2 Chronicles 35

2 Chronicles 35:1-19

We have here, 1. The religious difference of the passover, according to the laws, vers. 1-19. 2. Jofiah’s callous is engaging with the king of Egypt, vers. 20-23. 3. The lamentation at his funeral, vers. 14-27.

1. MOREOVER, Jofiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and ’they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2. And he set the priests ‘in their charges, and ’encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. So kill the passover and ‘sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD, by the hand of Moses. 7. And Jofiah 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. 8. And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zephaniah, 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. 9. Conaniah also, and Shemaiah, and Nethamed, his brethren, and Heflaiah, and Jehiel, and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover-offerings, five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen. 10. So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandments. 11. And they killed the passover, and the priests ‘sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites ‘stayed them. 12. 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. 13. And they roasted the passover with fire, according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings of God they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people. 14. And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were buried in offering of burnt-offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests the sons of Aaron. 15. And the singers the sons of Afaph were in their place, according to the commandments of David, and Afaph, and Herman, 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. 16. 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 commandments of king Jofiah. 17. And the children of Israel that were

precinct, kept the pailover at that time, and the feast of unleavered bread fevers days. 18. And there was no pailover like to that kept in Israel, from the days of Samuel the prophet, neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a pailover as Josiah kept, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were preten, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this pailover kept.

The pailover being among the most solemn ordinances God had instituted, Josiah, having removed every known abomination, prepares to keep it with great devotion.

1. He set the priests in their courses, encouraged them to diligence and fidelity in their work; commanded the ark, which, during the repairs of the temple, had probably been removed, to be replaced; rejoined the Levites, who taught the people, to exercise with zeal their ministry for the glory of God, and the good of his Israel; and, in order thereunto, he exhorts them to sanctify themselves, that they might be fitted for the work, and prepare their brethren for the solemnity of the pailover, by their admonitions, instructions, and directions how to kill and order the lamb according to the law of Moses. Note, (1.) Zealous magdians will stir up numbers to their work. (2.) They who would prepare others for God’s service, must first set the example of that holiness they preach. (3.) Encouragement is very needful, where ministers meet so many difficulties.

2. The king and his princes, with the chief of the priests, liberally contributed on this occasion; the king giving 30,000 lambs for those poor families who came to keep the pailover, and 3000 haillocks for sacrifices of peace-offerings, to fight upon during the seven days. The great officers of God’s house also provided handsomely for their poorer brethren, that the feast might be kept with influence and gladness. Note, (1.) They who are hearty in the service of men’s fouls, grudge no expence. (2.) Though we must be aware not to make men hypocrites for the sake of advantage, yet it becomes us to encourage those who are sincere. (3.) They who enjoy the largest revenues of the church, yet especially called upon liberally to distribute them for the support of their poorer brethren.

3. The whole was conducted with great exactness and regularity. The priests and Levites discharged their office diligently, delivering out the pascal lambs to the several families, after quenching the blood on the altar. These were rainfed whole, according to God’s ordinance; and the peace-offerings, that belonged to the officers, they boiled and divided among those to whom the king had given the oxen for sacrifice. And when they had served the people, the priests and Levites prepared the pailover for themselves, some of their body being appointed for this service, which the rest were busy in their minification in the temple, or employed in praising God, or watching at the gates. Thus was this remarkable pailover kept, like unto which there was none from the days of the judges, so exact was their observance, and so singular the liberality of the king and the priests. Note, (1.) Let not those who minister to others, forget the great concern of their own souls. (2.) It is not the greatness of the gift, but the temper of the officer, that makes the service honourable and acceptable.

4. ¶ After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carlemans by Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. 21. 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 of wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make halts, forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. 22. 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. 23. And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away, for I am free wounded. 24. 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 feuders of his fathers: and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25. ¶ 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. 26. Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that whole was written in the law of the LORD, 27. And his deeds first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

2 Chronicles 35:26-27

After all this, we might have expected to hear the singular prompence of Judah; but alas! in just dislocation for their hypocrisy and unprostableness, God removes from them their good king, and with him dies all this appearance of godliness.

1. He impudently went out to battle against Necho king of Egypt, who was to his march against the king of Affyria. Fain would he have persuaded him to deist, by his ambassadors, assuring him he meant nothing hostile against Judah; that the expedition he had undertaken was at God’s command; and therefore, if he pervertly opposed him, he would suffer for it. Notwithstanding, Josiah credited him not, and, neglecting to enquire of God, resolved to oppose him. The battle was fought near Megiddo; and though the king of Judah, for greater falsity, had disguised himself, the archers wounded him, and he quickly died in his chariot. Note, (1.) In an unjust cause we may not hope to prosper. (2.) When we have fast warning, our death lies at our own door. (3.) If we neglect to enquire of God, no wonder we involve ourselves in mischief.

2. His death exceedingly afflicted the nation. Jeremiah the prophet especially lamented the fols, foregoing the evils that would follow; and the people in mournful poems annually commemorated his unhappy fall. Though they had not heartily joined him in his fidelity when alive, they felt their lids of him when dead, and strove to honour his memory. Note, (1.) When our blessings are removed, we are then often led to lament too late our folly and sin in not improving them. (2.) God’s prophets, who see the approaching evils, cannot but mourn for poor sinners who provoke them.