1 MOREOVER Josiah kept a passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord,
3 And 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,
4 And 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.
5 And 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.
6 So 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.
7 And 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.
8 And 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.
9 Conaniah 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.
10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandment.
11 And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.
12 And 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.
13 And 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.
14 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 fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
15 And 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.
16 So 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.
17 And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
18 And 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.
19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.
20 After 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.
21 But 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.
22 Nevertheless 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.
23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
24 His 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.
25 And 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.
26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the Lord,
27 And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

1Moreouer Iosiah kept a Passeouer vnto þe Lord in Ierusalem: and they killed the Passeouer on the fourteenth day of the first moneth.

2And hee set the Priestes in their charges, and encouraged them to the seruice of the house of the Lord,

3And said vnto the Leuites, that taught all Israel, which were holy vnto the Lord, Put the holy Arke in the house, which Solomon the sonne of Dauid king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden vpon your shoulders: serue now the Lord your God, and his people Israel.

4And prepare your selues by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of Dauid king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his sonne.

5And stand in the holy place according to the diuisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the diuision of the families of the Leuites.

6So kill the Passeouer, and sanctifie your selues, and prepare your brethren, that they may doe according to the word of the Lord, by the hand of Moses.

7And Iosiah gaue to the people, of the flocke, lambes and kiddes, all for the Passeouer-offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirtie thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the kings substance.

8And his Princes gaue willingly vnto the people, to the Priests and to the Leuites: Hilkiah, and Zachariah, and Iehiel, rulers of the house of God, gaue vnto the Priests for the Passeouer-offerings, two thousand and sixe hundred small cattell, and three hundred oxen.

9Conaniah also, and Shemaiah, and Nethaneel, his brethren, & Hashabiah, and Iehiel, and Ioshabad chiefe of the Leuites, gaue vnto the Leuites for Passeouer-offerings, fiue thousand small cattell, and fiue hundred oxen.

10So the seruice was prepared, and the Priests stood in their place, and the Leuites in their courses, according to the kings commandement.

11And they killed the Passeouer, and the Priestes sprinckled the blood from their handes, and the Leuites flayed them.

12And they remooued the burnt offerings, that they might giue according to the diuisions of the families of the people, to offer vnto the Lord, as it is written in the booke of Moses: and so did they with the oxen.

13And they rosted the Passeouer with fire, according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in cauldrons, and in pannes, and diuided them speedily among all the people.

14And afterward they made ready for themselues, and for the Priests: because the Priests the sonnes of Aaron were busied in offring of burnt offrings, and the fat vntill night: therefore the Leuites prepared for themselues, and for the Priests the sonnes of Aaron.

15And the singers the sonnes of Asaph, were in their place according to the commandement of Dauid, and Asaph, and Heman, and Ieduthun the kings Seer: and the Porters waited at euery gate: they might not depart from their seruice; for their brethren the Leuites prepared for them.

16So all the seruice of the Lord was prepared the same day, to keepe the Passeouer, and to offer burnt offerings vpon the altar of the Lord, according to the commaundement of king Iosiah.

17And the children of Israel that were present, kept the Passeouer at that time, and the feast of vnleauened bread seuen dayes.

18And there was no Passeouer like to that, kept in Israel, from the dayes of Samuel the Prophet: neither did all the Kings of Israel keepe such a Passeouer, as Iosiah kept, and the Priests and the Leuites, and all Iudah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Ierusalem.

19In the eighteenth yeere of the reigne of Iosiah, was this Passeouer kept.

20 After all this, when Iosiah had prepared the Temple, Necho king of Egypt came vp to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Iosiah went out against him.

21But hee sent Embassadours to him, saying, What haue I to doe with thee, thou king of Iudah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house, wherewith I haue warre: for God commaunded mee to make haste: forbeare thee from medling with God, who is with mee, that hee destroy thee not.

22Neuerthelesse Iosiah would not turne his face from him, but disguised himselfe that he might fight with him, and hearkened not vnto the wordes of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

23And the archers shot at king Iosiah: and the King saide to his seruants, Haue mee away, for I am sore wounded.

24His seruants therefore tooke him out of that charet, and put him in the second charet that hee had: and they brought him to Ierusalem, and hee died, and was buried in one of the Sepulchres of his fathers. And all Iudah and Ierusalem mourned for Iosiah.

25 And Ieremiah lamented for Iosiah, and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Iosiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel; and beholde, they are written in the Lamentations.

26Now the rest of the acts of Iosiah, and his goodnes, according to that which was written in the Law of the Lord,

27And his deedes first and last; behold, they are written in the booke of the kings of Israel and Iudah.

I == Ex 12:6 ; 2nd Kings 23:21-22 ; Ezra 6:19

 

II == 2nd Chr 23:18 ; 29:5 , 11 ; Ezra 6:18

III == Deut 33:10 ; 1st Chr 23:26 ; 2nd Chr 5:7 ; 30:22 ; 34:14 ; Mal 2:7

 

IV == 1st Chr 9:10 ; 2nd Chr 8:14

 

V == Ps 134:1

 

 

 

VI == 2nd Chr 29:5 , 15 ; 30:3 , 15 ; Ezra 6:20

 

VI == 2nd Chr 30:24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X == Ezra 6:18

 

 

XI == 2nd Chr 29:22 , 34

 

XII ==Lev 3:3

 

 

XIII == Ex 12:8-9 ; Deut 16:7 ; 1st Sam 2:13-15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XV == 1st Chr 9:17-18 ; 25:1 ; 26:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVII == Ex 12:15 ; 13:6 ; 2nd Chr 30:21

XVIII == 2nd Kings 23:22-23

XX == 2nd Kings 23:29 ; Jer 40:2

XXII == 1st Kings 22:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIII == 1st Kings 22:34

XXIV == 2nd Kings 23:30 ; Zech 12:11

 

 

 

XXV == Jer 22:20 ; Lam 4:20 ; Matt 9:23

1 Josiah celebrated in Jerusalem a Passover to honor the LORD; the Passover sacrifice was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.

2 He reappointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the LORD'S house.

3 He said to the Levites who were to instruct all Israel, and who were consecrated to the LORD: "Put the holy ark in the house built by Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. It shall no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Serve now the LORD, your God, and his people Israel.

4 Prepare yourselves in your ancestral houses and your classes according to the prescriptions of King David of Israel and his son Solomon.

5 Stand in the sanctuary according to the divisions of the ancestral houses of your brethren, the common people, so that the distribution of the Levites and the families may be the same.

6 Slay the Passover sacrifice, sanctify yourselves, and be at the disposition of your brethren, that all may be carried out according to the word of the LORD given through Moses."

7 Josiah contributed to the common people a flock of lambs and kids, thirty thousand in number, each to serve as a Passover victim for any who were present, and also three thousand oxen; these were from the king's property.

8 His princes also gave a free-will gift to the people, the priests and the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah and Jehiel, prefects of the house of God, gave to the priests two thousand six hundred Passover victims together with three hundred oxen.

9 Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah, Nethanel, Hashabiah, Jehiel and Jozabad, the rulers of the Levites, contributed to the Levites five thousand Passover victims, together with five hundred oxen.

10 When the service had been arranged, the priests took their places, as did the Levites in their classes according to the king's command.

11 The Passover sacrifice was slaughtered, whereupon the priests sprinkled some of the blood and the Levites proceeded to the skinning.

12 They separated what was destined for the holocaust and gave it to various groups of the ancestral houses of the common people to offer to the LORD, as is prescribed in the book of Moses. They did the same with the oxen.

13 They cooked the Passover on the fire as prescribed, and also cooked the sacred meals in pots, caldrons and pans, then brought them quickly to all the common people.

14 Afterward they prepared the Passover for themselves and for the priests. Indeed the priests, the sons of Aaron, were busy offering holocausts and the fatty portions until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.

15 The singers, the sons of Asaph, were at their posts as prescribed by David: Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, the king's seer. The gatekeepers were at every gate; there was no need for them to leave their stations, for their brethren, the Levites, prepared for them.

16 Thus the entire service of the LORD was arranged that day so that the Passover could be celebrated and the holocausts offered on the altar of the LORD, as King Josiah had commanded.

17 The Israelites who were present on that occasion kept the Passover and the feast of the Unleavened Bread for seven days.

18 No such Passover had been observed in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel, nor had any king of Israel kept a Passover like that of Josiah, the priests and Levites, all of Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

19 It was in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign that this Passover was observed.

20 After Josiah had done all this to restore the temple, Neco, king of Egypt, came up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to intercept him.

21 Neco sent messengers to him, saying: "What quarrel is between us, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, for my war is with another kingdom, and God has told me to hasten. Do not interfere with God who is with me, as otherwise he will destroy you."

22 But Josiah would not withdraw from him, for he had sought a pretext for fighting with him. Therefore he would not listen to the words of Neco that came from the mouth of God, but went out to fight in the plain of Megiddo.

23 Then the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am seriously wounded."

24 His servants removed him from his own chariot, placed him in another he had in reserve, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned him.

25 Jeremiah also composed a lamentation over Josiah, which is recited to this day by all the male and female singers in their lamentations over Josiah. These have been made obligatory for Israel, and can be found written in the Lamentations.

26 The rest of the chronicle of Josiah, his pious deeds in regard to what is written in the law of the LORD, and his acts, first and last, can be found written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Josiah would have been about 26 years old during the 18th year of his reign when he reestablished this passover feast. Compare with 22:3 and we see that this was the same year he purged the temple and they found the book of the Law. He gave orders that the ark was to remain in the temple and not be carried about as they did in the wilderness, and commanded the priests and Levites to take their proper assigned courses as David had instructed Solomon, 1 Chr. 24. They were all to be sanctified and ready to kill the passover animals and prepare them for the people to eat. His organization avoided the problems Hezekiah had, 2 Chr. 29:34. Out of his royal supply he gave the people 30,000 sheep and goats and 3,000 bulls. The princes gave 2,600 sheep and goats and 300 bulls to the priests. The chief men of the Levites gave 5,000 sheep and goats and 500 bulls to the Levites. When everyone was in his place, the festival began with the Levites doing the killing and the priests sprinkling the blood on the altar. The Levites distributed the burnt offerings not intended for sacrifice among the people and they roasted or boiled the passover as the law required. Then the Levites prepared the burnt offerings for their own and the priest’s use, because the priests were busy with the Passover service. Only sheep and goats were sacrificed for the Passover and morning and evening sacrifices, Ex. 29:38-45, so the cattle were used for thank, or fellowship offerings, Lev. 3:1-5.  The singers and gate keepers remained at their posts, because the other Levites prepared their meals for them. Every thing was taken care of that day, but the feast of unleavened bread continued for seven days. There was no Passover to compare with it from the time of Samuel. Josiah’s was more organized and  offered more animals. But Hezekiah’s was spontaneous and lasted longer.
Josiah not only removed the idols, but also the informal practices of the mediums, wizards etc. in keeping with what he learned from the book of the Law. No king before or after him turned to the Lord as whole hearted as he did.

v 1 Josiah celebrated in Jerusalem a Passover to honor the LORD; the Passover sacrifice was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.

V 2 He reappointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the LORD'S house.

V 3. He said to the Levites who were to instruct all Israel, and who were consecrated to the LORD: "Put the holy ark in the house built by Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. It shall no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Serve now the LORD, your God, and his people Israel.

V 4. Prepare yourselves in your ancestral houses and your classes according to the prescriptions of King David of Israel and his son Solomon.

V 5. Stand in the sanctuary according to the divisions of the ancestral houses of your brethren, the common people, so that the distribution of the Levites and the families may be the same.

V 6 Slay the Passover sacrifice, sanctify yourselves, and be at the disposition of your brethren, that all may be carried out according to the word of the LORD given through Moses.

V 7 Josiah contributed to the common people a flock of lambs and kids, thirty thousand in number, each to serve as a Passover victim for any who were present, and also three thousand oxen; these were from the king's property.

V 8 His princes also gave a free-will gift to the people, the priests and the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah and Jehiel, prefects of the house of God, gave to the priests two thousand six hundred Passover victims together with three hundred oxen.

V 9 Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah, Nethanel, Hashabiah, Jehiel and Jozabad, the rulers of the Levites, contributed to the Levites five thousand Passover victims, together with five hundred oxen.

V 10 When the service had been arranged, the priests took their places, as did the Levites in their classes according to the king's command.

V 11 The Passover sacrifice was slaughtered, whereupon the priests sprinkled some of the blood and the Levites proceeded to the skinning.

V 12 They separated what was destined for the holocaust and gave it to various groups of the ancestral houses of the common people to offer to the LORD, as is prescribed in the book of Moses. They did the same with the oxen.

14 Afterward they prepared the Passover for themselves and for the priests. Indeed the priests, the sons of Aaron, were busy offering holocausts and the fatty portions until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. 15 The singers, the sons of Asaph, were at their posts as prescribed by David: Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, the king's seer. The gatekeepers were at every gate; there was no need for them to leave their stations, for their brethren, the Levites, prepared for them. 16 Thus the entire service of the LORD was arranged that day so that the Passover could be celebrated and the holocausts offered on the altar of the LORD, as King Josiah had commanded. 17 The Israelites who were present on that occasion kept the Passover and the feast of the Unleavened Bread for seven days. 18 No such Passover had been observed in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel, nor had any king of Israel kept a Passover like that of Josiah, the priests and Levites, all of Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 It was in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign that this Passover was observed.

20 After Josiah had done all this to restore the temple, Neco, king of Egypt, came up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to intercept him.

V 20-26 In spite of Josiah’s great reforms, the Lord would still bring his wrath upon Judah for the way they turned from Him along with Manasseh. Judah, like Israel, would one day be removed from their land and go into captivity.
Israel was a buffer state which nations to the north and south had to pass through in order to fight each other. Some 13 years after the great Passover, Neco of Egypt intended to pass through the land to aid the Assyrians against Babylon. Unlike Rabshakeh of 2 Ki. 18:25, he was not lying, but had actually received commission by dream, prophet or otherwise “from the mouth of God” that he was doing the command of God. Josiah was uneasy about this army going through to aid Assyrians and hoped to at least delay them, but if he had  done like David, he would have asked counsel of God before going out. He disguised himself as Ahab did, 1 Ki. 22:30, but was wounded by an arrow and moved from his war chariot to one of more comfort and taken back to Jerusalem, where he died. His people had not always heeded him as they ought, but just as many unsaved have for us today, they had great respect for him. Not only did the people mourn the loss of this good man, but Jeremiah gave a lamentation for him which the singers sang for a considerable time. It also became an ordinance for others to learn and sing. Josiah may be referred to in Lam. 4:20.

The reference to a lamentation over Josiah composed by Jeremiah is not found either in 2 Kgs or Jer; but see Zechariah 12:11. Their probably a reference to the canonical Book of Lamentations.