2 Kings 23:22 kjv
Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
2 Kings 23:22 nkjv
Such a Passover surely had never been held since the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah.
2 Kings 23:22 niv
Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed.
2 Kings 23:22 esv
For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah.
2 Kings 23:22 nlt
There had not been a Passover celebration like that since the time when the judges ruled in Israel, nor throughout all the years of the kings of Israel and Judah.
2 Kings 23 22 Cross References
h2| Verse | Text | Reference ||--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|| Origin & Command | | || Exod 12:14 | "So this day shall be to you a memorial; you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord..." | Institution of Passover || Lev 23:5 | "On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover." | Precise date for Passover || Num 9:2-3 | "Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time." | Command for future observance || Deut 16:1-8 | Extensive laws concerning the Feast of Passover. | Detailed regulations for observance || Earlier Observances & Contexts | | || Josh 5:10 | "Now the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover..." | First Passover in Promised Land || Judg 2:10-12 | "...another generation arose...who did not know the Lord...served Baals." | Spiritual decline in period of Judges || 1 Kgs 15:14 | "...the high places were not removed." (Re: Asa) | Limitations of previous "good" kings' reforms || 2 Chr 17:6 | "He [Jehoshaphat] removed the high places and wooden images from Judah." | Efforts of earlier good kings || 2 Chr 30:1-27| Account of King Hezekiah's significant Passover observance. | Previous notable Passover celebration || Josiah's Reform & Devotion | | || 2 Kgs 22:8 | "Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the Book of the Law...'" | Discovery of the Law, catalyst for reform || 2 Kgs 23:3 | "...all the people covenanted to stand by the covenant." | Josiah's covenant renewal || 2 Kgs 23:24 | "...all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem Josiah put away..." | Josiah's comprehensive cleansing || 2 Kgs 23:25 | "Now before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart..." | Josiah's unparalleled devotion || 2 Chr 35:1-19| Parallel and detailed account of Josiah's Passover celebration. | Extensive detail on Josiah's Passover || Prophecy & Fulfillment | | || Isa 1:4-6 | "Ah, sinful nation...they have forsaken the Lord." | Judah's spiritual corruption, prior to reform || Jer 1-2 | Jeremiah's prophecies concerning Judah's sin during Josiah's time. | Warnings of coming judgment despite reform || Psa 78:56-60 | Recounting Israel's rebellion and God's judgment throughout history. | Historical pattern of disobedience || Ezra 6:19-22 | Celebration of Passover after the return from exile. | Post-exilic Passover observance || Matt 26:17-30| Jesus' last Supper, identifying Himself as the true Passover Lamb. | Christ fulfills the Passover || 1 Cor 5:7 | "...For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." | Christ as the spiritual fulfillment || Heb 9:11-14 | Christ's blood as superior to animal sacrifices, providing true cleansing. | Christ's atoning work || Rev 5:9-10 | "You are worthy...for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood..." | The Lamb (Christ) as worthy Redeemer || Rom 3:23-26 | Righteousness through Christ's sacrifice. | Justification through faith in Christ |
2 Kings 23 verses
2 Kings 23 22 Meaning
2 Kings 23:22 declares that the Passover celebrated during the eighteenth year of King Josiah's reign was unprecedented in its comprehensive and faithful observance. No such meticulous and extensive keeping of the Passover had occurred since the era when the judges governed Israel, nor throughout the entire history of both the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This statement underscores the profound and unique nature of Josiah's religious reformation and his unparalleled devotion to God's commands as revealed in the newly rediscovered Book of the Law.
2 Kings 23 22 Context
h22 Kings chapter 23 details King Josiah's sweeping religious reforms and purification of Judah and Jerusalem, following the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple (2 Kgs 22). This profound spiritual revival involved the eradication of idolatry, destruction of pagan altars and high places, purging of idol-serving priests, and the suppression of cultic practices. Josiah's Passover observance, described in 2 Kings 23:21-23 and expanded upon in 2 Chronicles 35:1-19, serves as the spiritual culmination of these reforms. It represents a full national embrace of the covenant commands, especially regarding the centralization of worship at the Temple in Jerusalem and adherence to the Mosaic Law. Historically, Judah had suffered from generations of apostasy, notably under Manasseh and Amon. Josiah's actions represented a dramatic turning point, yet the verse's declaration of its unparalleled nature underscores the previous pervasive unfaithfulness across centuries of Israel's history.
2 Kings 23 22 Word analysis
h2ul
- For no such Passover: (Hebrew: כְּפֶ֙סַח֙ כָּזֶ֗ה - kĕp̄esaḥ kāzeh) The initial "For" (כִּי - kî) links this verse to the preceding one, explaining why Josiah commanded such a grand Passover – it was according to what was written in the Book of the Covenant. The phrase "no such Passover" intensely emphasizes the uniqueness and unprecedented nature of Josiah's observance. It signifies that the manner and comprehensiveness of its celebration set it apart.
- had been kept: (Hebrew: נַעֲשָׂ֜ה - na‘ăśâ) This is the Niphal perfect form of the verb עשׂה (asah), meaning "to do, make, or observe." The Niphal construction denotes a completed action that has occurred or been made. Here, it refers to the complete and thorough performance of the Passover regulations, not merely a superficial observance.
- since the days of the judges who judged Israel: (Hebrew: מִ֣ימֵי הַשֹּׁפְטִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁפְטוּ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל - mîmê haššōfṭîm ’ăšer šāfṭū ’eṯ-yiśrā’ēl) This phrase points to the entire historical period spanning from the time after Joshua's death until the establishment of the monarchy (approximately 12th-11th century BC). While the Book of Judges itself depicts a period often marked by spiritual decline, apostasy, and decentralization of worship ("every man did what was right in his own eyes" - Judg 21:25), it also includes times of revival (e.g., Samuel). The mention implies that even during the early, arguably more spiritually aligned periods, a Passover of this thoroughness was not observed.
- nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah: (Hebrew: וְכֹל֙ יְמֵי֙ מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמַלְכֵ֖י יְהוּדָֽה - wěḵōl yĕmê malkê yiśrā’ēl ûmalkê yəhûdâ) This extends the unparalleled nature of Josiah's Passover to encompass the entire history of the Israelite monarchy, both the Northern Kingdom (Israel, which had been in exile for over a century by this point) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). This powerful hyperbole suggests that even the Passover celebrated by King Hezekiah (2 Chr 30), a notable reformer, was not as perfectly aligned with all the newfound legal requirements as Josiah's. The inclusion of the "kings of Israel" is significant as they were largely characterized by consistent idolatry and deviation from YHWH worship, further emphasizing Josiah's distinct faithfulness.
ul
- "For no such Passover had been kept": This emphatic declaration stresses the extraordinary scale and quality of Josiah's Passover. It implies that previous Passovers, even if observed, lacked the same depth of commitment, national unity, and meticulous adherence to the newly revealed divine instructions. It signifies a unique spiritual height achieved under Josiah.
- "since the days of the judges...nor in all the days of the kings...": This sweeping temporal comparison establishes the remarkable singularity of Josiah's reign concerning this sacred observance. It spans hundreds of years of Israelite history, encompassing periods of varying spiritual faithfulness and political structures. This comprehensive historical negation highlights that Josiah's commitment to God's covenant was virtually unprecedented in its scope and depth within the nation's recorded past.
2 Kings 23 22 Bonus section
h2
- Hyperbole for Emphasis: The strong statement "no such Passover had been kept" is a classic example of hyperbole found in biblical literature, used not to contradict literal fact, but to profoundly emphasize the unparalleled nature and exemplary quality of Josiah's specific observance. It accentuates the completeness and devotion unlike any previous effort.
- Impact of the Rediscovered Torah: The uniqueness of Josiah's Passover is directly linked to the discovery of the Book of the Law (likely a significant portion of Deuteronomy). This allowed for a more accurate and comprehensive adherence to God's statutes, demonstrating the critical role of accessible scripture in fostering genuine worship and obedience.
- A "Good" King Among Failures: This verse solidifies Josiah's reputation as Judah's most righteous king, standing in stark contrast to nearly all his predecessors (and successors). His commitment to covenant faithfulness serves as a beacon amidst generations of apostasy.
- Spiritual Zenith before Fall: Ironically, this unparalleled spiritual revival and celebration of the Passover occurs just decades before Judah's complete destruction and exile by Babylon. It highlights the principle that even genuine moments of repentance, while honoring God, do not always negate long-standing divine judgments if the heart of the nation as a whole remains rebellious.
2 Kings 23 22 Commentary
h22 Kings 23:22 vividly portrays the unparalleled nature of the Passover under King Josiah. This wasn't just another Passover; its distinctiveness lay in its unprecedented scope, thoroughness, and zeal for obedience, particularly in light of the recently discovered Book of the Law. While previous kings and generations, including good kings like Hezekiah, had observed Passovers, Josiah's observance surpassed them all in its precise adherence to God's commands and its comprehensive national participation. This moment showcases Josiah's exceptional personal devotion and leadership, establishing him as a king uniquely dedicated to divine revelation. The verse implicitly condemns the widespread unfaithfulness of prior kings and generations, revealing a tragic historical decline in spiritual commitment. Yet, despite its profound spiritual significance and Josiah's genuine devotion, this monumental Passover could not avert God's predetermined judgment against Judah due to the deep-seated idolatry that preceded Josiah, primarily under Manasseh (2 Kgs 23:26-27), demonstrating that true national repentance requires more than even an extraordinary leader's zeal.