2 Chronicles 35:1-18 ▼

1 Then 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.

2 He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD {YHWH}.

3 To 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.

4 Prepare 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.

5 Moreover, 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.

6 Slaughter 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/ Moses (drawn out).”

7 From 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.

8 His 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.

9 Additionally, 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.

10 So the service was prepared; the priests stood in their places and the Levites in their divisions according to the king’s command.

11 And they slaughtered the Passover lambs, while the priests splattered the blood handed to them and the Levites skinned the animals.

12 They 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.

13 They 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.

14 Afterward, 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.

15 The 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.

16 So 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).

17 The Israelites (God prevails) who were present also observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

18 No 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).