1 Moreover Josiah 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 Josiah 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 Zechariah 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 Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel 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 commandment.
11 And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed 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 sod 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 busied 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 Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, 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 commandment of king Josiah.
17 And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
18 And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.
20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish 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 wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: 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 sore 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 sepulchres 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 which 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.
Chapter 35 of the book of 2 Chronicles in the KJV Holy Bible is a continuation of the story of King Josiah of Judah. It begins with the preparations for the celebration of the Passover, a major religious event in the Jewish faith. The chapter also details the events leading up to Josiah's death and the end of his reign. The main themes of this chapter include the importance of following God's laws, the consequences of disobedience, and the power of repentance and forgiveness.
The chapter opens with King Josiah commanding the priests to prepare for the Passover, which had not been celebrated in the way prescribed by God for many years. Josiah was determined to follow the laws of God and restore the proper worship of God in Judah. He even provided the necessary offerings and sacrifices for the people to observe the Passover according to the law.
This shows the importance of following God's laws and the consequences of neglecting them. The Passover was a symbol of God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and it was a reminder of the covenant between God and His people. By neglecting this important celebration, the people of Judah had strayed from their relationship with God and had forgotten their commitment to Him.
As preparations for the Passover were being made, Josiah received news that the king of Egypt was marching towards Judah. Despite warnings from the prophet Jeremiah, Josiah decided to confront the Egyptian king in battle. Tragically, Josiah was fatally wounded by an arrow and died on the battlefield.
This event serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the danger of straying from God's laws. Josiah's death was a direct result of his decision to disobey God's warning and engage in battle. It also marked the end of a righteous and faithful king, leaving Judah vulnerable to future attacks and the eventual downfall of the kingdom.
After Josiah's death, the people of Judah mourned for him and honored his memory. The prophet Jeremiah composed a lament for Josiah, mourning the loss of a great leader and king. This shows the respect and admiration that Josiah had earned from his people through his devotion to God and his efforts to reform the worship of God in Judah.
It also serves as a reminder of the power of repentance and forgiveness. Despite Josiah's disobedience in engaging in battle, he was still remembered and honored for his righteousness and faithfulness to God. This shows that even when we make mistakes, we can still be forgiven and remembered for the good we have done.
After Josiah's death, his son Jehoahaz became king of Judah. However, his reign was short-lived as he was taken captive by the king of Egypt and replaced by his brother Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years and did evil in the sight of the Lord, leading the people of Judah further away from God. This marked the beginning of the end for the kingdom of Judah, which would eventually fall to the Babylonians.
This serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of disobedience and the danger of straying from God's laws. Josiah's death left a void in leadership and allowed for a king who did not follow God's laws to come into power. This ultimately led to the downfall of the kingdom of Judah.
Despite the downfall of the kingdom of Judah, Josiah's legacy lived on. He was remembered as a righteous and faithful king who had diligently followed God's laws and worked to restore proper worship of God in Judah. The Passover was celebrated in his honor every year, and he was honored as one of the greatest kings of Judah.
This serves as a reminder that our actions and choices have consequences, not only for ourselves but for future generations. Josiah's devotion to God and his efforts to reform the worship of God had a lasting impact on the people of Judah and their relationship with God.
Chapter 35 of 2 Chronicles highlights the importance of following God's laws and the consequences of disobedience. It also shows the power of repentance and forgiveness, as seen in Josiah's life and legacy. The chapter serves as a warning to future generations about the dangers of straying from God's laws and the potential downfall that can result from disobedience.
It also emphasizes the importance of leadership and the impact that a righteous and faithful leader can have on a nation. Josiah's legacy lived on even after his death, and he was remembered as one of the greatest kings of Judah. This serves as a reminder that our actions and choices have a lasting impact on those around us.
Furthermore, the chapter shows the significance of the Passover in the Jewish faith and the importance of remembering and honoring God's deliverance and covenant with His people. Neglecting this important celebration had led to the downfall of the kingdom of Judah, highlighting the importance of staying true to our relationship with God and not neglecting our faith.
In conclusion, chapter 35 of 2 Chronicles serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of following God's laws, the consequences of disobedience, and the power of repentance and forgiveness. It also showcases the impact of a righteous and faithful leader and the significance of remembering and honoring God's covenant.
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