Josiah Celebrates the Passover
(2 Kings 23.21-232 Chronicles 35.1-9)1 King Josiah celebrated the Passover at Jerusalem in honor of the Lord; on the fourteenth day of the first month they killed the animals for the festival. 2 Josiah assigned the priests, dressed in their priestly robes, to serve in the Temple according to the daily order. 3 He also instructed the Levites, the Temple servants, to purify themselves for the Lord's service, so that they could put the sacred Covenant Box of the Lord in the Temple that King Solomon, the son of David, had built. 4 Josiah said to them, “You must no longer carry it from place to place, but you are to serve the Lord your God and minister to his people Israel. Get ready by family and clan to carry out your duties 5 according to the directions given by King David and the splendid way that they were carried out by his son King Solomon. Take your places in the Temple in proper order according to your family divisions as Levites serving the Lord for the people of Israel. 6 Kill the Passover lambs and goats and prepare the sacrifices for your people. Then celebrate the Passover according to the instructions that the Lord gave to Moses.”
7 Josiah gave to the people who were present 30,000 young sheep and goats and 3,000 calves. These were a gift from the royal estates to carry out the promise he had made to the people, the priests, and the Levites. 8 The officials in charge of the Temple—Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel—also gave the priests 2,600 sheep and 300 calves for the sacrifices during the festival. 9 And the army commanders—Conaniah, Shemaiah and his brother Nethanel, Hashabiah, Ochiel, and Joram—contributed 5,000 sheep and 700 calves for the Levites to offer as sacrifices.
10-11 Here is what happened. The priests and the Levites, dressed in the proper manner and carrying the unleavened bread, came that morning to present the offerings to the Lord according to the instructions in the Law of Moses. They took their positions in front of the people in the order of tribal and family divisions. 12 The Levites roasted the Passover sacrifices and then boiled them in pots and kettles, making a pleasant smell. 13 Then they distributed the meat to all the people. After that was done, they took meat for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, 14 because the priests were kept busy until night burning the fat of the sacrifices. 15-16 The guards at the Temple gates and the Temple singers of the Levite clan of Asaph (with Asaph, Zechariah, and Eddinus, who were representatives of the king) remained at the places assigned to them by King David's instructions. They did not need to leave their posts, because the other Levites prepared the Passover for them.
17-18 So, as King Josiah had commanded, everything that related to the sacrifices offered to the Lord was done that day; the Passover Festival was celebrated, and the sacrifices were offered on the altar. 19 All the people of Israel who were present at that time kept the Passover and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. 20 Since the days of the prophet Samuel, the Passover had never been celebrated so well. 21-22 None of the former kings of Israel had ever celebrated a Passover like this one celebrated by King Josiah in Jerusalem in the eighteenth year of his reign; it was celebrated by the priests, the Levites, and all the people of Judah and Israel.
The End of Josiah's Reign
(2 Kings 23.28-302 Chronicles 35.20-27)23 The Lord was pleased with everything Josiah did, for he was a very religious man. 24 But the ancient records also tell the story of those who sinned and rebelled against the Lord during Josiah's reign. They sinned more than any other nation or kingdom and did things that offended the Lord so much that his judgment fell on the people of Israel.
25 After Josiah had done all these things, the king of Egypt led an army to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates River. Josiah tried to stop him, 26 but the king of Egypt sent Josiah this message: “The war I am fighting does not concern you, King of Judah. 27 The Lord God did not send me to fight you; my battle is on the Euphrates River. The Lord is with me, and he is urging me on; so withdraw your troops and don't oppose the Lord.” 28 But Josiah did not go back to his chariot and withdraw. He refused to listen to what the Lord had said through the prophet Jeremiah and decided to fight. 29 He went into battle on the plain of Megiddo, and the Egyptian commanders attacked him.
30 King Josiah ordered his servants, “Take me off the battlefield; I'm badly hurt.” So they took him out of the line of battle immediately, 31 and he got into a second chariot and was taken back to Jerusalem. There he died and was buried in the royal tomb. 32 All the people of Judah mourned his death.
The prophet Jeremiah composed a lament for King Josiah. It has become a custom in Israel for the leaders and their wives to sing this song when they mourn for him. 33 These things are recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. Everything that Josiah did, how he gained his fame and his understanding of the Law, what he did earlier and what is told here, is all recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
King Joahaz of Judah
(2 Kings 23.30-352 Chronicles 36.1-4)34 The people of Judah chose Josiah's son Joahaz and made him king. Joahaz was twenty-three years old, 35 and he ruled Judah and Jerusalem for three months. Then the king of Egypt deposed him 36 and made the nation pay 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold as tribute. 37 The king of Egypt appointed Joahaz's brother Jehoiakim king of Judah and Jerusalem. 38 Jehoiakim put the leading men of the nation in prison, then had his brother Zarius arrested and brought back from Egypt.
King Jehoiakim of Judah
(2 Kings 23.36—24.72 Chronicles 36.5-8)39 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king of Judah and Jerusalem. He sinned against the Lord. 40 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia invaded Judah, captured Jehoiakim, and took him to Babylonia in bronze chains. 41 Nebuchadnezzar also carried off some of the sacred utensils from the Temple and put them in his own temple in Babylon. 42 The stories about Jehoiakim, his depravity, and the godless way he lived are recorded in The Chronicles of the Kings.
King Jehoiachin of Judah
(2 Kings 24.8-172 Chronicles 36.92 10)43 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he succeeded his father Jehoiakim as king, 44 and he ruled in Jerusalem for three months and ten days. He too sinned against the Lord. 45 A year later King Nebuchadnezzar had Jehoiachin taken to Babylonia as a prisoner; Nebuchadnezzar also carried off sacred utensils from the Temple. 46 Then he made Zedekiah king of Judah and Jerusalem.
King Zedekiah of Judah
(2 Kings 24.18-202 Chronicles 36.112 12Jeremiah 52.1-3a)Zedekiah was then twenty-one years old, and he ruled for eleven years. 47 He sinned against the Lord and refused to listen to the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke the word of the Lord.
The Fall of Jerusalem
(2 Kings 25.1-212 Chronicles 36.13-21Jeremiah 52.3b-11)48 Although King Nebuchadnezzar had forced Zedekiah to swear in the Lord's name that he would be loyal to him, Zedekiah broke his oath and rebelled against him. He stubbornly refused to obey the commands of the Lord, the God of Israel. 49 In addition, the leaders of the people and even the chief priests did more godless and lawless things than all the corrupt heathen; they defiled the Temple of the Lord, which he had made holy. 50 The God of their ancestors had continued to send prophets to call them back from their sins, because he wanted to spare them and the Temple. 51 But when the Lord spoke through his prophets, the people made fun of them and laughed. 52 At last the Lord became so angry with his people and their depraved ways that he ordered the kings of Babylonia to attack them. 53 The Babylonians killed the young men of Judah all around the Temple and did not spare anyone, young or old, man or woman. The Lord handed them all over to their enemies. 54 The Babylonians carried off all the sacred utensils from the Temple, the treasure chests, and the wealth of the king; they took everything away to Babylon, leaving nothing behind. 55 They burned down the Temple, broke down the city wall, set fire to its towers, 56 and completely destroyed all its beauty. Nebuchadnezzar forced all the survivors to be led away to Babylon, 57 where they served him and his descendants as slaves until the rise of the Persian Empire. And so what the Lord had foretold through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 58 “The land will lie desolate for seventy years to make up for the Sabbath rest that has not been observed.”
1 And Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his Lord, and offered the passover the fourteenth day of the first month;
2 Having set the priests according to their daily courses, being arrayed in long garments, in the temple of the Lord.
3 And he spake unto the Levites, the holy ministers of Israel, that they should hallow themselves unto the Lord, to set the holy ark of the Lord in the house that king Solomon the son of David had built:
4 And said, Ye shall no more bear the ark upon your shoulders: now therefore serve the Lord your God, and minister unto his people Israel, and prepare you after your families and kindreds,
5 According as David the king of Israel prescribed, and according to the magnificence of Solomon his son: and standing in the temple according to the several dignity of the families of you the Levites, who minister in the presence of your brethren the children of Israel,
6 Offer the passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices for your brethren, and keep the passover according to the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto Moses.
7 And unto the people that was found there Josias gave thirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves: these things were given of the king’s allowance, according as he promised, to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites.
8 And Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the governors of the temple, gave to the priests for the passover two thousand and six hundred sheep, and three hundred calves.
9 And Jeconias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Assabias, and Ochiel, and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to the Levites for the passover five thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves.
10 And when these things were done, the priests and Levites, having the unleavened bread, stood in very comely order according to the kindreds,
11 And according to the several dignities of the fathers, before the people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses: and thus did they in the morning.
12 And they roasted the passover with fire, as appertaineth: as for the sacrifices, they sod them in brass pots and pans with a good savour,
13 And set them before all the people: and afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron.
14 For the priests offered the fat until night: and the Levites prepared for themselves, and the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron.
15 The holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order, according to the appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias, and Jeduthun, who was of the king’s retinue.
16 Moreover the porters were at every gate; it was not lawful for any to go from his ordinary service: for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
17 Thus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, that they might hold the passover,
18 And offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josias.
19 So the children of Israel which were present held the passover at that time, and the feast of sweet bread seven days.
20 And such a passover was not kept in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel.
21 Yea, all the kings of Israel held not such a passover as Josias, and the priests, and the Levites, and the Jews, held with all Israel that were found dwelling at Jerusalem.
22 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this passover kept.
23 And the works or Josias were upright before his Lord with an heart full of godliness.
24 As for the things that came to pass in his time, they were written in former times, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against the Lord above all people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him exceedingly, so that the words of the Lord rose up against Israel.
25 Now after all these acts of Josias it came to pass, that Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to raise war at Carchamis upon Euphrates: and Josias went out against him.
26 But the king of Egypt sent to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, O king of Judea?
27 I am not sent out from the Lord God against thee; for my war is upon Euphrates: and now the Lord is with me, yea, the Lord is with me hasting me forward: depart from me, and be not against the Lord.
28 Howbeit Josias did not turn back his chariot from him, but undertook to fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet Jeremy spoken by the mouth of the Lord:
29 But joined battle with him in the plain of Magiddo, and the princes came against king Josias.
30 Then said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of the battle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants took him away out of the battle.
31 Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem died, and was buried in his father’s sepulchre.
32 And in all Jewry they mourned for Josias, yea, Jeremy the prophet lamented for Josias, and the chief men with the women made lamentation for him unto this day: and this was given out for an ordinance to be done continually in all the nation of Israel.
33 These things are written in the book of the stories of the kings of Judah, and every one of the acts that Josias did, and his glory, and his understanding in the law of the Lord, and the things that he had done before, and the things now recited, are reported in the book of the kings of Israel and Judea.
34 And the people took Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of Josias his father, when he was twenty and three years old.
35 And he reigned in Judea and in Jerusalem three months: and then the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem.
36 And he set a tax upon the land of an hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
37 The king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king of Judea and Jerusalem.
38 And he bound Joacim and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother he apprehended, and brought him out of Egypt.
39 Five and twenty years old was Joacim when he was made king in the land of Judea and Jerusalem; and he did evil before the Lord.
40 Wherefore against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up, and bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him into Babylon.
41 Nabuchodonosor also took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and set them in his own temple at Babylon.
42 But those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleaness and impiety, are written in the chronicles of the kings.
43 And Joacim his son reigned in his stead: he was made king being eighteen years old;
44 And reigned but three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did evil before the Lord.
45 So after a year Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought into Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord;
46 And made Zedechias king of Judea and Jerusalem, when he was one and twenty years old; and he reigned eleven years:
47 And he did evil also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for the words that were spoken unto him by the prophet Jeremy from the mouth of the Lord.
48 And after that king Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear by the name of the Lord, he forswore himself, and rebelled; and hardening his neck, and his heart, he transgressed the laws of the Lord God of Israel.
49 The governors also of the people and of the priests did many things against the laws, and passed all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the temple of the Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem.
50 Nevertheless the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to call them back, because he spared them and his tabernacle also.
51 But they had his messengers in derision; and, look, when the Lord spake unto them, they made a sport of his prophets:
52 So far forth, that he, being wroth with his people for their great ungodliness, commanded the kings of the Chaldees to come up against them;
53 Who slew their young men with the sword, yea, even within the compass of their holy temple, and spared neither young man nor maid, old man nor child, among them; for he delivered all into their hands.
54 And they took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, with the vessels of the ark of God, and the king’s treasures, and carried them away into Babylon.
55 As for the house of the Lord, they burnt it, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem, and set fire upon her towers:
56 And as for her glorious things, they never ceased till they had consumed and brought them all to nought: and the people that were not slain with the sword he carried unto Babylon:
57 Who became servants to him and his children, till the Persians reigned, to fulfil the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremy:
58 Until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her desolation shall she rest, until the full term of seventy years.