2 Chronicles 35:9 kjv
Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.
2 Chronicles 35:9 nkjv
Also Conaniah, his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave to the Levites for Passover offerings five thousand from the flock and five hundred cattle.
2 Chronicles 35:9 niv
Also Konaniah along with Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, provided five thousand Passover offerings and five hundred head of cattle for the Levites.
2 Chronicles 35:9 esv
Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 bulls.
2 Chronicles 35:9 nlt
The Levite leaders ? Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, as well as Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad ? gave 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 cattle to the Levites for their Passover offerings.
2 Chronicles 35 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Passover Regulations & Significance | ||
| Exod 12:3-6 | "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb...'" | Instructions for the Passover lamb. |
| Exod 12:21-27 | "Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel... And when your children say to you, 'What does this service mean to you?'" | Observance and remembrance of Passover. |
| Lev 23:5-8 | "In the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover." | Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread. |
| Num 9:2-3 | "Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at his appointed season." | Command to observe Passover. |
| Deut 16:2-7 | "You shall therefore sacrifice the Passover to the Lord your God, of the flock and the herd..." | Sacrifice from flock and herd for Passover. |
| Luke 2:41 | "Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover." | Regular pilgrimage for Passover. |
| 1 Cor 5:7 | "For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." | Christ as the ultimate Passover Lamb. |
| Levites' Role & Provision | ||
| Num 3:6-8 | "Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest... they shall perform the duties of the tabernacle..." | Levites appointed for temple service. |
| Num 18:21 | "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance, for the service..." | Provision for Levites for their service. |
| Deut 14:27-29 | "And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, shall come and eat and be filled..." | Responsibility to care for Levites. |
| 1 Chr 23:27-32 | "For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above... service of the tabernacle..." | David's organization of Levites for temple duties. |
| 2 Chr 31:4 | "He commanded the people... that they should give the portion for the priests and Levites..." | Provision made for priests and Levites by the king. |
| Neh 12:47 | "And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions for the singers and gatekeepers..." | Sustaining temple workers, including Levites. |
| Offerings & Sacrifices | ||
| Lev 1:10 | "If his offering is of the flock... a male without blemish, he shall bring it..." | Regulations for livestock offerings. |
| Lev 3:1 | "If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering... he shall offer it, whether of the herd or of the flock..." | Peace offerings, including from cattle/flock. |
| Lev 7:15-18 | "The meat of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered..." | Consumption of peace offerings. |
| 2 Chr 29:32-34 | "And the assembly brought seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs as burnt offerings... so that they might minister..." | Abundance of offerings in Hezekiah's Passover. |
| Giving, Stewardship, & Support for God's Work | ||
| Exod 35:29 | "The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, every man and woman whose heart was willing..." | Freewill offerings for tabernacle construction. |
| 1 Chr 29:9 | "Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly... David the king also rejoiced with great joy." | David and leaders giving for temple. |
| 2 Cor 9:7-8 | "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity... God is able to make all grace abound..." | Principles of generous giving. |
| Phil 4:18-19 | "Indeed I have all and abound... an odor of a sweet smell, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God." | Supplying needs of God's servants. |
| Ezra 8:24-30 | "Then I separated twelve of the chiefs of the priests... and weighed to them the silver, the gold, and the articles..." | Leaders entrusted with resources for temple. |
| Acts 4:32-35 | "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul... they had all things in common..." | Believers sharing resources for the community. |
2 Chronicles 35 verses
2 Chronicles 35 9 Meaning
This verse details a significant act of provision during King Josiah's remarkable Passover celebration. It states that several high-ranking Levite leaders—Conaniah, Shemaiah, Nethanel (who were described as brethren to previously mentioned chiefs), and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad—contributed an exceptionally large quantity of livestock to the general body of Levites. Specifically, they donated five thousand small livestock (sheep and goats) and five hundred large livestock (cattle/oxen). This generous donation was intended specifically for the Passover offerings, ensuring that the thousands of attendees had the necessary animals for the prescribed sacrifices and celebratory meals, highlighting the unprecedented scale and meticulous preparation of this historic Passover.
2 Chronicles 35 9 Context
This verse is situated within 2 Chronicles Chapter 35, which vividly recounts King Josiah's unprecedented and faithful Passover celebration. Following significant reforms where Josiah purified the land of idolatry and rediscovered the Book of the Law, he meticulously orchestrated a national Passover observance in Jerusalem. The chapter emphasizes Josiah's personal commitment, the crucial role of the priests and Levites in organizing the ritual, and the extensive preparations, including the collection and provision of sacrificial animals. Verse 9 specifically highlights the significant contribution from the Levite leaders, ensuring the massive gathering had sufficient offerings, marking this Passover as unparalleled in its adherence to the Law and its scale since the days of Samuel. It underscores the communal effort required for such a momentous spiritual undertaking and the deep commitment of the leadership to righteous worship.
2 Chronicles 35 9 Word analysis
- Also Conaniah and Shemaiah and Nethanel: These are specific individuals mentioned by name. The naming signifies their prominent roles and personal involvement in this great event, highlighting that key Levitical leaders were active participants and donors, not just overseers. These names appear in other priestly/Levitical lists, reinforcing their lineage and established positions within the Levitical hierarchy.
- his brethren: This phrase connects these named Levites to the "chiefs of the Levites" mentioned previously in 2 Chron 35:8. It implies a shared lineage, perhaps from a prominent Levitical family or subdivision, indicating collective leadership and responsibility within their kinsmen's structure. The term (אֲחֵיהֶם, aḥehem) denotes close relationship, either literally brothers or fellow kinsmen from the same tribal subdivision.
- and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad: More named individuals, emphasizing the widespread involvement of different Levite chiefs in this communal act of giving. Their specific contributions would have been publicly acknowledged.
- chiefs of the Levites: (רָאשֵׁי הַלְוִיִּם, rashei hal'wiyim) These were the heads, leading figures, or princely individuals within the Levitical tribe. They held positions of authority, responsibility, and significant influence, overseeing the various duties of the Levites concerning temple service, music, gates, and treasury. Their leadership was essential for the successful execution of the Passover rituals.
- gave to the Levites: This indicates that the donors were also Levites themselves, making a contribution to the general body of their tribal kinsmen. This provision was for the broader Levitical collective who would then facilitate the distribution of animals for sacrifices and sustenance for the entire community celebrating. It highlights a system of intra-tribal support for worship.
- for the Passover offerings: This specifies the sacred purpose of the donation. It refers to the various animals needed for the Passover celebration—the individual lambs for each household, as well as the larger cattle and flock animals for the burnt offerings and peace offerings that accompanied the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. The offerings (qorbānim) were essential for atonement, communion, and worship.
- five thousand small livestock: (צֹאן, tson) This refers to sheep or goats. The immense quantity underscores the colossal scale of Josiah's Passover. These would primarily serve as the paschal lambs for individual families/groups, and also as additional sacrificial animals.
- and five hundred large livestock: (בָּקָר, baqar) This refers to cattle or oxen. This large number was crucial for communal burnt offerings and especially for the extensive peace offerings, which provided abundant meat for the feasting congregation during the festival.
- "Conaniah... Jozabad, chiefs of the Levites": This collective naming emphasizes the united effort and shared responsibility of the prominent Levitical leadership in facilitating the national worship. It showcases the dedication of the spiritual leadership to ensure the Law's requirements were met in full.
- "gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings": This highlights the selflessness and communal focus of the donation. The gifts were not for personal gain but for the direct furtherance of God's commanded worship, demonstrating deep spiritual commitment and organized philanthropy within the religious hierarchy.
- "five thousand small livestock and five hundred large livestock": The specific, vast numbers underline the unprecedented generosity and the exceptional magnitude of Josiah's Passover, reinforcing its uniqueness among Israel's history of celebrations and showing the tremendous resources mobilized for faithful worship.
2 Chronicles 35 9 Bonus section
- The extraordinary nature of this Passover is emphasized elsewhere in 2 Chronicles 35:18, stating that no Passover like it had been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet, nor had any of the kings of Israel observed such a Passover. This verse (35:9) directly illustrates why it was so unprecedented – the sheer abundance and meticulous provision for every detail of the feast.
- This verse complements the earlier giving by King Josiah himself (2 Chr 35:7) and the princes (2 Chr 35:8), illustrating a cascading pattern of generosity from the highest leadership downwards, demonstrating a unified national commitment to worship.
- The act of giving to the general body of Levites underscores the communal effort. The Levites had a complex system of duties, including preparing the animals, handling the blood, and cooking the sacrifices, which required an organized and well-resourced system that this large provision enabled.
- The numbers provided indicate that the livestock were for more than just the immediate Passover lamb, which was a "small livestock" from the flock. The presence of "large livestock" (cattle/oxen) confirms that the donations covered the additional burnt offerings and peace offerings made during the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev 23:6), signifying a holistic provision for the entire week of national feasting and atonement.
2 Chronicles 35 9 Commentary
2 Chronicles 35:9 encapsulates the profound spirit of devotion and organizational excellence that characterized Josiah's Passover. It portrays not only the immense scale of the offerings—facilitated by generous donations of thousands of livestock—but also the critical leadership and communal responsibility within the Levitical ranks. These chiefs were not merely administrators but active benefactors, pooling resources to ensure that every participant could fulfill the sacrificial requirements. This act of collective provision ensured proper adherence to the Law, showcasing the unified dedication from king to commoner, making this particular Passover an unparalleled historical and spiritual benchmark for meticulous obedience and heartfelt worship, unmatched in its grandeur since ancient times. It is an enduring example of leaders providing essential resources for spiritual communion.