2 Chronicles 35

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1. 1Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the 14th day of the 1st month.
2. 2He assigned the priests to their duties and encouraged them in their service at the house of the LORD.
3. 3He told the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, "Place the holy ark in the temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It will no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel."
4. 4"Organize yourselves by your family groups and divisions, following the instructions written by David king of Israel and his son Solomon."
5. 5Stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brothers the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.
6. 6"Then slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow Israelites, so that everything is done according to the word of the LORD given through Moses."
7. 7From his own flocks and herds, Josiah provided 30,000 lambs and young goats for Passover offerings for everyone present, along with 3,000 bulls — all from the king's personal wealth.
8. 8His officials also gave generously to the people, the priests, and the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the leaders in charge of God's house, donated 2,600 small livestock and 300 cattle to the priests for Passover offerings.
9. 9Conaniah, along with his brothers Shemaiah and Nethaneel, and the Levite chiefs Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, contributed 5,000 small livestock and 500 cattle to the Levites for Passover offerings.
10. 10With everything in place, the priests stood at their stations and the Levites took their positions by divisions, just as the king had commanded.
11. 11They slaughtered the Passover lambs, and the priests sprinkled the blood that was handed to them while the Levites skinned the animals.
12. 12They set aside the portions meant for burnt offerings so they could distribute them to the family groups of the people for offering to the LORD, as prescribed in the book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle.
13. 13They roasted the Passover lambs over fire as the law required, and they boiled the other holy offerings in pots, cauldrons, and pans, then quickly distributed the food to all the people.
14. 14Afterward, the Levites prepared portions for themselves and for the priests, because the priests — the descendants of Aaron — were busy offering burnt offerings and fat portions until nightfall. So the Levites took care of both their own needs and those of the priests.
15. 15The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, were at their posts as David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer had directed. The gatekeepers stood guard at every gate. None of them had to leave their duties, because their fellow Levites prepared everything for them.
16. 16So on that single day, everything needed for the LORD's service was ready — the Passover was celebrated and burnt offerings were presented on the LORD's altar, all according to King Josiah's command.
17. 17The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time, followed by the Festival of Unleavened Bread for 7 days.
18. 18No Passover like this one had been celebrated in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had ever held a Passover like the one Josiah celebrated with the priests, the Levites, all of Judah and Israel who were present, and the people of Jerusalem.
19. 19This Passover was celebrated in the 18th year of Josiah's reign.
20. 20After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates River, and Josiah went out to confront him.
21. 21But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, "What do I have to do with you, king of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am at war. God commanded me to hurry. Hold back from meddling with God, who is with me, so that he does not destroy you."
22. 22But Josiah refused to back down. He disguised himself and went into battle against Necho, ignoring the warning that had come from the mouth of God. He went to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
23. 23Enemy archers struck King Josiah, and the king cried out to his servants, "Get me out of here — I'm badly wounded!"
24. 24His servants lifted him out of his chariot and placed him in his second chariot, then brought him to Jerusalem. He died there and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All of Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25. 25Jeremiah composed a lament for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers mention Josiah in their songs of mourning. This became an established tradition in Israel, and these laments are recorded in the book of lamentations.
26. 26The rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, as recorded in the law of the LORD,
27. 27and all his deeds from beginning to end — these are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.