2 Chronicles 35:12 kjv
And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.
2 Chronicles 35:12 nkjv
Then they removed the burnt offerings that they might give them to the divisions of the fathers' houses of the lay people, to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And so they did with the cattle.
2 Chronicles 35:12 niv
They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the subdivisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle.
2 Chronicles 35:12 esv
And they set aside the burnt offerings that they might distribute them according to the groupings of the fathers' houses of the lay people, to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And so they did with the bulls.
2 Chronicles 35:12 nlt
They divided the burnt offerings among the people by their family groups, so they could offer them to the LORD as prescribed in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle.
2 Chronicles 35 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 1:1-17 | "When any of you brings an offering... if his offering is a burnt offering..." | Laws for burnt offerings specified by God. |
| Exod 29:38 | "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old daily..." | Mandates for regular sacrifices, foundational for temple worship. |
| Deut 17:18 | "And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself..." | King to copy and live by the Law of Moses. |
| Deut 28:1 | "If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these blessings..." | Blessings for obedience to God's commands (His Law). |
| Josh 1:7-8 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the Law..." | Success through diligent adherence to God's Law. |
| 1 Sam 7:5-9 | "And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD..." | Burnt offerings as acts of devotion, sometimes for atonement/deliverance. |
| 2 Chr 29:34 | "For the Levites were more upright in heart to consecrate themselves..." | Levites sanctifying themselves for proper temple service (Hezekiah's time). |
| 1 Chr 23:27 | "For according to the last instructions of David, these are the number of the Levites..." | David organized Levites for efficient service in the temple. |
| 1 Chr 24:1 | "The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these..." | Established priestly divisions, complementing Levitical duties. |
| 2 Chr 8:14 | "According to the ordinance of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests..." | Solomon organized temple service based on David's instructions. |
| 2 Chr 34:14 | "While they were bringing out the money... Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law..." | Discovery of the Law that prompted Josiah's reforms. |
| 2 Kgs 23:25 | "Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart..." | Josiah's unparalleled commitment to God's Law. |
| Neh 8:1-3 | "And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform... he read from it..." | Public reading and obedience to the rediscovered Law of Moses. |
| Ps 40:6 | "In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear..." | God desires obedience more than ritualistic sacrifice alone. |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets..." | Jesus' affirmation and fulfillment of the Mosaic Law. |
| Luke 24:44 | "Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms..." | The Old Testament, including Moses's Law, points to Christ. |
| John 5:46 | "For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me." | Believing Moses's writings leads to belief in Jesus. |
| Rom 12:1 | "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." | Christian burnt offering: dedicating one's whole self. |
| Eph 5:2 | "and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering..." | Christ's sacrifice is the ultimate, perfect offering to God. |
| Heb 9:22 | "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood..." | Necessity of blood for atonement under the old covenant. |
| Heb 10:1-10 | "For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come... it can never..." | Animal sacrifices were a foreshadowing, fulfilled by Christ. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "But all things should be done decently and in order." | Principle of order and structure in Christian worship. |
2 Chronicles 35 verses
2 Chronicles 35 12 Meaning
2 Chronicles 35:12 describes a crucial logistical aspect of King Josiah's magnificent Passover celebration, stating that the Levites systematically processed the burnt offerings presented by the people. They distributed these sacrifices according to the established divisions of the ancestral houses of Israel, ensuring their proper presentation to the Lord, in full adherence to the detailed regulations prescribed in the Book of Moses. This verse underscores the meticulous order, dedicated service of the Levites, and the ultimate purpose of offering to God according to His written commands during this significant spiritual revival.
2 Chronicles 35 12 Context
2 Chronicles 35 is centered on King Josiah's extraordinary Passover celebration in his eighteenth regnal year, marking a pinnacle of religious reform and restoration in Judah. This feast, described as unprecedented since the days of Samuel (v. 18), followed the rediscovery of the Book of the Law during the temple repairs (2 Chr 34). Josiah's immediate context is one of profound commitment to divine commands after decades of idolatry and religious laxity. The verse itself speaks to the intricate organizational efforts required to handle the immense volume of offerings from "the people," a testament to their enthusiastic participation and Josiah's dedication to correct worship. Historically, the Chronicler frequently emphasizes the legitimacy and necessity of Jerusalem temple worship, the role of the Davidic king, and the structured service of the Levites and priests, often as a counterpoint to syncretistic practices and unapproved cultic sites. This verse reinforces the idea that true worship must be precisely aligned with God's revealed will in the Torah, emphasizing divine order over human convenience or innovation.
2 Chronicles 35 12 Word analysis
- And they removed: Hebrew: וַיָּסִרוּ (wayyāsurû). The verb means "to turn aside," "to remove," or "to set apart." In this context, it signifies an active, organized process of taking the large number of burnt offerings away from the general population area, for subsequent processing and preparation by the Levites. It speaks to an efficient, administrative handling rather than merely "getting rid of."
- the burnt offerings: Hebrew: הָעֹל֣וֹת (hāʿōlōṯ), plural of עֹלָה (ʿōlāh). A specific type of sacrifice where the entire animal (except for the skin, which went to the priests) was completely consumed by fire on the altar. It symbolized complete dedication and atonement, being "that which ascends" (to God). Their handling required precision and specific Levitical knowledge according to the Law.
- that they might give them: This phrase indicates the purpose of removing them—distribution to the proper channels for handling.
- to the divisions: Hebrew: מִפְלְג֣וֹת (miplegōṯ). Refers to the organized groups or classifications. David had meticulously established these divisions for the Levites and priests to ensure orderly and continuous temple service (1 Chr 23-26).
- of the fathers’ houses: Hebrew: בֵּית־הָאָב֗וֹת (bêt-hāʾābōṯ). These refer to the ancestral or extended family units. Both the Levitical families were organized this way, and the people themselves brought offerings according to their family units. This highlights the corporate and communal nature of Israel's worship, structured around traditional lineage.
- of the people: Hebrew: לָעָ֔ם (lāʿām). Refers to the general Israelite population who brought the offerings. It clarifies that these burnt offerings originated from the worshippers themselves, whose offerings then had to be properly prepared for sacrifice by the Levites.
- to offer to the LORD: Hebrew: לְהַקְרִ֣יב לַיהוָה֙ (ləhaqrîb layhwāh). Haqrîb means "to bring near" or "to present," emphasizing the sacred act of approaching God through sacrifice. This states the ultimate purpose of the entire elaborate process: these offerings were specifically consecrated and directed towards Yahweh alone, ensuring their acceptance.
- as it is written: This phrase emphatically declares adherence to divine scriptural authority. It legitimizes Josiah's reforms and the method of sacrifice, rooting it in God's established Law.
- in the Book of Moses: Hebrew: סֵ֥פֶר מֹשֶֽׁה (sēper mōšeh). Refers to the Pentateuch, the foundational books of the Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), which contained explicit instructions for sacrifices, Levitical duties, and feast observations. This phrase stresses the binding nature of the Mosaic covenant and serves as the ultimate authority for religious practice in Israel.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And they removed the burnt offerings that they might give them to the divisions...": This phrase underscores the careful management and delegation inherent in proper temple worship. It illustrates the role of the Levites as intermediaries who processed the offerings of the vast congregation according to an established, orderly system. This speaks to both the volume of offerings and the administrative capacity required to handle them, a testament to Josiah's successful reforms.
- "...to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses.": This second phrase is crucial, defining the divine destination and authorization of the sacrificial acts. "To offer to the LORD" proclaims the direct purpose of all this organizational effort: worship and communion with God. The qualifying clause, "as it is written in the Book of Moses," highlights the central theme of Josiah's reign and the Chronicler's theology: legitimate and acceptable worship must conform precisely to God's revealed Law, rejecting all human innovations or deviations. It serves as an implicit polemic against syncretism and idolatry.
2 Chronicles 35 12 Bonus section
The Chronicler places significant emphasis on the role of the Levites and their organization according to Davidic patterns, which were themselves rooted in Mosaic law. This verse illustrates that these elaborate preparations and divisions were not merely ritualistic but practical necessities for facilitating legitimate worship. The scale of the Passover indicated both the depth of national repentance and the spiritual prosperity under Josiah's faithful leadership. The adherence to the "Book of Moses" discovered earlier underscores the profound impact of God's Word in initiating and sustaining true revival. The order seen here is characteristic of divine design for worship throughout Scripture, emphasizing reverence and purposeful action.
2 Chronicles 35 12 Commentary
2 Chronicles 35:12 provides a snapshot of the intricate and highly organized sacred service under King Josiah's reformed worship. The verse demonstrates that genuine worship, particularly large-scale religious observances like the Passover, required not just zealous participation from the people, but also the diligent, methodical, and Scripturally compliant work of the Levites. The act of "removing" and distributing the burnt offerings was an administrative necessity, reflecting the vast number of sacrifices offered during Josiah's unparalleled Passover. This detailed organizational process was not arbitrary; it was expressly carried out "as it is written in the Book of Moses." This highlights a core theological principle: the efficacy and acceptance of Israel's worship depended on strict adherence to divine prescription, not on human ingenuity or devotional fervor alone. For the Chronicler, the meticulous fulfillment of the Law ensured the presence and favor of God. This points forward to the perfect, singular offering of Christ, who fulfilled all the requirements of the Law and provided the ultimate, truly acceptable sacrifice to the Lord (Hebrews 10:1-10), rendering all other offerings obsolete, while simultaneously calling believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices in accordance with His new covenant (Romans 12:1).