II Kings 23:22 · Bible study
2 Kings 23:22 Commentary: Josiah's Unprecedented Passover
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore why Josiah's Passover was unique: was it the only one, or the most faithful? Discover the significance of this verse.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Josiah's Passover was celebrated with an unmatched combination of purity, participation, and adherence to the Law, making it the most faithful observance since the days of the judges.
- Key words: na'asah (Niphal perfect, it had been observed), ka/Pe.sach hazeh ("like this Passover", comparative prefix reinforces the uniqueness).
- Main debate: Some argue the verse implies total neglect of Passover for centuries; others (Cambridge Bible, Ellicott) see it as hyperbole for exceptional faithfulness.
- Theological theme: Revival and the restoration of covenant worship, God honours obedience that springs from wholehearted turning to Him.
- Best use: A key text for teaching on the importance of both inward repentance and outward action in worship, and for illustrating the difference between tradition and meaningful observance.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
No such Passover had been observed from the days of the judges who had governed Israel through all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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;
KJV King James Version 1769
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;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
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;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
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;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Now there was no such a Phase kept from the days of the judges, who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, and of the kings of Juda,
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No fué hecha tal pascua desde los tiempos de los jueces que gobernaron á Israel, ni en todos los tiempos de los reyes de Israel, y de los reyes de Judá.
Não foi feita tal páscoa desde os tempos dos juízes que governaram a Israel, nem em todos os tempos dos reis de Israel, e dos reis de Judá.
Aucune Pâque pareille à celle-ci n’ avait été célébrée depuis le temps où les juges jugeaient Israël et pendant tous les jours des rois d’ Israël et des rois de Juda.
Denn es war kein Passah so gehalten wie dieses von der Richter Zeit an, die Israel gerichtet haben, und in allen Zeiten der Könige Israels und der Könige Juda' s;
Want gelijk dit pascha was er geen gehouden, van de dagen der richteren af, die Israel gericht hadden, noch in al de dagen der koningen van Israel, noch der koningen van Juda.
Poiché Pasqua simile non era stata fatta dal tempo de’ giudici che avean governato Israele, e per tutto il tempo dei re d’Israele e dei re di Giuda;
Bo nie obchodzono takiego święta przejścia ode dni sędziów, którzy sądzili Izraela, i przez wszystkie dni królów Izraelskich, i królów Judzkich.
потому что не была совершена такая пасха от дней судей, которые судили Израиля, и во все дни царей Израильских и царей Иудейских;
自從 士師 治理 以色列人 和以色列 王、猶大 王 的時候，直到如今，實在 沒有 守 過這樣的 逾越節；
Truly, such a Passover had not been kept in all the days of the judges of Israel or of the kings of Israel or the kings of Judah;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Kings 23:22
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree on the core meaning: this Passover under Josiah was extraordinary in its faithfulness and thoroughness. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that the verse cannot be forced to mean total neglect of the festival since the time of the judges; it emphasizes the complete adherence to the Law's prescriptions, unmatched even by Hezekiah's earlier observance. Adam Clarke highlights the manner and spirit, not numbers. Barnes adds the multitudes and the completeness of observance. The consensus frames the verse as a celebration of an unprecedented return to the Law's standards, not a claim of unique existence.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Absolute neglect view: The phrasing 'there was not kept such a Passover from the days of the judges... nor in all the days of the kings' is taken literally to mean no Passover was observed at all during that long span.
- Hyperbolic exceptional quality view: The same language is understood as superlative emphasis on the faithfulness of the celebration, not the existence of the festival, supported by the comparative prefix 'like' and the Chronicler's parallel in 2 Chronicles 35:18.
What is clear: Josiah's Passover was the most complete, Law-abiding, and zealously observed Passover since the time of the judges, marking a high point of religious reform.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Whether Passover was completely neglected | All commentators agree that Josiah's Passover was in some sense unprecedented and superior. | Some (e.g., Clemens of Alexandria, cited by Gill) infer total neglect from the judges to Josiah; others (Cambridge Bible, Ellicott) argue it means no Passover was kept with such complete compliance to the Law, not that none was kept at all. |
| The standard of comparison | The verse compares Josiah's Passover to all previous ones since the judges. | The standard: some (Barnes, Clarke) emphasize the numbers and the joy; others (Matthew Henry, Wesley) stress the careful preparation and the purging of uncleanness. The criterion of quality vs. quantity is debated. |
| The significance of 2 Chronicles 35:18 | That verse parallels this one and specifies 'from the days of Samuel the prophet,' limiting the comparison to the period after the judges. | Whether the Chronicler's 'Samuel' is a clarification or an addition that changes the scope, some see it as consistent, others as a different emphasis. |
| The role of previous kings' Passovers | Both Hezekiah's and Josiah's Passovers are recorded; others are not mentioned. | Some interpret the silence as evidence that most kings did not keep it; others (Cambridge Bible) argue that regular observance went unrecorded and should be assumed unless contradicted. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Josiah's reign (640, 609 BC) came after the long, idolatrous rule of Manasseh and the brief reign of Amon. In 622 BC, during temple repairs, Hilkiah the priest discovered the Book of the Law (likely Deuteronomy). Josiah tore his clothes in repentance and launched a sweeping reform: he removed idols, altars, and pagan priests across Judah and former northern Israel (2 Kings 23:1-20). Only after this cleansing did he command the people to keep the Passover to Yahweh, as prescribed in that book (v.21). The Chronicler's parallel account (2 Chronicles 35:1-19) adds details: the king and officials provided animals for the people, the Levites were instructed, and the celebration lasted seven days with great joy. The reference to "the days of the judges" goes back to the period before the monarchy, when Israel first entered the land. Samuel, the last judge, oversaw a Passover (2 Chronicles 35:18). Subsequent kings, especially in the northern kingdom of Israel, largely neglected the festival. Even Hezekiah's Passover (2 Chronicles 30) was kept in the second month due to uncleanliness and included those who were not purified. Josiah's was in the first month, with all priests and Levites sanctified, and all participants free from idolatry. The verse places this event in the "eighteenth year of King Josiah," marking a high point of religious revival, though God's wrath for Manasseh's sins still loomed (2 Kings 23:26-27).
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Masoretic Text is consistent across Hebrew manuscripts. One noteworthy reading appears in the Septuagint (LXX), which, according to Ellicott's Commentary, omits the particle of comparison (the Hebrew ka in ka/pe.sach 'like the Passover'): the LXX renders it with a simple statement that 'this Passover was not held.' This variant may have influenced interpretations that see the verse as asserting total neglect rather than comparison. The Hebrew text, with the kaph, clearly supports a comparative reading, aligning with the Chronicler's parallel in 2 Chronicles 35:18.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, this verse is associated with the peak of Josiah's faithfulness and the theme of return to Torah. The Talmud discusses the exceptional nature of this Passover (Pesachim 56a). Christian interpreters from early times have treated it as an example of revival: Eusebius saw it as a pattern for the Church to reject idolatry and restore true worship. During the Reformation, Protestant commentators like Matthew Henry emphasised Josiah's personal devotion and his use of Scripture to guide reform. The verse appears in hymns celebrating spiritual renewal and has often been cited in preaching about the priority of God's Word in corporate worship.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Repentance prepares revival. Josiah's reforms cleared idolatry before the people could celebrate Passover purely. True worship follows cleansing.
- God's Word restores forgotten practices. The discovery of the law prompted a return to a neglected command. Scripture revives what custom lets fade.
- Faithfulness brings joy. The Chronicler says the Passover was kept with gladness (2 Chr 35:8-9). When God's people obey fully, celebration follows.
Five-point outline
- Context of reform: Josiah's destruction of idolatry (2 Kings 23:4-20).
- Command to keep the Passover: Based on the book of the covenant (v.21).
- Exceptional observance: This verse declares its uniqueness in quality and scope.
- Contrast with earlier Passovers: Hezekiah's was postponed and imperfect; the judges' era saw decline.
- Lasting standard: "There was no king like him" (v.25), Josiah's example remains a benchmark.
Illustration hooks
- A family that rediscovers a lost recipe and makes it together with greater care than ever, the Passover was reverently recreated.
- A town that restores a neglected monument: the project requires clearing debris before unveiling. Josiah first cleared the high places.
- A musician who returns to basics: after years of improvisation, she plays a piece exactly as written. Josiah followed the score of the Law.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God care about the precise way we worship, or is the heart enough? Josiah's attention to detail suggests both matter.
- What do we do with traditions we have neglected? This verse shows that rediscovering God's commands can revive them.
- How can we celebrate God's goodness after a season of repentance? Josiah's Passover turned from judgment to joy.
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits at the climax of Josiah's reform, a moment when the people of God kept a long-mandated feast with extraordinary care. The text does not say that no Passover was ever kept before, but that none was kept "like this." Small groups can explore what made this celebration so singular and how it applies today.
Discussion questions
- Read 2 Kings 23:21-23. What does the phrase "such a Passover" imply about earlier celebrations?
- How does the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 35:18 (from the days of Samuel) shape your reading of this verse?
- Why did Josiah wait until after the temple repairs and the covenant renewal to call for this Passover?
- Commentators note that the Hebrew construction "like this Passover" (ka/Pe.sach hazeh) stresses quality over existence. Why does that distinction matter?
- What does this passage teach about the relationship between removing sin and worshiping God?
- Think of a Christian tradition that has become routine in your life. How might you reclaim it with new intentionality?
- Josiah faced God's coming judgment even after this faithful act (2 Kings 23:26-27). How does that sobering note affect your view of obedience?
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)
| 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 30:3 | For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, and the people had not gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. |
| II Chronicles 30:13 | Many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly. |
| II Chronicles 30:20 | Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. |
| II Chronicles 35:3 | He said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to Yahweh, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built. It will no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve Yahweh your God and his people Israel. |
| II Chronicles 35:18 | There was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet, nor did any of the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept—with the priests, the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. |
| II Chronicles 35:19 | This Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah. |
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
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that the phrase "such a passover" refers to the manner and spirit of the celebration, not the number of people present. For him the uniqueness lay in the pure motives, heartfelt participation, and strict religious observance of those who took part.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the distinctive excellence of this Passover lay in two factors: the enormous crowd that attended and the scrupulous way every legal requirement was fulfilled. No other celebration matched it in either scale or thoroughness.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator argues that this passover was not the first in centuries, as some claim. Passover observance continued through the nation's life, though often with relaxed ceremonial strictness. Josiah's passover was unique because it restored the complete form commanded in the book of the covenant.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes observe that this Passover was without equal in all of Israel's history. It surpassed every celebration held from the days of the Judges through all the kings of Israel and Judah, making it uniquely significant in its observance.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues this Passover surpassed all others since the judges because it was kept with complete purity, heartfelt joy, and exact obedience to the law. Even the great Passovers of David and Solomon, though larger, lacked this level of devotion and the generous provision from the king and leaders.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the discovery of the Law book was the driving event that sparked Josiah's sweeping reforms, not a later addition to them. He insists the book contained the entire Pentateuch, not merely Deuteronomy, and that the king's drastic actions only make sense as a direct response to its newly heard threats.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes Josiah's thoroughness in treating idolatry as utterly contemptible, not merely removing it but grinding it to powder and casting it onto graves. He notes that Josiah defiled the very places and objects of false worship, showing that sin must be detested and erased without a trace.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that this Passover was unique in Israel's history because of its extraordinary care, preparation, and the nation's wholehearted turning from idolatry. No previous king had taken such pains to cleanse worship and renew the covenant, and God honored their zeal with uncommon signs of his favor, making it greater even than Hezekiah's celebration.