The big picture
2 Chronicles 35 opens in verse 1 with “Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests…”, and closes in verse 27 with “And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of…” Repeated or prominent terms include Josiah, passover, Israel, Levites, LORD. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Chronicles · King James Version · 272 Chronicles 35:1-7
1–7: Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they…
2 Chronicles 35:1–7 opens with “Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the…” and reaches “And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 35 develops its own movement around Josiah, passover, Israel, Levites, LORD, with particular weight carried by LORD, Israel, passover.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the…” Naming Jerusalem and Josiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD ,” The line’s distinctive content terms include charges, encouraged, house. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD , Put the holy ark in the house which…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
2 Chronicles 35:1-7
King James Version1Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD ,
3And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD , Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
4And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.
5And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.
6So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
7And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king’s substance.
2 Chronicles 35:8-14
8–14: His princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the…
2 Chronicles 35:8–14 opens with “And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and…” and reaches “And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 35 develops its own movement around Josiah, passover, Israel, Levites, LORD, with particular weight carried by priests, Levites, offerings.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Chronicles 35:8-14
King James Version8And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.
9Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.
10So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandment.
11And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.
12And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD , as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.
13And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.
14And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
2 Chronicles 35:15-21
15–21: The singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the…
2 Chronicles 35:15–21 opens with “And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David…” and reaches “But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 35 develops its own movement around Josiah, passover, Israel, Levites, LORD, with particular weight carried by Josiah, passover, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman…” Naming Asaph and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Chronicles 35:15-21
King James Version15And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
16So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD , according to the commandment of king Josiah.
17And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
18And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
19In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.
20After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
21But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
2 Chronicles 35:22-27
22–27: Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised…
2 Chronicles 35:22–27 opens with “Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight…” and reaches “And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 35 develops its own movement around Josiah, passover, Israel, Levites, LORD, with particular weight carried by Josiah, written, chariot.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and…” Naming Josiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.” Naming Have and Josiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 35:22-27
King James Version22Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
23And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
24His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.
26Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD ,
27And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Chronicles 35:1 begins with “Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Chronicles 35:14 forms a natural hinge: “And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the…”
The final note
2 Chronicles 35:27 leaves the reader with “And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Josiah, passover, Israel, Levites, LORD, priests help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the return to Bethel require beyond travel?
The removal of foreign gods and a renewed orientation toward the God who answered Jacob.
Which relationships are remembered at Isaac's burial?
Both sons participate, despite their long history of rivalry.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.