Bible Commentaries

Reign of Josiah (concluded)

This chapter contains an account of how Josiah celebrates the Passover, and how he provoked Necho the king of Egypt, and was slain at Megiddo.

1. On the fourteenth day] Josiah's passover, unlike Hezekiah's, was kept at the prescribed time.

3. Put the holy ark, etc.] The following words suggest that during the repair of the Temple, it had been removed and committed to the care of the Levites.

4. According; to the writing, etc.] The reference is to the arrangements described in 1 Chronicles 23-26 2 Chronicles 8:14.

5. According to the divisions, etc.] The sense is 'let there be for each family of the people a portion of a Levitical family to minister.'

6. Prepare your brethren] RV 'prepare for,' etc. The killing of the passover victims by the Levites for the laity, which was exceptional in Hezekiah's time (2 Chronicles 30:17), had now become customary.

12. Removed] Perhaps they separated those parts (the fat, etc.) of the victims which were to be burnt. If so, these sacrifices were not strictly 'burnt offerings,' for in such, the whole of the victim was consumed by fire.

15. They might not depart] RV 'they needed not to depart.'

18. There was no passover, etc.] Hezekiah's passover had surpassed all that had preceded it (2 Chronicles 30:26), but Josiah's exceeded even that.

20. Against] better, 'at.' Necho's purpose was to share the spoils of the falling Assyrian empire. Nineveh was taken by the Babylonians about 607.

21. He sent ambassadors, etc.] Necho's remonstrance to Josiah against interfering in the war between himself and the Babylonians, the conquerors of Assyria, is not recorded in 2 K.

22. Disguised himself] The same is related of Ahab in 2 Chronicles 18:29,; but LXX has 'strengthened himself.' From the mouth of God] The writer regards Necho's words as a divinely sent warning, which Josiah disregarded to his cost.

24. All Judah.. mourned] It is possible that this is the 'mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo,' alluded to in Zechariah 12:11.

25. Made them] i.e. those in authority made such lamentations an ordinance. In the lamentations] probably not the book that bears this name, but a composition now lost.