II Chronicles 35:1 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 35:1 Commentary: Josiah's Passover at Appointed Time
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why the chronicler emphasizes the exact date of Josiah's Passover and what it reveals about restoring worship according to the Law.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Josiah restores the Passover at the exact date commanded in the Torah, marking a high point of covenant faithfulness.
- Key words: “kept” (H6213, waw-consecutive imperfect), “Passover” (H6453), “slaughtered” (H7819), “fourteenth day of the first month” (Exact date per law).
- Main debate: Significance of precise date vs. Hezekiah’s delayed observance; commentators agree it underscores faithful obedience.
- Theological theme: The priority of worship according to God’s revealed word.
- Best use: Highlighting the chronicler’s message that renewal of covenant leads to renewed worship; useful for lessons on obedience, worship, and leadership.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Josiah kept a Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem. They killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
KJV King James Version 1769
Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Josiah kept a passover unto Jehovah in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Josiah maketh in Jerusalem a passover to Jehovah, and they slaughter the passover-offering on the fourteenth of the first month,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Josiah held a passover to Jehovah in Jerusalem; and they slaughtered the passover on the fourteenth of the first month.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Josias kept a phase to the Lord in Jerusalem, and it was sacrificed on the fourteenth day of the first month.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y JOSÍAS hizo pascua á Jehová en Jerusalem, y sacrificaron la pascua á los catorce del mes primero.
E Josias fez páscoa ao SENHOR em Jerusalém, e sacrificaram a páscoa aos catorze do mês primeiro.
Josias célébra la Pâque en l’honneur de l’ Éternel à Jérusalem, et l’ on immola la Pâque le quatorzième jour du premier mois.
Und Josia hielt dem HERRN Passah zu Jerusalem, und sie schlachteten das Passah am vierzehnten Tage des ersten Monats.
Daarna hield Josia het pascha den HEERE te Jeruzalem; en zij slachtten het pascha op den veertienden der eerste maand.
Giosia celebrò la Pasqua in onore dell’Eterno a Gerusalemme; e l’agnello pasquale fu immolato il quattordicesimo giorno del mese.
Potem obchodził Jozyjasz w Jeruzalemie święto przejścia Panu; i zabili baranka wielkanocnego czternastego dnia, miesiąca pierwszego.
И совершил Иосия в Иерусалиме пасху Господу, и закололи пасхального агнца в четырнадцатый день первого месяца.
約西亞 在耶路撒冷 向耶和華 守 逾越節。正 月 十 四日，就宰了 逾越節的羊羔。
And Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem; on the fourteenth day of the first month they put the Passover lamb to death.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 35:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse marks the restoration of Passover according to the exact instructions of the Law. Keil and Delitzsch note that the Passover was held “on the fourteenth day of the first month, consequently at the time fixed in the law,” deliberately set in contrast to Hezekiah’s delayed celebration (2 Chronicles 30:2). Gill points to Exodus 12:6 as the original command for that date. The chronicler’s emphasis on the precise day signals Josiah’s commitment to follow the written Torah after its rediscovery. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges adds that holding it in Jerusalem and on the legal month “had not been done of a long time in such sort as it was written.” The consensus is clear: Josiah’s Passover was a model of cultic obedience, undoing the neglect of previous reigns.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Josiah celebrated the Passover on the exact date prescribed by the Law in Exodus 12:6.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Date of celebration | The Passover was observed on the 14th day of the first month, as commanded in Exodus 12:6. | No significant disagreement; some note the contrast with Hezekiah's delayed celebration (2 Chron 30:2-3). |
| Comparison with Hezekiah's Passover | Both were major, unprecedented celebrations of covenant renewal. | The chronicler claims Josiah's was without parallel since the time of Samuel (2 Chron 35:18), while 2 Kings 23:22 says since the judges. Some see hyperbole; others stress the unique character of Josiah's. |
| Prior location of the ark | The ark was placed back in the temple by Josiah's command (v.3). | Jamieson-Fausset-Brown notes two views: the ark had been removed by idolatrous kings or temporarily moved during temple repairs. The chronicler does not specify. |
| Meaning of 'they killed the Passover' | It refers to the slaughter of the Passover lamb, as specified in the Law. | Some traditions read it as the entire preparation (including sprinkling and roasting), while others restrict it to the initial sacrifice. |
| Theological priority of exact timing | The chronicler uses the exact date to highlight Josiah's obedience to the Law. | In Christian interpretation, the principle of faithful worship is stressed, but application to calendar observance varies by tradition (e.g., Passover vs. Easter dating). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Josiah’s eighteenth year (622 BC) was a watershed. Earlier, during temple repairs, the high priest Hilkiah discovered a scroll of the Law, prompting the king to initiate a national covenant renewal (2 Chr 34:29-32). Immediately afterward, Josiah turned to the Passover. By holding it in Jerusalem on the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan), he followed Exodus 12:6 and Numbers 9:3 to the letter, something his grandfather Hezekiah had been forced to ignore when too few priests had sanctified themselves on time (2 Chr 30:2-3).
The chronicler’s description (vv.2-19) underscores elaborate preparations. Josiah set the priests in their divisions, instructed the Levites to place the ark permanently in the temple, and provided massive numbers of animals, 30,000 lambs and kids plus 3,000 bullocks from his own resources (v.7). The princes and temple rulers gave willingly. Every detail, from the sprinkling of blood to the roasting of the Passover, followed the Levitical order revived by David and Solomon.
Passover was the foundational feast of Israel’s redemption from Egypt. Its proper observance signified renewed covenant relationship with Yahweh. By emphasizing the exact date and meticulous ritual, the chronicler presents Josiah’s Passover as the high point of the reform, a restoration of worship neglected for generations. Ellicott’s commentary notes that “no passover, from the time of the Judges onward had been celebrated in such strict conformity to the prescriptions of the Law.” This feast united northern and southern tribes, and the Levites, as “those teaching all Israel” (v.3), were released from ark-bearing to permanent service.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The parallel account in 2 Kings 23:21-23 agrees on the date. The Greek versions (LXX, 1 Esdras) follow the Hebrew closely.
Reception History
This verse has been read across traditions as a model of worship restoration. Jewish interpreters see it as the final great Passover before the exile, emphasizing fidelity to Torah. Christian commentators from the Reformation (Matthew Henry, Geneva Bible) highlight the priority of Scripture in worship. The exact date has also figured in discussions about the church calendar, with some viewing it as a typological foreshadowing of Christ’s crucifixion (1 Cor 5:7). The verse continues to be cited in conversations about the importance of worship according to God’s word.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Rediscovered Book: The Passover followed the finding of the Law and covenant renewal. True worship begins with hearing God’s word.
- The Right Time: Josiah observed the feast on the exact day commanded, not a convenient substitute. Faithfulness to God’s timing matters.
- The Whole People: Priests, Levites, and all Israel participated. Worship restores community.
Five-point outline
- Preparation (vv.2-6): Josiah sets priests in their courses and encourages them; commands Levites to place the ark and sanctify themselves.
- Provision (vv.7-9): The king and princes give generously from their own flocks and herds for the offerings.
- Participation (vv.10-15): Priests and Levites carry out the rituals, slaughter, sprinkling, roasting, while singers and gatekeepers serve.
- Joy (v.18): The chronicler notes such a Passover had not been kept since Samuel’s day, emphasizing the joy of restoration.
- Conclusion (v.19): The feast seals Josiah’s reforms; obedience to the Law leads to blessings.
Illustration hooks
- Planning a reunion: Like a family carefully scheduling a reunion at the same time each year, Josiah returns to the original appointed date for Passover.
- Coach’s playbook: A coach who follows the training manual exactly gets the team ready for the game; Josiah follows the Law to restore true worship.
- Reading the recipe: After years of improvising, you finally read the original recipe and make the dish exactly as it was meant to be made.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God require us to keep specific days and rituals today?
- Why does the Bible spend so much time describing worship details? Is that relevant for Christians?
- How can church leaders encourage preparation for worship without making it feel forced or legalistic?
Leading a Discussion
This verse might seem like a dry record of a date. For the chronicler, it is a crucial marker of restoration. Josiah’s Passover, kept on the fourteenth day of the first month, shows his determination to obey the Torah after its rediscovery. Use these questions to explore the significance of timing, obedience, and worship renewal.
Discussion questions
- What does “the fourteenth day of the first month” tell you about Josiah’s priorities?
- Compare this with Hezekiah’s Passover (2 Chronicles 30:2-3). What differences do you see, and why might the chronicler highlight the contrast?
- Why do you think the chronicler includes details about the priests, Levites, and offerings in the surrounding verses?
- How does this account reflect the theme of covenant renewal from the preceding chapter?
- In what ways does our own worship need to align more closely with Scripture?
- How can leaders today encourage and prepare the congregation for worship?
- What does this Passover teach us about God’s desire for His people?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 12:6 | You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening. |
| Numbers 9:3 | On the fourteenth day of this month, at evening, you shall keep it in its appointed season. You shall keep it according to all its statutes and according to all its ordinances.” |
| Deuteronomy 16:1 | Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to Yahweh your God; for in the month of Abib Yahweh your God brought you out of Egypt by night. |
| Deuteronomy 16:8 | Six days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to Yahweh your God. You shall do no work. |
| II Kings 23:21 | The king commanded all the people, saying, “Keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant.” |
| II Kings 23:23 | but in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was kept to Yahweh in Jerusalem. |
| II Chronicles 30:1 | Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel. |
| II Chronicles 30:27 | Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights Josiah’s Passover as the most remarkable since Solomon’s, emphasizing the king’s careful organization of priests, Levites, and offerings. He then notes Josiah’s fatal confrontation with Pharaoh Necho at Megiddo, his death in Jerusalem, and Jeremiah’s lament, presenting the chapter as a straightforward historical record.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge note highlights that Josiah held the Passover in the first month, which was the legally appointed time. This is set in contrast to Hezekiah's earlier Passover, which had to be deferred to the second month due to circumstances. Josiah's observance followed the exact calendar prescription.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Josiah observed the Passover in Jerusalem on the precise day the law commanded, the fourteenth of the first month. This detail underscores the king's careful restoration of worship according to God's written instruction.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Josiah observed the Passover exactly as the law commanded: at Jerusalem, the only place it could be kept, and on the precise date, the fourteenth day of the first month, following the Mosaic ordinance for killing the Passover lamb.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights a shift in the Levites' role: Josiah reminds them that with a permanent temple, they are no longer required to carry the ark on their shoulders as in the wilderness. Released from that duty, they are now called to devote themselves with greater zeal to their other temple responsibilities.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argues that Josiah’s command to “set the ark in the house” does not mean physically moving it. Instead, Josiah tells the Levites to stop thinking about their former duty of carrying the ark on their shoulders, since the temple now provides a permanent home, and to focus on their new Passover services.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that Josiah's Passover was not just a ritual but a carefully restored act of obedience to God's law, carried out with order and generous provision from the king and leaders. For Henry, the detail shows that true reform requires both proper structure and willing, cheerful support from those in authority.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the repeated phrase shows the speaker's single-minded focus. His only aim in everything he did was to draw people to God and to their duty. Nothing else mattered to him.