Verse 1

Josiah. This passover kept in the eighteenth year of his reign (2 Kings 23:21-23).

kept a passover. One of the ten observances recorded. See note on Exodus 12:28.

fourteenth day. In this respect it was unlike Hezekiah"s. Compare 2 Chronicles 30:2, 2 Chronicles 30:3; 2 Kings 23:22, 2 Kings 23:23.

Verse 2

he set the priests, &c. This passover is interesting from the succinct description of its observance.

Verse 3

that taught all Israel. This was the great and special duty of the priests and Levites. But they neglected it for their ritual, as too many priests have done from that day to this. See notes on Deuteronomy 33:10; Deuteronomy 17:11, &c.

all Israel. Not Judah only.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

Put the holy ark. It had probably been removed during the reparation of the Temple.

the holy ark = the Sanctuary"s Ark. See note on Exodus 25:22 and 1 Chronicles 13:3.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Verse 4

the writing of David. Compare 1 Chronicles 28:19; 1 Chronicles 29:25, 1 Chronicles 29:27, 1 Chronicles 29:30.

the writing of Solomon. Compare 2 Chronicles 8:14.

Verse 5

divisions. The word occurs only here.

the families = the houses.

the People = the sons of the People: i.e. the common people.

Verse 6

by the hand Of Moses. This is Divine testimony as to the authorship of the Pentateuch (Ex. 12).

Verse 8

Hilkiah. The high priest (2 Chronicles 34:9).

God. Hebrew. Elohim.(with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4.

Verse 9

Shemaiah . . . Jozabad. Compare 2 Chronicles 31:12-15.

Verse 11

they: i.e. the Levites.

Verse 12

offer = bring near. Hebrew. karab. App-43.

the book of Moses: i.e. Exodus. See App-47.

Verse 13

sod = boiled.

Verse 14

afterward. Contrast Eze 34.

offering = offering up. Hebrew. "alah. See App-43.

Verse 15

David, and Asaph. Compare 1 Chronicles 25:1; 1 Chronicles 6:33, 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 6:44.

seer. See notes on Judges 9:9. 1 Chronicles 29:29.

they might not: or they need not.

Verse 17

children = sons.

Verse 18

no passover like to that. Compare 2 Kings 23:22. No discrepancy with Hezekiah"s passover (2 Chronicles 30:26); none like Hezekiah"s till then. This, of Josiah"s, was later, and exceeded it.

Verse 19

kept. The Septuagint Version adds here [with a colon after kept]: "

: after all these things that Josiah did in the house, who also burnt those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and the sodomites, which were in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that lie might confirm the words of the law that were written in the book which Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the LORD. There was no one like him before him. who turned to the LORD with all his heart, and all his soul, and all his strength, according to all the law of Moses, and after him there rose up none like him. Nevertheless the LORD turned not from the anger of His great wrath, wherewith the LORD was greatly angry against Judah, for all the provocations wherewith Manasseh provoked Him. And the LORD said: "I shall even remove Judah also from My presence, as I have removed Israel; and I have rejected the city which I chose, even Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, "My Name shall be there. " " "

Verse 20

After all this. Thirteen years after.

temple = house.

Necho. Called also Pharaoh-necho. Said to be the founder of the twentyfifth dynasty, about the thirty-fifth year of Manasseh: i.e. in 553 B.C.

against = at.

Charchemish = the fortress of Chemosh). Pharaohnecho"s object was to share the spoils of the falling empire of Assyria. Nineveh was taken 607 B.C. Compare Jeremiah 46:2.

Verse 21

he. Pharaoh-necho.

Verse 22

disguised himself. As Ahab had done (2 Chronicles 18:29. 1 Kings 22:30).

Megiddo. Compare 2 Kings 23:29.

Verse 24

sepulchres = graves. Hebrew. keber, as in 2 Chronicles 34:4.

Verse 25

Jeremiah lamented. This does not refer to the book of that name (Lamentations), though Josiah is referred to in it (Lamentations 4:20 and Jeremiah 22:10-18). Compare Zechariah 12:11. 2 Kings 23:31.

Verse 28

goodness = kindnesses. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, put for acts of kindness. See 2 Chronicles 32:32.