2 Chronicles 35

1 fecit autem Iosias in Hierusalem phase Domino quod immolatum est quartadecima die mensis primi

2 et constituit sacerdotes in officiis suis hortatusque est eos ut ministrarent in domo Domini

3 Levitis quoque ad quorum eruditionem omnis Israhel sanctificabatur Domino locutus est ponite arcam in sanctuario templi quod aedificavit Salomon filius David rex Israhel nequaquam enim eam ultra portabitis nunc autem ministrate Domino Deo vestro et populo eius Israhel

4 et praeparate vos per domos et cognationes vestras in divisionibus singulorum sicut praecepit David rex Israhel et descripsit Salomon filius eius

5 ministrate in sanctuario per familias turmasque leviticas

6 et sanctificati immolate phase fratres etiam vestros ut possint iuxta verba quae locutus est Dominus in manu Mosi facere praeparate

7 dedit praeterea Iosias omni populo qui ibi fuerat inventus in sollemnitatem phase agnos et hedos de gregibus et reliqui pecoris triginta milia boumque tria milia haec de regis universa substantia

8 duces quoque eius sponte quod voluerant obtulerunt tam populo quam sacerdotibus et Levitis porro Helcias et Zaccharias et Iehihel principes domus Domini dederunt sacerdotibus ad faciendum phase pecora commixtim duo milia sescenta et boves trecentos

9 Chonenias autem Semeias etiam et Nathanahel fratres eius necnon Asabias et Iahihel et Iozabath principes Levitarum dederunt ceteris Levitis ad celebrandum phase quinque milia pecorum et boves quingentos

10 praeparatumque est ministerium et steterunt sacerdotes in officio suo Levitae quoque in turmis iuxta regis imperium

11 et immolatum est phase asperseruntque sacerdotes manu sua sanguinem et Levitae detraxerunt pelles holocaustorum

12 et separaverunt ea ut darent per domos et familias singulorum et offerrentur Domino sicut scriptum est in libro Mosi de bubus quoque fecere similiter

13 et assaverunt phase super ignem iuxta quod lege praeceptum est pacificas vero hostias coxerunt in lebetis et caccabis et ollis et festinato distribuerunt universae plebi

14 sibi autem et sacerdotibus postea paraverunt nam in oblatione holocaustorum et adipum usque ad noctem sacerdotes fuerant occupati unde Levitae et sibi et sacerdotibus filiis Aaron paraverunt novissimis

15 porro cantores filii Asaph stabant in ordine suo iuxta praeceptum David et Asaph et Heman et Idithun prophetarum regis ianitores vero per portas singulas observabant ita ut ne puncto quidem discederent a ministerio quam ob rem et fratres eorum Levitae paraverunt eis cibos

16 omnis igitur cultura Domini rite conpleta est in die illa ut facerent phase et offerrent holocausta super altare Domini iuxta praeceptum regis Iosiae

17 feceruntque filii Israhel qui repperti fuerant ibi phase in tempore illo et sollemnitatem azymorum septem diebus

18 non fuit phase simile huic in Israhel a diebus Samuhelis prophetae sed nec quisquam de cunctis regibus Israhel fecit phase sicut Iosias sacerdotibus et Levitis et omni Iuda et Israhel qui reppertus fuerat et habitantibus in Hierusalem

19 octavodecimo anno regni Iosiae hoc phase celebratum est

20 postquam instauraverat Iosias templum ascendit Nechao rex Aegypti ad pugnandum in Charchamis iuxta Eufraten et processit in occursum eius Iosias

21 at ille missis ad eum nuntiis ait quid mihi et tibi est rex Iuda non adversum te hodie venio sed contra aliam pugno domum ad quam me Deus festinato ire praecepit desine adversum Deum facere qui mecum est ne interficiat te

22 noluit Iosias reverti sed praeparavit contra eum bellum nec adquievit sermonibus Nechao ex ore Dei verum perrexit ut dimicaret in campo Mageddo

23 ibique vulneratus a sagittariis dixit pueris suis educite me de proelio quia oppido vulneratus sum

24 qui transtulerunt eum de curru in alterum currum qui sequebatur eum more regio et asportaverunt in Hierusalem mortuusque est et sepultus in mausoleo patrum suorum et universus Iuda et Hierusalem luxerunt eum

25 Hieremias maxime cuius omnes cantores atque cantrices usque in praesentem diem lamentationes super Iosia replicant et quasi lex obtinuit in Israhel ecce scriptum fertur in Lamentationibus

26 reliqua autem sermonum Iosiae et misericordiarum eius quae lege praecepta sunt Domini

27 opera quoque illius prima et novissima scripta sunt in libro regum Israhel et Iuda

2 Chronicles 35 Commentary

Chapter 35

The passover kept by Josiah. (1-19) Josiah slain in battle. (20-27)

Verses 1-19 The destruction Josiah made of idolatry, was more largely related in the book of Kings. His solemnizing the passover is related here. The Lord's supper resembles the passover more than any other of the Jewish festivals; and the due observance of that ordinance, is a proof of growing piety and devotion. God alone can truly make our hearts holy, and prepare them for his holy services; but there are duties belonging to us, in doing which we obtain this blessing from the Lord.

Verses 20-27 The Scripture does not condemn Josiah's conduct in opposing Pharaoh. Yet Josiah seems to deserve blame for not inquiring of the Lord after he was warned; his death might be a rebuke for his rashness, but it was a judgment on a hypocritical and wicked people. He that lives a life of repentance, faith, and obedience, cannot be affected by the sudden manner in which he is removed. The people lamented him. Many mourn over sufferings, who will not forsake the sins that caused God to send them. Yet this alone can turn away judgments. If we blame Josiah's conduct, we should be watchful, lest we be cut down in a way dishonourable to our profession.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 35

In this chapter we have an account of the keeping of the passover and its preparation, for which the priests and Levites were ordered to prepare, and to which Josiah, and his princes, gave liberally, and such an one was kept as had not been for ages past, 2Ch 35:1-19, and of Josiah's rash engagement in battle with the king of Egypt, in which he was slain, 2Ch 35:20-23 and of the great lamentations that were made for him, 2Ch 35:24-27.