Josiah Celebrates Passover

King Josiah commanded the people to keep the Passover to the Lord, as it was written in the book of the covenant. In Jerusalem, on the fourteenth day of the first month, this Passover was kept in Josiah’s eighteenth year as king.

Josiah carefully arranged the temple service. He set the priests in their duties and encouraged them. He instructed the Levites to prepare by their family groups, serve the Lord and his people, and do what God had spoken through Moses.

The king and his leaders gave generously so the people, priests, and Levites could take part. Josiah gave lambs, young goats, and bulls from his own possessions, and other leaders also brought freewill offerings. Then the priests and Levites stood in their appointed places.

Then they kept the Passover. The priests and Levites carried out the work, the offerings were prepared according to the Book of Moses, the singers and gatekeepers stayed at their posts, and the food was quickly taken to the people. Those who were present kept the Passover then celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

The Bible says there had not been a Passover like this for a very long time. Josiah had also removed spiritists, wizards, household gods, idols, and other forbidden things from Judah and Jerusalem to carry out the words of the law found in the Lord’s house. He turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul, and might.

Even so, the Lord did not turn from his great anger against Judah because of the provocation with which Manasseh had provoked him, and he said Judah and Jerusalem would still be cast off.