II Chronicles 35:13 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 35:13 Commentary: Roasted Passover, Boiled Offerings
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why the Passover was roasted while other offerings were boiled, and what this distinction reveals about obedience to God's specific commands.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The Passover was roasted with fire as commanded, while other holy offerings were boiled and distributed quickly to all the people, showing precise obedience and generous efficiency in worship.
- Key words: Bašal (cook/boil; same root for both methods); Va’yatzitzu (brought quickly, lit. “ran”); Mishpat (ordinance).
- Main debate: Little debate exists; all traditions see this as a straightforward record of fidelity to the Torah’s instructions for Passover and peace offerings.
- Theological theme: God’s commands are specific and matter, yet obedience can be carried out with speed, joy, and community inclusion.
- Best use: A model for orderly yet heartfelt worship; a reminder that every detail of worship, if commanded, deserves attention.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
They roasted the Passover animals on the fire according to the regulation, and they boiled the other holy offerings in pots, kettles, and bowls and quickly brought them to all the people.
WEB World English Bible 2000
They roasted the Passover with fire according to the ordinance. They boiled the holy offerings in pots, in cauldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the children of the people.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: and the holy offerings boiled they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the children of the people.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And they cook the passover with fire, according to the ordinance, and the sanctified things they have cooked in pots, and in kettles, and in pans--for all the sons of the people.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance; and the consecrated things they boiled in pots and in cauldrons and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the children of the people.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And they roasted the phase with fire, according to that which is written in the law: but the victims of peace offerings they boiled in caldrons, and kettles, and pots, and they distributed them speedily among all the people.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y asaron la pascua al fuego según la costumbre: mas lo que había sido santificado lo cocieron en ollas, en calderos, y calderas, y repartiéron lo prestamente á todo el pueblo|strong="H1121, H5971".
E assaram a páscoa ao fogo segundo o rito: mas o que havia sido santificado o cozinharam em panelas, em caldeiras, e caldeirões, e repartiram o prontamente a todo o povo.
Ils firent cuire la Pâque au feu, selon l’ ordonnance, et ils firent cuire les choses saintes dans des chaudières, des chaudrons et des poêles; et ils s’ empressèrent de les distribuer à tout le peuple.
Und sie kochten das Passah am Feuer, wie sich's gebührt. Aber was geheiligt war, kochten sie in Töpfen, Kesseln und Pfannen, und machten's eilend für alles Volk.
En zij kookten het pascha bij het vuur, naar het recht; maar de andere heilige dingen kookten zij in potten, en in ketels, en in pannen; en zij deelden het haastelijk onder al het volk.
Poi arrostirono le vittime pasquali sul fuoco, secondo ch’è prescritto; ma le altre vivande consacrate le cossero in pignatte, in caldaie ed in pentole, e s’affrettarono a portarle a tutti i figliuoli del popolo.
I piekli baranki wielkanocne ogniem według zwyczaju; a inne rzeczy poświęcone warzyli w garncach, i w kotłach, i w panwiach, i rozdawali spieszno wszystkiemu pospólstwu.
И испекли пасхального агнца на огне, по уставу; и священные жертвы сварили в котлах, горшках и кастрюлях, и поспешно роздали всему народу,
他們按著常例，用火 烤 逾越節的羊羔。別的聖物 用鍋，用釜，用罐 煮了，速速地 送給眾 民。
And the Passover lamb was cooked over the fire, as it says in the law; and the holy offerings were cooked in pots and basins and vessels, and taken quickly to all the people.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 35:13
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 records careful obedience to two different divine ordinances. The Passover lamb was roasted with fire, exactly as Exodus 12:8-9 prescribed, boiling was forbidden. The “other holy offerings”, bullocks given by the king and princes (vv. 7-9), were boiled in pots, kettles, and pans, which was permitted for peace offerings (Leviticus 7:15-18; 1 Samuel 2:13-14). Gill and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown stress that the same Hebrew root bašal covers both methods, but the ordinance for each is distinct. The Levites then carried them quickly to all the people. Cambridge Bible notes this haste kept the meat warm; Ellicott adds that the scene shows the extraordinary scale and organization of Josiah’s Passover. The verse thus highlights not only ritual precision but the joyful, efficient service that flows from wholehearted obedience.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse records faithful obedience to distinct commands: the Passover roasted, other offerings boiled, and the portions distributed quickly to all the people.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking method for Passover | All traditions agree the Passover lamb must be roasted with fire, not boiled in water, based on Exodus 12:8-9. | No debate; this is uniformly held across Judaism and Christianity. |
| Identity of 'holy offerings' | Commentators agree these are the peace/thank offerings (bullocks from the king and princes in vv. 7-9). | Some traditions (e.g., Gill) specify them as peace offerings; others (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) call them thank offerings; the core meaning is the same. |
| Reason for distributing quickly | The speed ensured the meat stayed warm and the large crowd could be served efficiently. | No significant debate; Ellicott’s commentary mentions this, and all agree it reflects both practicality and eager service. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits in the account of King Josiah’s great Passover, described in II Chronicles 35. Josiah, the last godly king of Judah, had initiated sweeping religious reforms (ch. 34). The Passover he kept was unprecedented in its scale and fidelity. According to the text, the king personally gave 30,000 lambs and kids and 3,000 bullocks; his princes also contributed generously (vv. 7-9). The priests and Levites served in their appointed divisions, and the Levites slaughtered the Passover victims, handing the blood to the priests for sprinkling on the altar (v. 11).
The distinction between roasting the Passover and boiling the other offerings goes back to the original Passover in Exodus 12:8-9. There God commanded the lamb to be roasted whole with fire, not boiled in water. The prohibition was absolute, probably because boiling would break the lamb’s bones (Exodus 12:46; John 19:36) and because the quick roasting fit the urgency of the night of deliverance. The “holy offerings” are almost certainly the peace offerings (thank offerings) that accompanied the Passover feast. These could be boiled according to the law (Leviticus 6:28; 1 Samuel 2:13-15).
The Levites then carried them quickly to all the people. The Hebrew verb vayyaritzu (from ruts, “to run”) conveys speed and eagerness. Ellicott comments that the meat was distributed hot, “so that the meat did not get cold.” With thousands of worshippers present, efficiency was essential. This small practical touch reveals a community fully engaged in the joy of worship, obeying God’s commands both in the letter (the cooking method) and in the spirit (generous, timely service).
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
Across church history, II Chronicles 35:13 has been read primarily as an example of meticulous obedience to God’s law, especially in the context of worship reform. Early and medieval commentators often drew a typological connection to Christ: as the Passover lamb was roasted with fire, so Christ endured the fire of judgment for His people. Reformation-era commentators (e.g., Geneva Bible, Matthew Henry) emphasized the careful distinction between the Passover and other offerings as a pattern for how the church must order its worship according to Scripture alone. More modern readings, such as Ellicott’s, highlight the human and practical dimensions, the Levites running to keep the meat hot. In Jewish tradition, this verse reinforces the permanent prohibition against boiling the Passover lamb (cf. Mishnah Pesachim 7:1-2). The verse thus continues to be valued for its witness to the importance of both ritual precision and heart-felt service in communal worship.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Obedience to God’s Specific Commands. The Passover was roasted, not boiled, a precise directive from Exodus 12. God cares about the details of worship; obedience is not just a general attitude but a particular practice.
- The Joyful Efficiency of Ministry. The Levites carried the portions quickly to all the people. Their speed reflects eagerness and care, not merely logistical necessity. Worship that pleases God is both orderly and heartfelt.
- Generosity Shared with All. The king and princes gave their own animals as offerings, and the Levites made sure every Israelite received a portion. True worship overflows into community provision.
Five-point outline
- The Unique Passover Lamb. Roasting with fire distinguishes the Passover from all other sacrifices, a type for many Christians of Christ, our Passover sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7).
- The Fellowship of the Boiled Offerings. The peace offerings, boiled and shared, picture the communion believers enjoy together when the work of atonement is complete.
- The Speed of Service. “They carried them quickly.” The Levites did not drag their feet. Ministry done well is ministry done with urgency and love.
- Inclusion of Every Saint. “All the children of the people” received a portion. No one was left out. The church, like the Levites, is called to ensure everyone has a place at the Table.
- A Model of Renewal. Josiah’s Passover shows what happens when leadership, clergy, and laity unite under God’s Word, a pattern for revival in any generation.
Illustration hooks
- Following a Recipe. A chef who follows the cookbook exactly for a signature dish, but improvises freely for side dishes, both are good, but the main course demands precision.
- Assembly Line Efficiency. A well-run kitchen at a large banquet, where workers pass dishes down the line without wasting a moment, so everyone eats while the food is hot.
- Sharing from Abundance. A family that cooks extra portions so neighbors and guests can join the meal, generosity that multiplies joy.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Does God really care about small details like how we cook a meal?” The answer is yes, when He has commanded a specific way, the point is our trust and attentiveness to His Word.
- “Why did they have to hurry with the meat? Wasn’t worship supposed to be slow and reverent?” The speed actually shows reverence: they treated the people’s portion as something precious that should arrive at its best.
- “What does this have to do with me today? I don’t offer animal sacrifices.” The principle of obeying God’s specific instructions, serving eagerly, and sharing generously remains exactly the same.
Leading a Discussion
This verse captures a moment of extraordinary unity and precision in worship. Josiah’s Passover is a picture of what happens when everyone, king, priests, Levites, and people, works together to honor God exactly as He commanded. As you discuss, consider both the obedience (roasting vs. boiling) and the attitude (carrying quickly to all).
Discussion questions
- What specific command does this verse obey (compare Exodus 12:8-9)? Why do you think God gave such a precise instruction for the Passover?
- The same Hebrew verb bašal is used for both cooking the Passover (roasting) and the other offerings (boiling). How does the context determine the meaning? What does that teach us about reading Scripture carefully?
- Why did the Levites carry the boiled meat quickly to the people? What practical and spiritual reasons might be behind the speed?
- This Passover involved enormous generosity from the king and leaders (vv. 7-9). How does generosity shape corporate worship?
- In what areas of your life might God be asking for meticulous obedience that you have been treating as optional?
- How can our church better combine joyful efficiency with reverence, like the Levites serving quickly but exactly?
- What would it look like for our congregation to “bring the portions quickly” to those who are often overlooked, the unnoticed members or the community around us?
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 12:8 | They shall eat the meat in that night, roasted with fire, with unleavened bread. They shall eat it with bitter herbs. |
| Exodus 12:9 | Don’t eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts. |
| Leviticus 6:28 | But the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; and if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water. |
| Numbers 6:19 | The priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved the head of his separation; |
| Deuteronomy 16:7 | You shall roast and eat it in the place which Yahweh your God chooses. In the morning you shall return to your tents. |
| I Samuel 2:13 | The custom of the priests with the people was that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant came while the meat was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand; |
| I Samuel 2:15 | Yes, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, “Give meat to roast for the priest; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw.” |
| Psalms 22:14 | I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me. |
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
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the bullocks mentioned in the surrounding passage were not slaughtered on Passover day itself but on the days immediately following. It also clarifies that "divided them speedily" more accurately means the offerings were carried quickly to the people.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note distinguishes between the Passover lamb, which was roasted with fire following established custom, and the other sanctified offerings, which were boiled in pots and pans and distributed quickly to the people. This highlights a deliberate difference in how each type of offering was prepared.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws a sharp contrast between the passover lamb, which was roasted whole according to the law, and the peace offerings, which were boiled in pots and pans. He also notes that the Levites hurried to divide these boiled offerings among the people because the king gave away his own portion.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that roasting the Passover lamb followed a strict ordinance unique to that offering, while other sacrificial meats were cooked differently. The haste in distributing the portions reflects the priests' many duties and the need to serve the food while hot. The meal included not only the paschal lambs but also thank offerings from the king and princes.
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.