2 Chronicles 35:1
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What's so striking here isn't just that Josiah did it, but that he did it in Jerusalem. This wasn't just a local celebration; it was a grand, national recommitment to God's covenant, happening at the heart of Israel's worship, fulfilling the ancient instructions for the very first time in generations.
Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This chapter marks a pivotal moment as King Josiah, a descendant of David, leads a radical spiritual and national renewal. Following the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple, Josiah orchestrates a grand Passover celebration in Jerusalem, meticulously following the ancient instructions for the first time in generations. This act of obedience and worship sets the stage for his reign and the nation's response to God's rediscovered word.
Josiah didn't just go through the motions with Passover. He poured his heart into it, making it a huge event in Jerusalem. What does this tell us about his faith and the importance of what he was doing?
A Kingdom-Wide Revival
This wasn't a small, private affair. Josiah made the Passover a central, public act of worship for the entire kingdom. Think of it like the Super Bowl of ancient Israelite religious festivals, but with true spiritual significance!
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Josiah's passion shows that worship isn't just a personal thing; it can and should be a communal celebration that rallies a people together under God.
The Bible says Josiah kept a Passover 'to the LORD.' This wasn't just about remembering history; it was about obeying God's direct instructions. What was so significant about bringing the Passover back?
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A Sign of True Heart Change
For years, the people of Judah had strayed far from God's ways, especially during the reigns of Josiah's father and grandfather. Idolatry and disobedience were rampant.
Josiah's decision to celebrate Passover was a direct act of obedience to the Law of Moses. It signified a profound turning back to God and His covenant.
What Passover Represented:
Josiah wasn't just reviving an old ritual; he was restoring a vital spiritual practice that reminded his people of God's faithfulness and their need for His saving grace.
Understand the original words
pesach · Hebrew Noun
A formal religious celebration or feast commemorating God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. It points forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, the true Passover Lamb.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the self-existent, covenant-keeping God of Israel. It represents His holiness, sovereignty, and faithfulness to His people.
Josiah's Passover was not just a religious festival, but a profound act of national restoration and obedience, occurring after decades of neglect and a rediscovery of God's ancient commands.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people and a significant decline in religious observance throughout the divided kingdom.
c. 640 BC
Josiah becomes King of Judah
Josiah ascended to the throne of the Southern Kingdom of Judah at the young age of eight, inheriting a kingdom deeply influenced by the idolatry of his predecessors.
c. 622 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
During renovations of the Temple, the high priest discovered a scroll containing the Law of Moses. King Josiah was deeply affected by its words, leading to widespread religious reforms.
c. 621 BC
Josiah's Religious Reforms
Following the discovery of the Law, Josiah purged Judah and Jerusalem of idolatrous practices, tore down altars to foreign gods, and centralized worship in Jerusalem.
c. 620 BC— this verse
Passover Celebration Restored
As a capstone to his reforms and in direct obedience to the discovered Law, Josiah reinstituted the Passover feast, a central act of covenant faithfulness and remembrance.
609 BC
Death of King Josiah
Josiah was killed in battle against Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt at Megiddo, a tragic end to a righteous reign that deeply grieved the people of Judah.
This passage in Exodus details the original institution of the Passover, setting the pattern and the divine command that Josiah's celebration so faithfully followed.
Deuteronomy 16:1-8Deuteronomy lays out the laws for observing Passover, emphasizing the importance of unity in worship at the designated place (Jerusalem) and the correct timing, which Josiah meticulously upheld.
2 Kings 23:21-23This parallel account highlights the significance and scale of Josiah's Passover, showing it was a pivotal moment in his reform, marking a return to God's commands after long periods of neglect.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8Paul draws a powerful connection between the Passover lamb and Christ, revealing how the historical observance finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus' sacrifice for our sins.
What's so striking here isn't just that Josiah did it, but that he did it in Jerusalem. This wasn't just a local celebration; it was a grand, national recommitment to God's covenant, happening at the heart of Israel's worship, fulfilling the ancient instructions for the very first time in generations.
This chapter marks a pivotal moment as King Josiah, a descendant of David, leads a radical spiritual and national renewal. Following the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple, Josiah orchestrates a grand Passover celebration in Jerusalem, meticulously following the ancient instructions for the first time in generations. This act of obedience and worship sets the stage for his reign and the nation's response to God's rediscovered word.
This chapter marks a pivotal moment as King Josiah, a descendant of David, leads a radical spiritual and national renewal. Following the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple, Josiah orchestrates a grand Passover celebration in Jerusalem, meticulously following the ancient instructions for the first time in generations. This act of obedience and worship sets the stage for his reign and the nation's response to God's rediscovered word.
"Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month." — What's so striking here isn't just that Josiah did it, but that he did it in Jerusalem. This wasn't just a local celebration; it was a grand, national recommitment to God's covenant, happening at…
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Last reviewed October 2026
