2 Kings 23:22 Meaning: A Passover Like No Other
Surely there was not kept such a Passover from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
Surely there was not kept such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
Surely there hath not been made like this passover from the days of the judges who judged Israel, even all the days of the kings of Israel, and of the kings of Judah;
For there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
Meaning in one sentence
Was the Passover neglected for centuries? This verse isn't saying it stopped, but that Josiah's observance was unprecedented in faithfulness and joy.
Context
This verse appears near the climax of King Josiah's sweeping reforms. After the high priest Hilkiah discovers the Book of the Law in the temple, Josiah tears his clothes and sets out to obey every word. He destroys altars, removes idolatrous priests, and then commands the people to keep the Passover to the Lord, according to what is written. The writer of Kings now pauses to comment: no Passover like this one had been kept since the days of the judges, nor under any king of Israel or Judah. The point is not that the festival had vanished. It is that the combination of wholehearted obedience, national participation, and strict adherence to the Law made this celebration stand alone.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words shape this verse. The verb na'asah (it had been observed) is a passive form of the word for making or doing. It suggests a thorough, complete action, not merely going through motions, but carrying out every detail. The noun pe'sach (Passover) names the festival that remembered Israel's rescue from Egypt. By Josiah's time, the outward form had often been kept, but the inner spirit had faded. And shofetim (judges) refers to the leaders before Israel had kings, a time when the nation still gathered around God's commands without a royal court. The verse reaches back to those early days to measure how far the people had drifted, and how thoroughly Josiah brought them back.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have generally agreed that this verse uses striking language to praise Josiah's devotion, not to claim the Passover was wholly neglected. The Cambridge Bible notes that the festival likely continued in some form, but with varying degrees of faithfulness. Adam Clarke emphasizes the purity of heart and spirit that made this observance unique, not the number of people present. Matthew Henry points to the great preparation and universal joy that set it apart, especially after the dark years of Manasseh and Amon. Across these traditions, the consensus remains: Josiah's Passover was not the first, but it was the most complete.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers conclude that the Passover had not been observed at all from the time of the judges onward, as if the nation had entirely abandoned the command. In fact, the verse uses hyperbole to emphasize how extraordinary Josiah's Passover was. The Cambridge Bible points out that the Chronicler says no Passover like this had been kept since the days of Samuel, which still allows for regular observance. Hezekiah had held a great Passover just a generation earlier (2 Chronicles 30). The point is not that the feast stopped, but that it had never been kept with such complete faithfulness and joy.
Living This Out
You might be reading this and thinking about your own habits of worship and obedience. It is easy to repeat the same prayers, attend the same services, and let the words grow familiar. This verse asks something more. When you do what God commands, can you do it with fresh attention? Can you clear away the distractions that have crept in and approach him with the same wholeheartedness that marked Josiah's people? This week, before you sit down to pray or open your Bible, take one quiet moment to remind yourself: this is not another routine. This is a chance to keep the feast as if for the first time.
Main takeaway: Josiah's Passover stands out not because it was the first, but because it was kept with complete faithfulness and joy according to God's word.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Josiah found God's special book and told everyone to follow it. They had the best Passover party ever because they obeyed God with all their hearts.
For ages 9, 12
For many years the people of Israel and Judah had forgotten how to celebrate the Passover the way God wanted. When King Josiah found the Book of the Law, he didn't just read it, he acted. He cleaned out all the idols and told the people to celebrate Passover exactly as God had said. The Bible says no Passover like that had been kept in hundreds of years. What made it special was not just the date on the calendar. It was the way they obeyed with their whole hearts.
Questions People Ask
Was the Passover completely neglected for hundreds of years before Josiah?
No. The verse uses a common biblical way of speaking that emphasizes how extraordinary Josiah's Passover was. Other passages show that Hezekiah kept a great Passover a generation earlier (2 Chronicles 30), and the festival was observed in some form throughout the monarchy. What Josiah did was bring back the full obedience and purity that had been lost.
What made Josiah's Passover different from Hezekiah's?
Hezekiah's Passover was a wonderful revival after years of neglect, but the Chronicler notes that some people were still unclean when they ate (2 Chronicles 30:17, 20). Josiah's observance seems to have been more complete in its adherence to every detail of the Law, and the people joined with greater unity and joy.
Why does the verse mention the days of the judges and not the time of Samuel?
The writer uses the general term 'judges' to refer to the period before the monarchy. The parallel account in 2 Chronicles 35:18 specifies 'from the days of Samuel the prophet,' who was the last of the judges. Both phrases point back to the same early standard of faithful observance.
Does this verse mean the Passover had been forgotten entirely?
Not entirely. The Cambridge Bible notes that the Passover, like the Day of Atonement, was part of the nation's regular life and would have continued in some form. What had been lost was the careful obedience to every command, especially the purging of idolatry. Josiah restored the full pattern.
What does 'such a Passover' refer to in this verse?
It refers not just to the date or the meal, but to the whole manner of the celebration: the number of people attending, the purity of the sacrifices, the joyful hearts, and the strict following of the Law as written in the newly discovered book. It was the combination that made this Passover unique.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study