MPV Commentary

Josiah Keeps a Solemn Passover.

1-3. Josiah observed the Passover in accordance with the law (2Ki 23:21). The first nine verses describe the preparations made for this solemn feast. The priests were organized into their courses and instructed to be ready for their duties, as required by legal purity (compare 2Ch 29:5). The Levites, who served as instructors and ministers of the people in matters related to divine worship, were commanded to put the holy ark back in its proper place in the temple built by Solomon. Some believe that the ark had been removed from the sanctuary by an idolatrous king, possibly Manasseh or Amon, while others think it was temporarily moved by Josiah himself during repairs on the temple.

4. The Levites were instructed to prepare themselves according to their family lines and courses, following the instructions of David and Solomon (2Ch 8:14; 1Ch 23:1-26:32). Each course or division would be composed of those who belonged to the same fathers' house.

5. The people were admitted into the court of the priests in groups or companies of several households at a time, with the gates being shut and the offering made after each company entered. The Levites stood in rows from the slaughtering places to the altar, handing blood and fat from one officiating priest to another (2Ch 30:16-18).

6. To facilitate the distribution of paschal lambs, Josiah instructed the Levites to have everything in order so that the lambs could be easily delivered to the various families to be roasted and eaten separately. Multitudes of people, especially those from Israel, had been reduced to poverty through Assyrian devastations, so the king provided them with means to commemorate the Passover.

7. Josiah gave the people lambs and kids for the poor, which were probably destined for those in need (Ex 12:5). He also provided bullocks for the successive days of the feast.

8-9. The princes gave to the priests and Levites, as had been done by Hezekiah's princes (2Ch 30:24). Some of the prominent brethren who had been distinguished in Hezekiah's time contributed a large additional amount for the use of the Levites exclusively.

10-11. With all necessary preparations completed, the appointed time arrived for the Passover, and the solemnity was celebrated. The Levites played a prominent part in preparing the sacrifices, including killing and stripping the skins, which were normally the duty of the priests. This deviation from the established rule was due to the extraordinary amount of work and the fact that the Levites had been sanctified for this service.

12. Some small cattle designated for burnt offerings were put apart by themselves so they wouldn't be intermingled with the paschal lambs, which were carefully selected according to certain rules. The priests laid these pieces upon the fire of the altar of burnt offering as each subdivision of the fathers' houses came forward in solemn procession.

13. The paschal lamb was roasted with fire according to the ordinance (Ex 12:7-9). This mode of preparation was prescribed by law exclusively for the paschal lamb, while other offerings and thank offerings were cooked in pots, kettles, and pans (1Sa 2:14).

14. After the meal, the Levites prepared refreshments for themselves and the priests, as they had been engrossed all day with no leisure to provide any food.

15. Meanwhile, the singers were in their place, singing certain Psalms (Psalms 113-118) during the continuance of each company of offerers. The Levites prepared for them as well, relieving each other in turn while the general choir was doing duty.

18. This Passover was distinguished by Josiah's liberality and the ardent devotion of the king and people, who disregarded traditional customs and adhered strictly to the forms of observance prescribed in the book of the law. The great majority of the people from Judah and Israel present at this feast numbered 376,000 (2Ch 35:7), with 37,600 paschal lambs and kids used.

19. This Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign, which would have been about five months and a half after he sent Shaphan to Hilkiah in the eighth month of that year (2Ki 22:3).