2 Chronicles 35 25

2 Chronicles 35:25 kjv

And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.

2 Chronicles 35:25 nkjv

Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And to this day all the singing men and the singing women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. They made it a custom in Israel; and indeed they are written in the Laments.

2 Chronicles 35:25 niv

Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments. These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments.

2 Chronicles 35:25 esv

Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments.

2 Chronicles 35:25 nlt

The prophet Jeremiah composed funeral songs for Josiah, and to this day choirs still sing these sad songs about his death. These songs of sorrow have become a tradition and are recorded in The Book of Laments.

2 Chronicles 35 verses

2 Chronicles 35 25 Meaning

This verse details the profound and lasting impact of King Josiah's death on Israel. It records that the prophet Jeremiah composed a lament (a mournful song or dirge) for Josiah, signifying deep personal and prophetic grief. Furthermore, it states that professional singers, both men and women, incorporated Josiah's story into their public lamentations, establishing this practice as an enduring custom, or "ordinance," in Israel. The verse concludes by asserting that these laments were preserved in written collections, underscoring their historical authenticity and continued remembrance.

2 Chronicles 35 25 Context

The immediate context of 2 Chronicles 35:25 is the aftermath of King Josiah's death in battle at Megiddo against Pharaoh Neco of Egypt. Josiah, one of Judah's most righteous kings, had led an unparalleled spiritual revival, cleansing the land of idolatry and restoring the true worship of YHWH, culminating in a magnificent Passover celebration. His unexpected and tragic demise (verses 20-24) was a severe blow, particularly as it seemed contrary to the divine blessing typically promised for obedience. This verse highlights the deep and lasting sorrow his death invoked.

Within the broader context of Chronicles, the writer often emphasizes the importance of Temple worship, the Davidic covenant, and the consequences of obedience or disobedience. Josiah stands out as an exemplary king, fulfilling the ideals of devotion. His death, therefore, posed a significant theological dilemma: how could such a pious king meet such a tragic end? The Chronicler underscores the magnitude of this loss by showing how deeply ingrained the grief for Josiah became in the national consciousness, extending into a formal, enduring memorial. Culturally, professional lamentation was a well-established practice in the Ancient Near East and Israel, expressing communal and individual sorrow, especially at the death of significant figures.

2 Chronicles 35 25 Word analysis

• And Jeremiah: Refers to Yirmeyahu (יִרְמְיָהוּ), the prophet active during Josiah's reign and after. His personal lament underscores his close relationship with the king and his deep grief, foreshadowing his later role as "the weeping prophet" (Jer 9:1) for Judah's impending desolation.
• lamented: From the Hebrew verb qonen (קוֹנֵן), a participle indicating the act of composing or performing a qinah (קִינָה), a specific type of mournful dirge or funeral song. This shows Jeremiah's immediate response and sorrow.
• for Josiah: Yoshiyyahu (יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ). The focus of the lament. Josiah's unique standing as a truly righteous king who purified the land made his death particularly devastating and unforgettable.
• and all the singing men and the singing women: Professional mourners, sharim (שָׁרִים) and sharot (שָׁרוֹת), skilled musicians and vocalists employed to compose and perform dirges for public and private grief (cf. Jer 9:17). Their inclusion signifies widespread and institutionalized mourning.
• spake of Josiah in their lamentations: They publicly recited or performed songs that commemorated Josiah, continually rehearsing his virtues and the tragedy of his death within the established mournful repertoire (qinot). This ensured his memory lived on.
• to this day: A common Chronicler's phrase indicating the ongoing, enduring nature of an event or custom, emphasizing its historical permanence and significance to the Chronicler's own time.
• and made them an ordinance in Israel: From the Hebrew choq (חֹק), meaning a statute, decree, or fixed custom. This highlights that the lamentation for Josiah became a recognized and sustained tradition, demonstrating the profound collective respect and sorrow for him.
• and, behold, they are written: Emphasizes the historical verification and permanent documentation of these lamentations, signifying their importance and preservation for future generations.
• in the lamentations: From the Hebrew b'madreshey haqqinoot (בְּמַדְרְשֵׁי הַקִּינוֹת). This phrase refers to specific written collections or compilations of such lamentation songs. It affirms that these public expressions of grief were systematically recorded and preserved.

• Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: This phrase highlights the personal and prophetic significance of Josiah's death. It connects the sorrow for the king with Jeremiah, whose entire prophetic ministry was deeply intertwined with the nation's decline and ultimate destruction following Josiah's death.
• all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations: This emphasizes the communal and formal nature of the grief. It suggests that Josiah's death was not just a personal tragedy but a national one, requiring ritualized, collective expression by professional mourners.
• to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: These phrases together convey the unparalleled impact and enduring legacy of Josiah. His memory was not merely fleeting but embedded as a permanent national custom, reflecting his status as one of Israel's most revered kings.
• behold, they are written in the lamentations: This final phrase validates the historicity of these mourning traditions. It indicates that the laments for Josiah were not merely oral traditions but were documented, making their enduring existence verifiable and cementing their place in Israel's historical and cultural memory.

2 Chronicles 35 25 Bonus section

The phrase "in the lamentations" (Hebrew: b'madreshey haqqinoot) is crucial. The term madrashey (מַדְרְשֵׁי) specifically means "commentaries," "collections," or "treatises," implying compilations of learned works or written sources. This indicates that these were established written collections of various dirges and mournful compositions, not necessarily referring to the canonical "Book of Lamentations" traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah (though Jeremiah likely did compose many laments, including the one mentioned here). This distinction highlights the existence of a broader body of lament literature in ancient Israel, which these public performances drew from, and into which Jeremiah's lament for Josiah was integrated. The unexpected death of Josiah, a divinely favored king, presented a profound theological challenge to the people, initiating a period of irreversible national decline that ultimately led to the Babylonian exile. The permanence of his lament underscores the sense of 'doom' felt after such a righteous king could not avert God's judgment that had been revealed by Huldah (2 Kgs 22:15-20).

2 Chronicles 35 25 Commentary

2 Chronicles 35:25 serves as a profound epitaph for King Josiah, cementing his unparalleled legacy despite his untimely death. Jeremiah's personal lament signifies not only the prophet's individual sorrow but also divine lamentation over the tragic loss of Judah's last righteous king before its final downfall. The custom of professional singers perpetuating these laments as an "ordinance" illustrates the depth of national grief and the king's revered status. It speaks to a cultural mechanism for communal processing of sorrow and preservation of significant historical memory. This perpetual remembrance reflects a nation mourning a lost hope—a golden age of reform that, with Josiah's demise, ended abruptly. The Chronicler, in particular, emphasizes the written preservation of these dirges, underlining their historical authenticity and serving as a testament to Josiah's enduring impact on Israelite consciousness, solidifying his place as a hero deserving of continuous commemoration.