Josiah Restores the Passover
(2 Kings 23:21–27)

1Then Josiah (whom YHWH heals) kept the Passover to the LORD {YHWH} in Jerusalem (city of peace), and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD {YHWH}.

3To the Levites who taught all Israel (he wrestles with God) and were holy to the LORD {YHWH}, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon (peace) son of David (beloved) king of Israel. It is not to be carried around (burden) on your⁺ shoulders. Now serve the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} and His people Israel. 4Prepare yourselves by families in your⁺ divisions, according to the instructions written by David (beloved) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) and Solomon (peace) his son.

5Moreover, stand in the Holy Place by the divisions of the families of your⁺ kinsmen the lay people, and by the divisions of the families of the Levites. 6Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your⁺ fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD {YHWH} given by \the word of the LORD by the hand of/a Moses (drawn out).”

7From his own flocks and herds Josiah (whom YHWH heals) contributed 30,000 lambs and goats plus 3,000 bulls for the Passover offerings for all the people who were present.

8His officials also contributed willingly to the people and priests and Levites. Hilkiah (my portion is YHWH), Zechariah (YHWH remembers), and Jehiel (God lives), the chief officials of the house of God {Elohim}, gave the priests 2,600 Passover offerings and 300 bulls. 9Additionally, Conaniah (YHWH has established) and his brothers Shemaiah (heard by YHWH) and Nethanel (given of God), as well as Hashabiah (YHWH has considered), Jeiel (God sweeps away), and Jozabad (YHWH has endowed), officers of the Levites, contributed to the Levites 5,000 Passover offerings and 500 bulls.

10So the service was prepared; the priests stood in their places and the Levites in their divisions according to the king’s command. 11And they slaughtered the Passover lambs, while the priests splattered the blood handed to them and the Levites skinned the animals. 12They set aside the burnt offerings to be given to the divisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD {YHWH}, as it is written in the Book of Moses (drawn out). And they did the same with the bulls.

13They roasted the Passover animals on the fire according to the regulation, and they boiled the other holy offerings in pots, kettles, and bowls and quickly brought them to all the people. 14Afterward, they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the descendants of Aaron (light bringer), were offering up burnt offerings and fat until nightfall. So the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

15The singers, the descendants of Asaph (gatherer), were at their stations according to the command of David (beloved), Asaph, Heman (faithful), and Jeduthun (praising) the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

16So on that day the entire service of the LORD {YHWH} was carried out for celebrating the Passover and offering burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah (whom YHWH heals). 17The Israelites (God prevails) who were present also observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Breadb for seven days. 18No such Passover had been observed in Israel (he wrestles with God) since the days of Samuel (his name is El) the prophet. None of the kings of Israel ever observed a Passover like the one that Josiah (whom YHWH heals) observed with the priests, the Levites, all Judah (praised), the Israelites who were present, and the people of Jerusalem (city of peace). 19In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s (whom YHWH heals) reign, this Passover was observed.

The Death of Josiah
(2 Kings 23:28–30)

20After all this, when Josiah (whom YHWH heals) had set the temple in order, Neco (lame) king of Egypt (land of bondage) marched up to fight at Carchemish (fortress of Chemosh) by the Euphrates (fruitfulness), and Josiah went out to confront him. 21But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah (praised)? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty, and God {Elohim} has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”

22Josiah, however (whom YHWH heals), did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s (lame) words from the mouth of God {Elohim}, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo (place of crowds). 23There the archers shot King Josiah (whom YHWH heals), who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”

24So his servants took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem (city of peace), where he died. And Josiah was buried in the tomb of his fathers, and all Judah (praised) and Jerusalem mourned for him (whom YHWH heals).

Laments over Josiah

25Then Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) lamented over Josiah (whom YHWH heals), and to this day all the male and female singers recite laments over Josiah. They established them as a statute for Israel (he wrestles with God), and indeed they are written in the Book of Laments.

26As for the rest of the acts of Josiah (whom YHWH heals) and his deeds of loving devotion according to what is written in the Law of the LORD {YHWH}— 27his acts from beginning to end—they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel (he wrestles with God) and Judah (praised).