1 Josiah Celebrates the Passover Then Josiah celebrated the Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the Passoveranimalson the fourteenthdayof the first month.
2 And he caused the priests to stand in their responsibilities and strengthened them in the service of the house of Yahweh.
3 He also said to the Levites who provided understanding to all Israelandwho were holy to Yahweh, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; it will be a burden onyourshoulders no longer. Now serve Yahweh your God and His people Israel.
4 So prepareyourselvesby your fathers’ households in your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel and according to the writing of his son Solomon.
5 Moreover, stand in the holy place according to the sections of the fathers’ households of your brothers the 35:5Lit sons of the people, so in ch lay people, and according to the Levites, by division of a father’s household.
6 Now slaughter the Passoveranimals, sanctify yourselves and prepare for your brothers to do according to the word of Yahweh by the hand of Moses.”
7 And Josiah contributed to the lay people, to all who were present, flocks of lambs and young goats, all for the Passover offerings, numbering30,000plus3,000bulls; these were from the king’s possessions.
8 His officials also contributed a freewill offering to the people, the priests, and the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings2,600from the flocksand 300 bulls.
9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the 35:9Or leaders officials of the Levites, contributed to the Levites for the Passover offerings5,000from the flocksand 500 bulls.
10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood at their stations and the Levites by their divisions according to the king’s commandment.
11 And 35:11The Levites they slaughtered the Passoveranimals, and while the priests splashed 35:11As in Gr the bloodreceivedfrom their hand, the Levites skinnedthem.
12 Then they took awaythe portions forthe burnt offerings thattheymight give them to the sections of the fathers’ households of the lay people to bring near to Yahweh, as it is written in the book of Moses.They didthis also with the bulls.
13 So they roasted the Passoveranimalson the fire according to thelegaljudgment, and they boiled the holy things in pots, in kettles, in pans, and carriedthemspeedily to all the lay people.
14 Afterwards they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron,wereoffering the burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.
15 The singers, the sons of Asaph,werealso at their stations according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers at each gate did not have to turn aside from their service, because the Levites their brothers prepared for them.
16 So all the service of Yahweh was prepared on that day to celebrate the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of Yahweh according to the commandment of King Josiah.
17 Thus the sons of Israel who were present celebrated the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days.
18 And there had not been celebrated a Passover like it in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; nor had any of the kings of Israel celebrated such a Passover as Josiah celebrated with the priests, the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
19 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was celebrated.Josiah Dies in War
20 After all this, when Josiah had set the 35:20Or temple house in order, Neco king of Egypt went up to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him.
21 But 35:21Lit he Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, O King of Judah?I amnotcomingagainst you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has said for me to hurry. Stop for your own sake frominterfering withGod who is with me, so that He will not bring you to ruin.”
22 However, Josiah would not turn 35:22Lit his face away from him, but disguised himself in order to make war with him; nor did he listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to make war on the plain of Megiddo.
23 Then the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.”
24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and drove him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem 35:24Lit and where he died, and he was buried in the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25 Then Jeremiah chanted alamentfor Josiah. And all the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations to this day. And they made them a statute in Israel; behold, they are also written in the lamentations.
26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his deeds of lovingkindness according to what was written in the law of Yahweh,
27 and his acts, first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.