׁים (shᵉlôwshîym, H7970) — thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);…
Open source ↗שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) נְדָבָה (nᵉdâbâh, H5071) — properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneous; also (concretely) a… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi חִלְקִיָּה (Chilqîyâh, H2518) — Chilhijah, the name of eight Israelites זְכַרְיָה (Zᵉkaryâh, H2148) — Zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine Israelites יְחִיאֵל (Yᵉchîyʼêl, H3171) — Jechiel (or Jechavel), the name of eight Israelites נָגִיד (nâgîyd, H5057) — a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) פֶּסַח (peçach, H6453) — a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the…
Open source ↗כּוֹנַנְיָהוּ (Kôwnanyâhûw, H3562) — Conanjah, the name of two Israelites שְׁמַעְיָה (Shᵉmaʻyâh, H8098) — Shemajah, the name of twenty-five Israelites נְתַנְאֵל (Nᵉthanʼêl, H5417) — Nethanel, the name of ten Israelites אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… חֲשַׁבְיָה (Chăshabyâh, H2811) — Chashabjah, the name of nine Israelites יְעִיאֵל (Yᵉʻîyʼêl, H3273) — Jeiel, the name of six Israelites יוֹזָבָד (Yôwzâbâd, H3107) — Jozabad, the name of ten Israelites שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) פֶּסַח (peçach, H6453) — a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the… חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
Open source ↗עֲבֹדָה (ʻăbôdâh, H5656) — work of any kind כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) עֹמֶד (ʻômed, H5977) — a spot (as being fixed) לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi מַחֲלֹקֶת (machălôqeth, H4256) — a section (of Levites, people or soldiers) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king מִצְוָה (mitsvâh, H4687) — a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)
Open source ↗שָׁחַט (shâchaṭ, H7819) — to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre) פֶּסַח (peçach, H6453) — a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the… כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… זָרַק (zâraq, H2236) — to sprinkle (fluid or solid particles) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi פָּשַׁט (pâshaṭ, H6584) — to spread out (i.e. deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e. unclothe,…
Open source ↗סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) עֹלָה (ʻôlâh, H5930) — a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מִפְלַגָּה (miphlaggâh, H4653) — a classification אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God כָּתַב (kâthab, H3789) — to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe) סֵפֶר (çêpher, H5612) — properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);…
Open source ↗בָּשַׁל (bâshal, H1310) — properly, to boil up; hence, to be done in cooking; figuratively to ripen פֶּסַח (peçach, H6453) — a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the… אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity סִיר (çîyr, H5518) — a pot; also a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a hook דּוּד (dûwd, H1731) — a pot (for boiling); also (by resemblance of shape) a basket צֵלָחָה (tsêlâchâh, H6745) — something protracted or flattened out, i.e. a platter רוּץ (rûwts, H7323) — to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence…
Open source ↗אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… עֹלָה (ʻôlâh, H5930) — a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke) חֶלֶב (cheleb, H2459) — fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi
Open source ↗Cross-references
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You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.
You are to observe it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with its statutes and ordinances.”
On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles kept the Passover.
On the fourteenth day of the first month you are to observe the Passover, a feast of seven days, during which unleavened bread shall be eaten.