2 Chronicles 35:19 kjv
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.
2 Chronicles 35:19 nkjv
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.
2 Chronicles 35:19 niv
This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign.
2 Chronicles 35:19 esv
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.
2 Chronicles 35:19 nlt
This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign.
2 Chronicles 35 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 12:1-14 | The LORD said to Moses... on the tenth of this month every man shall take a lamb... and eat it... it is the LORD's Passover. | Institution of the Passover feast. |
| Deut 16:1-8 | Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover... you shall sacrifice the Passover... where the LORD will choose to make His name dwell. | Instructions for observing Passover at the central sanctuary. |
| Josh 5:10-11 | On the fourteenth day of the month, while in Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover... | First Passover in Canaan. |
| 1 Sam 7:5-6 | Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah... we have sinned against the LORD.” | Samuel's era of national repentance and seeking God. |
| 1 Sam 10:24-25 | Then Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? ... Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship...” | Samuel as a foundational prophet during Israel's early monarchy. |
| 2 Kgs 23:21-23 | And the king commanded all the people, saying, “Keep the Passover to the LORD your God as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” | Parallel account of Josiah’s unparalleled Passover. |
| 2 Chron 29:34-36 | The Levites were too few... the hearts of the Levites were made right... thus the service of the house of the LORD was restored. | Hezekiah's initial cleansing and reform, preceding his Passover. |
| 2 Chron 30:1-5 | Hezekiah sent word to all Israel... to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the LORD. | Hezekiah's Passover, noted as great, yet with compromises. |
| 2 Chron 30:17-20 | Many of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet ate the Passover contrary to what was written... | Imperfections in Hezekiah’s Passover compared to Josiah's strictness. |
| 2 Chron 34:14-15 | Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses... | Discovery of the Book of the Law, catalyst for Josiah's reforms. |
| 2 Chron 34:31-33 | The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD... and made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge to it. | Josiah's covenant renewal, basis for his zealous Passover. |
| Neh 8:17 | For the people of Israel had not kept the Feast of Booths in such a way since the days of Joshua... | Another historical comparison emphasizing a later return to strict observance. |
| Matt 26:17-19 | The disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” | Jesus observes the traditional Passover with His disciples. |
| Luke 22:7-8 | Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. | Preparation for the final Passover meal of Jesus. |
| 1 Cor 5:7 | Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump... For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. | Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover Lamb. |
| John 1:29 | The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” | Jesus identified as the sin-bearing Lamb. |
| Heb 9:13-14 | For if the blood of goats and bulls... sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ... cleanse your conscience...? | Christ’s superior sacrifice cleanses more effectively than ritual observances. |
| Col 2:16-17 | Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. | Old Covenant observances foreshadow Christ, who is the reality. |
| Rom 10:4 | For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. | Fulfillment of the Law's demands in Christ, rendering ritual law obsolete. |
| Isa 53:7 | He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter... | Prophecy foreshadowing the silent suffering of the Messiah, the ultimate Passover Lamb. |
| Rev 5:9-10 | And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals; for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God...” | The redeemed celebrating the slain Lamb (Christ) for His atoning work. |
| 2 Chron 35:25 | Jeremiah uttered a lament for Josiah... until this day the lament for Josiah is sung in Israel... | The tragic irony of Josiah’s subsequent death shortly after this peak of obedience. |
2 Chronicles 35 verses
2 Chronicles 35 19 Meaning
Second Chronicles 35:19 declares Josiah’s Passover as uniquely preeminent, asserting that no Passover of such comprehensive faithfulness and adherence to God's Law had been observed in Israel since the time of Samuel the prophet, and that none of Israel's subsequent kings had equaled its perfect keeping. It marks a spiritual zenith in Judah’s history, representing an unprecedented national commitment to Mosaic worship, driven by the rediscovery of the Book of the Law and Josiah's zealous reforms.
2 Chronicles 35 19 Context
Chapter 35 of 2 Chronicles describes the climactic event of Josiah’s reign: a Passover celebration unparalleled in Israel's history. This grand observance is the culmination of Josiah’s earlier religious reforms, detailed in Chapter 34, which included the cleansing of the land from idolatry and, most significantly, the discovery of the Book of the Law in the Temple. Deeply affected by the rediscovered commandments, Josiah had already led a national covenant renewal, pledging to obey God's statutes wholeheartedly. The Passover, a fundamental celebration commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt and adherence to God's covenant, was the perfect manifestation of this renewed commitment. Verse 19 serves as the Chronicler’s summary statement, emphatically highlighting the uniqueness and profound significance of this particular Passover as a benchmark of spiritual purity and comprehensive obedience to God's divine instructions, particularly when compared to previous eras and other kings.
2 Chronicles 35 19 Word analysis
- There was no Passover like it: (וְלֹא־נַעֲשָׂה כַפֶּסַח) The Hebrew phrase velo' na'asah k Pesach literally translates to "and there was not made like the Passover." The verb na'asah (נַעֲשָׂה), from ‘āśâ (עָשָׂה), means "to make, do, keep, observe." It conveys active performance and adherence. This emphatic negative statement sets Josiah's Passover apart as supreme.
- kept: (נַעֲשָׂה) As above, this word signifies the act of "doing" or "observing." It implies full compliance with all the intricate requirements of the Law for Passover, not just a superficial observance. This reflects the diligent and meticulous effort described in 2 Chron 35:1-18.
- in Israel: (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל) Refers to the collective people of God. In Chronicles, particularly during Josiah’s time, this often transcends the divided kingdoms to imply the ideal unified worship of the entire Israelite nation, underscoring Josiah’s aspiration to unite all God's people in true worship.
- from the days of Samuel the prophet: (מִימֵי שְׁמוּאֵל הַנָּבִיא) This phrase establishes a profound historical benchmark. Samuel was a pivotal figure who ushered in the monarchy, standing as a beacon of faithfulness and obedience in a period of great moral and spiritual decline (Judges). Referencing him highlights that Josiah's era recaptured a level of purity not seen since that formative time before Israel fully adopted kings, when prophets and priests largely guided the nation's spiritual life. It signifies a long period of spiritual dormancy and compromise that Josiah's revival temporarily broke.
- nor had any of the kings of Israel kept such a Passover: (וְכָל־מַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא עָשׂוּ כַפֶּסַח הַלָּזֶה) This re-emphasizes the unique quality of Josiah's Passover. The Chronicler makes a direct comparison with all subsequent kings since Samuel, explicitly stating that none matched this level of devotion and meticulous adherence. This distinguishes it from other "great" Passovers, such as Hezekiah's (2 Chron 30), which, despite its scale, was noted for some imperfections and needed an additional month due to uncleanness. Josiah's was celebrated perfectly "as it is written in the Book of the Covenant."
2 Chronicles 35 19 Bonus section
The profound impact of Josiah's Passover and the high praise it receives are tinged with a deep historical irony and theological weight. Despite this zenith of national religious observance and obedience, Judah's downfall into Babylonian exile was not averted. This stark reality serves as a poignant reminder that even the most zealous, divinely-sanctioned reforms, if not sustained and if the hearts of the people, despite outward compliance, eventually turn away, cannot indefinitely postpone God's just judgment. It highlights the recurring biblical theme of humanity’s persistent inability to maintain perfect obedience to God’s law, ultimately pointing to the necessity of a New Covenant and a perfect deliverer, Jesus Christ, to establish true and lasting reconciliation. The very next verses in 2 Chronicles detail Josiah’s fatal error in going to battle against Pharaoh Neco (2 Chron 35:20-24), leading to his tragic death, effectively ending this golden era of revival and setting the stage for Judah's swift decline and destruction. This brief peak underscores God's mercy and willingness to bless obedience, yet also the grim consequences of persistent national sin that even a faithful king's best efforts could not overcome indefinitely.
2 Chronicles 35 19 Commentary
2 Chronicles 35:19 provides the Chronicler's evaluative summation of King Josiah’s Passover, marking it as an unparalleled event in the history of Israel from Samuel's time onward. Its uniqueness lay in the meticulous and complete adherence to every Mosaic commandment regarding the Passover, stimulated by the recent discovery of the Law. Unlike previous Passovers, even significant ones like Hezekiah’s, Josiah's lacked recorded imperfections, demonstrating a comprehensive national purity of worship. The mention of Samuel’s era suggests a return to a pre-monarchic spiritual integrity that had long been absent, and the dismissal of all intervening kings underscores the depth of deviation that Israel had endured. This verse celebrates a moment of ideal covenant faithfulness, tragically followed soon after by Josiah's death, symbolizing a brief flicker of hope before Judah's final decline. It points to the aspiration of God for His people’s complete and unreserved obedience, foreshadowing the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Christ, the true Passover Lamb, who perfectly fulfills the Law.