Introduction

Josiah, the sixteenth king of Judah, is renowned for his religious reforms and his zealous commitment to restoring the worship of Yahweh. His reign, which lasted from approximately 640 to 609 BC, is marked by a significant revival of the covenantal faith and a return to the laws of Moses. One of the most notable events during his reign was the observance of a solemn Passover, which is detailed in the biblical accounts of 2 Kings 23 and 2 Chronicles 35.

Background

Josiah ascended to the throne at the tender age of eight following the assassination of his father, Amon. His early reign was characterized by a period of spiritual decline in Judah, as the nation had been steeped in idolatry and syncretism under the reigns of his predecessors, Manasseh and Amon. However, Josiah's heart was inclined toward the Lord, and he sought to restore true worship in the land.

Discovery of the Book of the Law

In the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah initiated a project to repair the temple in Jerusalem. During this restoration, Hilkiah the high priest discovered the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord (2 Kings 22:8). Upon hearing the words of the Law, Josiah was deeply moved and tore his clothes in an act of repentance, recognizing the nation's departure from God's commandments.

The Solemn Passover

In response to the rediscovered Law, Josiah embarked on a series of reforms to purify the worship practices of Judah. Central to these reforms was the observance of the Passover, a festival that had not been celebrated with such fervor since the days of the judges. The account in 2 Chronicles 35:1-19 provides a detailed description of this momentous event.

Josiah commanded that the Passover be kept in Jerusalem, and he personally contributed to the celebration by providing lambs and goats for the people. The Berean Standard Bible records, "Josiah contributed to the lay people a total of 30,000 lambs and goats for the Passover offerings, as well as 3,000 bulls—all from the king’s own possessions" (2 Chronicles 35:7). This generous provision ensured that all who were present could participate in the feast.

The Levites were instructed to prepare the sacrifices according to the prescriptions of the Law, and the priests were stationed in their divisions to carry out their duties. The Passover was celebrated with meticulous attention to the details outlined in the Mosaic Law, reflecting Josiah's commitment to restoring the covenantal relationship between God and His people.

Significance

Josiah's observance of the Passover was not merely a ceremonial act but a profound expression of national repentance and renewal. It symbolized a return to the foundational principles of the Israelite faith and a rejection of the idolatrous practices that had plagued the nation. The Passover celebration under Josiah's leadership was unparalleled in its scope and adherence to the Law, as noted in 2 Kings 23:22: "No such Passover had been observed since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah" .

Legacy

Josiah's reforms and the solemn Passover he instituted left a lasting impact on the spiritual life of Judah. His dedication to the Lord and his efforts to lead the nation back to covenant faithfulness are remembered as a high point in the history of the southern kingdom. Despite the subsequent decline following his death, Josiah's reign serves as a testament to the power of godly leadership and the importance of adhering to God's Word.2 Kings 23:21-23
And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 35:1-19
Moreover Josiah kept a passover to the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
Nave's Topical Index

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... How King Josiah conducted himself after this message I need not describe at ... more
exactly in the work of reformation in Judah and Israel, keeping closely to ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... of Judah and Jerusalem, both under Jehoash and Josiah, and those of ... presenting an
animating example, the kingdom of Judah, with Asa their king, "sware unto ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son"? ... I will beget children." He relates
that Josiah, a righteous ... But I wonder why he set [4361] Judah and Tamar ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
... BC536, fifty-two years after Judah's, and seventy ... which were coming upon Judea, when
Josiah, alarmed at ... that murderous decree of Persia's King, which wicked ...
/.../an appeal to the christian women of the south/appeal to the christian women.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... a wreck behind.' Or in language far more solemn and striking ... in the destruction of
Jerusalem by the king of Babylon ... out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

Who was King Josiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Huldah the prophetess in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Amon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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