2 Chronicles 35:1-27
Q.1. What festival did Josiah celebrate? What concession did the king make for the Levites? How generously did the king and the leaders provide for the celebration? – (2 Chr.35:1-9)
Josiah led Judah and a faithful remnant in Israel in celebrating the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, as the Hebrews had done when God miraculously set them free from slavery in Egypt (2 Chr.35:1 c.f. 35:16-18). Josiah encouraged the priests and Levites. He – also said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the Lord, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; it will be a burden on your shoulders no longer. Now serve the Lord your God and His people Israel (2 Chr.35:3). David had already changed their role of carrying and setting up the tabernacle, to one of prophesying through song (2 Chr.35:4, 15 c.f. 1 Chr. 25:1-7). At the encouragement of the prophetess Huldah, the king, and his leaders all generously offered thousands of livestock for sacrificing, and for family meals, as part of the festival (2 Chr.35:7-9 c.f. 2 Chr.34:26-28).
Q.2. How did the people celebrate the Passover? What led them to celebrate the feast in the way they did? How significant was this event in the eyes of God? – (2 Chr.35:10-19 c.f. Ex.12:3-4)
There was so much livestock to sacrifice, the king ordered the Levites to assist the priests. The celebration went from sunup to sun down (2 Chr.35:10-14). All this was accompanied by the singers and instruments, ascribing rich praise to God (2 Chr.35:15). The celebrations started with the Passover, with all its spiritual overtones, and continued throughout the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for seven days. It was the most memorable occasion in Josiah’s 18-year reign – There had not been celebrated a Passover like it in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet; nor had any of the kings of Israel celebrated such a Passover as Josiah did with the priests, the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (2 Chr.35:18). Doubtless, the devotion of the people inspired by their king, registered in the Throne Room in Heaven.
Q.3. Why was Josiah unwise to engage Neco, king of Egypt in battle? How was his life celebrated? Why? – (2 Chr.35:20-27)
King Josiah started his reign at just eight. He led the people in revival at age twenty-six. He died after a battle, following a thirty-one-year reign, at just thirty nine (2 Chr.34:1; 35:19). He lived another thirteen years after leading the hearts of Judah back to God. Sadly, the last third of his life did not match his younger days. He decided to engage the king of Egypt in battle, and failed to discern God’s will, when Neco sent messengers to warn him – …”What have we to do with each other, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not destroy you.” (2 Chr.35:21 c.f. 35:22). As did King Ahab, Josiah disguised himself to avoid attracting the attention of the enemy. However, he had left God out of his calculations, and was mortally wounded in battle (2 Chr.35:22-24). Nevertheless, Josiah had been a wonderful king. This was recognized. It is recorded that – Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. And all the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations to this day. And they made them an ordinance in Israel; behold, they are also written in the Lamentations (2 Chr.35:25). The Scriptures sum up this great king’s life – He did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left … Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his deeds of devotion as written in the law of the Lord, and his acts, first to last, behold they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah (2 Chr. 34:2 & 35:26-27).