2 Kings 23:23 kjv
But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem.
2 Kings 23:23 nkjv
But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was held before the LORD in Jerusalem.
2 Kings 23:23 niv
But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the LORD in Jerusalem.
2 Kings 23:23 esv
But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.
2 Kings 23:23 nlt
But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah's reign, this Passover was celebrated to the LORD in Jerusalem.
2 Kings 23 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 12:1-14 | "...On the tenth of this month... you shall keep it... an everlasting ordinance." | Institution of the Passover |
| Lev 23:5 | "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover." | Precise timing for Passover |
| Num 9:1-5 | "...according to all its statutes, and according to all its ceremonies, you shall keep it." | Commands for precise Passover observance |
| Deut 16:1-8 | "You may not sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns... but at the place which the Lord your God will choose..." | Centralization of Passover worship to Jerusalem |
| Deut 12:5-7 | "But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God will choose... there you shall go..." | Central sanctuary for worship |
| Josh 5:10 | "On the fourteenth day of the month at evening, they observed the Passover in the plains of Jericho." | Early observance after entering Canaan |
| Jdg 2:10-13 | "...who forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt..." | Widespread apostasy after Joshua |
| 1 Ki 11:4-8 | "...for his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father." | Solomon's turning to idolatry |
| 2 Ki 22:3 | "In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan..." | Setting the time of Josiah's reforms |
| 2 Ki 22:8 | "...I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord." | Discovery of the Law that prompted reform |
| 2 Ki 23:1-3 | "...and the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord..." | Josiah's covenant renewal ceremony |
| 2 Ki 23:21 | "Then 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.'" | Direct command for this Passover observance |
| 2 Ki 23:22 | "For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges... nor in all the days of the kings of Israel..." | Unprecedented nature of this Passover |
| 2 Chr 30:1-20 | "For many did not purify themselves, yet they ate the Passover..." | Hezekiah's significant but imperfect Passover |
| 2 Chr 35:1-19 | "Josiah kept the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem... And no Passover like it had been observed..." | Parallel account, affirming Josiah's Passover |
| Neh 8:17 | "And all the assembly... had not done so since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun..." | Revival in Ezra's time after exile |
| Ps 78:67-69 | "But he rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion..." | God's choice of Judah and Zion (Jerusalem) |
| Is 1:11-15 | "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?... I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly." | Prophetic critique of hollow rituals |
| Jer 30:7 | "...It is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it." | Coming judgment and hope for restoration |
| Matt 26:17-19 | "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread... they prepared the Passover." | Jesus observes Passover before His crucifixion |
| Lk 22:7-20 | "...This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." | institution of the New Covenant "Passover" |
| Jn 1:29 | "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" | Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb |
| 1 Cor 5:7 | "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." | Christ as the spiritual fulfillment of Passover |
| Heb 9:11-14 | "He entered once for all into the holy places... with his own blood..." | Christ's ultimate sacrifice surpassing temple rituals |
| Rev 5:6-10 | "And between the throne... stood a Lamb, as though it had been slain..." | The Lamb (Christ) as worthy in Revelation |
2 Kings 23 verses
2 Kings 23 23 Meaning
2 Kings 23:23 states that in the eighteenth year of King Josiah's reign, this specific Passover was observed to the Lord in Jerusalem. This verse marks the climax of Josiah's religious reforms, emphasizing the profound and unprecedented nature of this particular Passover celebration. It was a comprehensive and nationally unified act of worship directed solely to Yahweh, strictly adhering to the Mosaic Law after its rediscovery, making it distinct from any previous observance in the history of Israel and Judah.
2 Kings 23 23 Context
2 Kings 23:23 concludes a monumental section of Josiah's reign, particularly his religious reforms detailed in chapter 22 and 23. Prior to Josiah, Judah had experienced widespread idolatry, particularly under kings Manasseh and Amon. The discovery of the "Book of the Law" (likely Deuteronomy) in the temple during repairs in Josiah's eighteenth year was the catalyst for his comprehensive spiritual awakening. This discovery brought to light the depth of Judah's departure from Yahweh's covenant and the severe consequences foretold. In response, Josiah undertook an extensive purge of all idolatrous practices, destroying altars, Asherah poles, cultic prostitutes, and defiling pagan worship sites both in Jerusalem and across the land, even extending into former Israelite territories (2 Ki 23:4-20). He also centralized worship by removing high places and bringing the Levitical priests who served there back to Jerusalem. The culmination of these reforms, demonstrating profound obedience to the newly rediscovered Law, was this unparalleled national observance of the Passover in Jerusalem, as commanded by Moses. This event represented a re-establishment of the covenant and a national commitment to worship Yahweh alone.
2 Kings 23 23 Word analysis
- But: Signals a significant contrast or turning point, introducing a climactic event following Josiah's extensive purges.
- in the eighteenth year: Hebrew:
bishenah shemoneh-esreh(בִּשְׁנַת שְׁמֹנֶה־עֶשְׂרֵה). This specific temporal marker places the event precisely within Josiah's reign, aligning it with the period immediately following the finding of the Book of the Law (2 Ki 22:3). It signifies that the Passover was observed after a period of intense reform, preparation, and covenant renewal. - of King Josiah's reign: Hebrew:
lammelek Yoshiyahu(לַמֶּלֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ). Emphasizes that this act of national devotion was directly initiated and led by King Josiah. His personal piety and authoritative leadership were crucial for its success and unprecedented nature. - this Passover: Hebrew:
happesaḥ hazzeh(הַפֶּסַח הַזֶּה). The demonstrative pronoun "this" points to a particular, unparalleled Passover, highlighted explicitly in the preceding verse (2 Ki 23:22) as distinct from all previous observances since the days of the Judges. It refers to the ritual meal commemorating Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. - was observed: Hebrew:
na'asah(נַעֲשָׂה). From the root‘asah(עָשָׂה), meaning "to do, make, perform, keep." This indicates an active, intentional, and complete carrying out of the Passover requirements, in strict accordance with the Law, implying careful preparation and full participation. - to the Lord: Hebrew:
layhvh(לַיהוה). The nameYHWH(Yahweh), God's covenant name, clarifies that this worship was directed exclusively to the one true God, Israel's God, contrasting with the foreign deities previously worshipped throughout the land. It underscores the purified monotheistic nature of the event. - in Jerusalem: Hebrew:
biyrûshālayim(בִּירוּשָׁלִָם). This location is critically significant. The Book of Deuteronomy commanded that the Passover be observed in the one chosen place that the Lord would select (Deut 16:5-7), which became Jerusalem. Observing it here was a powerful act of obedience against the prevalent high place worship and syncretism, consolidating worship back to the prescribed central sanctuary. It underscored the unity of the people in worship.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah's reign": Establishes the specific time frame for this crucial event, directly linking it to the period of comprehensive reform catalyzed by the finding of the Law. This highlights the immediacy and impact of God's Word upon Josiah and the nation.
- "this Passover was observed": Emphasizes the unparalleled and particular nature of this celebration. It wasn't just another annual ritual; it was a uniquely comprehensive and faithful execution of a fundamental covenant commandment, meticulously carried out.
- "to the Lord in Jerusalem": Specifies both the object and the place of worship. The devotion was exclusively for Yahweh, setting it apart from syncretistic practices. The location in Jerusalem highlights adherence to the Deuteronomic mandate for a centralized cult and functions as a direct repudiation of decentralized idolatry throughout the land. This act symbolized a purified national devotion to God's prescribed worship.
2 Kings 23 23 Bonus section
The emphatic statement in 2 Kings 23:22 (prior to 23) that "no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah" directly establishes the unparalleled nature described in 2 Kings 23:23. This is crucial for understanding why this particular verse is highlighted. While Hezekiah also observed a significant Passover (2 Chr 30), it was marked by certain irregularities (e.g., observed in the second month due to impurity, and not everyone purified themselves). Josiah's Passover, however, is presented as exceptionally complete and ritually pure, adhering meticulously to the Law's demands in a way unseen for centuries. This thoroughness highlights the impact of having the full written Law available and obeyed. The detail "eighteenth year" further emphasizes that this was not merely a ceremonial gesture but a deeply committed national observance, following intense personal conviction, a sweeping purging of idolatry, and a renewal of the national covenant (2 Ki 23:1-3). It signified not just a religious ceremony but a societal shift.
2 Kings 23 23 Commentary
2 Kings 23:23 represents a pivotal moment in the history of Judah, serving as the capstone of King Josiah's diligent and faithful reforms. Its significance is multifaceted. First, it underscores Josiah's unique piety; having found the Book of the Law, he moved decisively and comprehensively to purge all forms of idolatry and restore proper worship. This verse signals the climax of that restoration, indicating that the nation, under Josiah's lead, finally celebrated Passover as mandated by the Mosaic covenant, perhaps for the first time in such thoroughness since the early days in Canaan. The specificity of the "eighteenth year" directly connects this observance to the immediate impact of the rediscovered Law. Secondly, the celebration "in Jerusalem" demonstrates obedience to the Deuteronomic command for a centralized sanctuary. This was a radical break from generations of localized high-place worship and foreign cults that had permeated the land. By holding the Passover exclusively in Jerusalem, Josiah asserted Yahweh's sole authority and unified national worship in the proper place, a clear polemic against fragmented, syncretistic, and unauthorized religious practices. Finally, this unprecedented Passover underscores the transformative power of God's Word when received and acted upon by faithful leadership, providing a blueprint for national repentance and a return to the covenant. This grand observance, unlike any before it, served as a powerful testimony to Josiah's profound devotion and the temporary spiritual revival in Judah before its eventual exile.