2 Chronicles 35:1-19 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

The great Passover of Josiah.

I. GREAT IN RESPECT OF ITS CONFORMITY TO THE LAW . To suppose (De Wette, Thenius, and others) that never before had a Passover been observed in Israel or Judah since the days of Samuel ( 2 Chronicles 35:18 ; 1 Esdras 1:20, 21) or of the judges ( 2 Kings 23:22 ), is not only to extract an unwarrantable inference from the sacred text, but is contradicted by the fact that Hezekiah, a former King of Judah, celebrated a Passover in Jerusalem which was not merely a Passover of his own arranging, but the Passover ( 2 Chronicles 30:1 , 2 Chronicles 30:2 ) prescribed by the Law of Moses ( 2 Chronicles 35:16 , 2 Chronicles 35:18 ). That this Passover, however, should have adhered more closely to the prescriptions of the lawgiver than any former, demands no additional explanation beyond the fact that it was celebrated in Josiah's eighteenth year ( 2 Chronicles 35:19 ), and after the discovery of the book of the Law ( 2 Chronicles 34:14 , 2 Chronicles 34:15 ). The stricter adherence to Mosaic regulation appeared in three things.

1 . The exactness of the date. The solemnity began "on the fourteenth day of the first month" ( 2 Chronicles 35:1 ), as the book of the Law commanded ( Exodus 12:1-51 .). Hezekiah's festival commenced "in the second month" because of the difficulty of getting ready for the stipulated time ( 2 Chronicles 30:2 , 2 Chronicles 30:3 ). The Passover proper also ended on one day, i.e. all were able to eat the sacrificial lamb at the appointed time ( 2 Chronicles 35:16 ), without any requiring to defer their participation thereof for any reason whatever ( Numbers 9:6-12 ).

2 . The unity of the place . The feast was held in Jerusalem ( 2 Chronicles 35:1 ) by all its celebrants. The same was true of Hezekiah's Passover ( 2 Chronicles 30:1 ), though it is doubtful if as much could be said of earlier observances from the days of the judges or of Samuel.

3 . The completeness of the ritual. Everything was done "in accordance with the Word of the Lord by the hand of Moses" ( 2 Chronicles 35:6 ); i.e. the instructions as to the duties of the priests, Levites, and people; as to the killing, burning, eating of the victims; and as to the presentation of mazzoth gifts for the ensuing feast, were faithfully carried out.

II. GREAT IN RESPECT OF THE PREPARATIONS FOR ITS OBSERVANCE . Not greater as to amount of labour than were those made in connection with Hezekiah's festival; but still great.

1 . Concerning the priests. These were set in their charges and encouraged to the service of the house of the Lord ( 2 Chronicles 35:2 ). Following the example of Jehoiada ( 2 Chronicles 23:18 ), Josiah distributed among the divisions of the priesthood as arranged by David ( 1 Chronicles 24:1-31 .) the different parts of work required by the Law of Moses in the celebration of the Passover, i.e. he set them "according to their daily courses, Being arrayed in long garments, in the temple of the Lord' (1 Esdr. 1:2); after which he strengthened them for their labours by detailed instructions as to their duties, and by encouraging exhortations to its faithful performance.

2 . Concerning the Levites . These were:

3 . Concerning the people . These, i.e. such of them as were poor, or had come from a distance without having brought the necessary sacrificial animals, were furnished with lambs, kids, and bullocks, or small cattle and oxen (verses 7-9), without which they could not have taken part in the celebration. At least the poor would have been excluded, which would have marred both the completeness and hilarity of the celebration.

III. GREAT IN RESPECT OF ITS ACCOMPANYING LIBERALITY .

1 . On the part of the king. From the royal revenues Josiah contributed for the Passover offerings

2 . On the part of the royal princes. These, copying the action of their sovereign, likewise made donations

3 . On the part of the rulers of the temple. Hilkiah the high priest ( 2 Chronicles 34:9 ), Zechariah, perhaps the next in rank to him, "the second priest" ( 2 Kings 25:18 ; Jeremiah 52:24 ), and Jehiel, the chief of the line of Ithamar ( Ezra 8:2 ), exhibited a similar praiseworthy liberality (verse 8).

4 . On the part of the Levite princes. Six of these whose names are recorded—Conaniah, with his two brothers Shemaiah and Nethaneel, with Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozahad also displayed a high degree of generosity (verse 9).

IV. GREAT IN RESPECT OF ITS CO - OPERATING ACTIVITY . Each had his part to perform, and each performed it in such a way as not to hinder, but to accelerate the progress; and not to mar, but to increase the effect of the whole.

1 . The priests. These

2 . The Levites. These

3 . The singers. These, the sons of Asaph, stood in their places, in the court of the temple, discoursing music with harps, psalteries, and cymbals ( 1 Chronicles 25:1 ), without once leaving their ranks even to eat the Passover, the Levites preparing for and fetching to them their portion (verse 15).

4 . The porters. At every gate these watched, never departing from their service, because the Levites did for them as for the musicians (verse 15). Thus each contributed his part, and all worked harmoniously towards the production of the general result.

V. GREAT IN RESPECT OF ITS CELEBRATING NUMBERS . The feast was attended by:

1 . The inhabitants of Jerusalem, including Josiah and his princes, with the priests and the Levites.

2 . All Judah, meaning the population beyond the metropolis, in the country districts.

3 . The children of Israel; i.e. the members of the northern kingdom who had not been carried into exile, and who had come to Jerusalem to be present at the feast.

Learn:

1 . The duty of observing the public ordinances of religion.

2 . The beauty and value of unity and co-operation in Christian work and worship.

3 . The propriety of having special seasons of religious service.—W.