2 Crônicas 35
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Crônicas 35
NJB (LXX versing) The Passover Observed Again Josiah Keeps the Passover Josiah's Great Passover Josiah Celebrates the Passover Preparations for the Passover 35:1-9 35:1-9 35:1-6 35:1-6 35:1 35:2-6 35:7-9 35:7-9 35:7-9 The Celebration of the Passover 35:10-15 35:10-19 35:10-15 35:10-19 35:10-13 35:14-15 35:16-19 35:16-19 35:16-18 Death of Josiah Josiah Dies in Battle Josiah Dies in Battle Josiah's Tragic Mistake and Consequent Death The End of Josiah's Reign 35:19 35:20-27 35:20-25 35:20-27 35:20-22 35:20-25 35:23-24 35:25 35:26-27 35:26-27 35:26-27 Etc.
2 Crônicas 35:1-9
35:1-19 The Chronicler greatly expands his account of the Passover when compared to 2 Kgs. 23:21-23. The Chronicler is much more interested in the temple and its function and personnel than the writer of Kings. 35:1 "the Passover" The Passover was the major miracle of YHWH's promised deliverance of Israel (cf. Gen. 15:12-21). This was the last plague on Egypt (cf. Exodus 11). It became an annual feast of remembrance (cf. Exodus 12). In the closing period of Judah's history as a nation, two godly kings tried to restore Judah to the Mosaic covenant. Hezekiah ‒ 2 Chronicles 30 Josiah ‒ 2 Chronicles 35 In Ezra's day they also wanted to reestablish the Mosaic covenant and used the observance of the Passover as a means (cf. Ezra 6). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PASSOVER "they slaughtered" Usually the offerer killed the sacrifice (i.e., Lev. 1:2-7). Passover was a family affair in Exodus but became a national feast day. There were so many animals killed at the same time that the Levites took over the slaughter and then gave the collected blood to the priests (cf. 2 Chr. 35:6,11). "on the fourteenth day of the first month" This was the normal date for its observance. Hezekiah had to postpone it one month because there were not enough consecrated priests/Levites (cf. 2 Chr. 29:34; 30:2-3). 35:3 "the Levites who taught all Israel" See NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 772-777. Originally the Levites were to carry the portable tabernacle to help the priests in the sacrificial system later when the house of YHWH was in a permanent place, they were able to take on more tasks they became the local teachers and interpreters of the law. In time, this position would turn into "the scribes" (cf. 2 Chr. 17:7-9; Neh. 8:7). SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVITICAL PRIESTS, II. SPECIAL TOPIC: SCRIBES "Put the holy ark in the house" There are two ways to view this verse. It is referring to 1 Kings 8. Somehow, there was an annual reenactment where the ark was brought in (Oxford Study Bible, p. 470). NASB Study Bible, p. 629, suggests it had been taken from the temple and hidden during the evil days of Ahaz (i.e., 2 Chr. 28:24), Manasseh (i.e., 2 Chr. 33:7), and Amon (i.e., 2 Chr. 33:22). SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE 35:4-5 David organized the priests and Levites into divisions and task-oriented groups (cf. 1 Chronicles 9; 24) as did Solomon (2 Chr. 8:14). 35:4 The first VERB in the MT is "be established" (BDB 465, KB 464, Niphal IMPERATIVE) but the Masoretic scholars changed this (Qere) to "prepare yourselves" (BDB 465, KB 464, Hiphil IMPERATIVE); same root, different stems. In 2 Chr. 35:3, there is a series of seven imperatives. put, v. 3 ‒ BDB 678, KB 733, Qal serve, v. 3 ‒ BDB 712, KB 773, Qal prepare, v. 4 ‒ Hiphil stand, v. 5 ‒ BDB 763, KB 840, Qal slaughter, v. 6 ‒ BDB 1006, KB 1458, Qal sanctify, v. 6 ‒ BDB 872, KB 1073, Hithpael prepare, v. 6 ‒ same as #3 35:5 There are three roots that refer to subsections of a larger tribal/clan unit. Two of them appear only in this chapter. "the sections," v. 5, פלגה ‒ BDB 811, KB 929 "the sections," v. 12, מפלגה ‒ BDB 811, KB 618 "the divisions, Jdgs. 5:15,16, פלגה ‒ BDB 811, KB 929 Numbers 1 and 3 differ only in vowels. The exact meaning of these terms is uncertain. In determining the meaning of rare words, one must look at synonymous roots cognate languages ancient versions but the most important is context, context, context 35:6 "sanctify yourselves" See note at 2 Chr. 29:5. "to do according to the word of the Lord by Moses" This is the key thought of spiritual renewal. obedience to YHWH's revealed word through His spokesperson This is how the covenant blessings came and the curses were avoided (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30:1-19; Psalm 1). 35:7-9 Josiah was obligated as the king to give sacrifices on behalf of the people. Hezekiah ‒ 2 Chr. 30:24-25 end-time prince ‒ Ezek. 45:17 The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 553, suggests: "While the flocks of sheep and goats provided for the paschal lambs, the cattle must have served for peace offerings, for feasting throughout the days of Unleavened Bread that followed the Passover (cf. on v. 17, on 30:24, and on 1 Chron 29:21)."
2 Crônicas 35:10-15
35:11 Note the divisions of labor at the altar (note 2 Chr. 29:34). Levites killed the animal and caught the blood (LXX addition) Priests sprinkled the blood on the altar (cf. Lev. 1:5,11; 3:2,8,13; 7:2,14; 17:6) the Levites skinned the animal (BDB 832, KB 980, Hiphil ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, cf. Lev. 1:6; 2 Chr. 29:34) 35:12 "to the sections" This word (BDB 811) occurs only here and apparently means a subdivision of non-Levitical families (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 1055-1056). A similar root (BDB 324) is found in 1 Chr. 23:6, where it does refer to Levites. "as it is written in the book of Moses" See note at 2 Chr. 34:14. 35:13 "the ordinance" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. "they boiled the holy things in pots, in kettles, in pans and carried them speedily to all the lay people" This is surprising. Originally Passover was a family event involving only sheep or goats (i.e., Exod. 12:3-5). Here, parts of the Passover sacrifices are shared with the people (i.e., like a peace offering). This may be the meaning of Deut. 12:7; 16:2,7 (which allowed cattle, and the meat must be boiled, while Exodus 12 requires roasting). It seems the Chronicler is referring to the Passover kid or lamb, roasted with fire other peace offerings were boiled and shared with all (i.e., notice all the types of cooking containers used) There are many Hebrew terms for different sizes of pots, pans, kettles, bowls, etc. used at home, in the temple, and for divination. For the long list, see NIDOTTE, vol.2, pp. 655-656. "carried them speedily" Part of the Passover was to prepare the meal and eat it quickly. But here, it seems to refer to providing the food (both the Passover sheep/goat and fellowship beef) to the people, 2 Chr. 35:13; also note vv. 5-6 the priests, v. 14 the Levites, v. 15 35:14 "the burnt offerings and the fat" These items were completely burned on the altar of sacrifice. burnt offerings ‒ Leviticus 1 fat (cf. Lev. 3:3-4,9-10,16-17; 4:8-9,19,26,30,35; 6:12; 7:3-4,23-25,30-31,33; 8:16,25; 9:10,19-20,24) 35:15 "The singers. . .at their stations according to the command of David" See notes at 1 Chronicles 25. "the king's seer" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT), I. B.
2 Crônicas 35:16-19
35:18 The Jerusalem Bible (reference edition, p. 567) suggests that this verse does not mean there were no other Passovers, but that some of the procedures had been changed. It is possible that v. 18 refers to the inclusion of the Feast of Unleavened Bread with the Passover. The seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread goes back to Exod. 12:15-20; 34:18-20. It is not mentioned in the brief parallel in 2 Kgs. 23:21-23. Some scholars assert the new feature of this Passover was the central location (i.e., at the temple in Jerusalem). Originally the Passover was a family event, not a national annual feast (IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 458). It is also possible that the new feature was a return to the head of each family killing the animal (2 Chr. 35:5-6; from Jerome Biblical Commentary, p. 425). The mentioning of Samuel was a literary way of referring to the United Monarchy (i.e., Saul, David, Solomon). 2 Kings 23:22 says, "the days of the judges," not Samuel. But they follow one another. 35:19 "the eighteenth year" This is the same year that Josiah purged the land of idolatry began repairs on the temple and "the book of the law of the Lord given by Moses" was found (cf. 2 Chr. 34:8) The LXX inserts a quote from 2 Kgs. 23:24-27 here but it is not present in any Hebrew MSS of 2 Chronicles.
2 Crônicas 35:20-27
35:20 The "after all this" of v. 20 marks the end of the Chronicler's discussion of Josiah's godly reign. There is about a ten to thirteen year gap between vv. 1-19 and vv. 20-24. There is a drastic change of literary mood between the great Passover and the invasion of Neco II. The battle of Carchemish (Assyria's last capital, established in 610 b.c.) is one of the secular events/dates that is used to corroborate the history of Israel. In 609 b.c. the Egyptian army under Pharaoh Neco II tried to move rapidly north along the Canaan coast to support the remnants of the Assyrian army under Ashur-uballit, who was besieged at Carchemish by the Neo-Babylonian army under General Nebuchadnezzar II (who was Nabopolassar's son, cf. 2 Kgs. 23:29; Jer. 46:2). Egypt did not want the growing power of the ANE, Babylon, to threaten them. They wanted a weak Assyria as a buffer state (cf. Jer. 46:3-12,13-24,25-26). The Egyptians and Assyrians were defeated at Carchemish in 605 b.c. For some reason Josiah did not want to let the Egyptian army pass through to Carchemish. Neco II tried to reason with him and assure him that he had no interest in Judah (cf. 2 Chr. 35:21). Neco even asserts it is God's will that he confront Babylon quickly. 2 Chronicles 25:22 calls his words "from the mouth of God" (see Josephus, Antiq. 10.5.1.). CHART: A BRIEF HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE POWERS OF MESOPOTAMIA 35:21-22 The Tyndale Commentary on 2 Chronicles, by Martin J. Selman, has a good word about Neco speaking as YHWH's spokesperson. "Like other biblical writers, the Chronicler never limits God's ways of speaking. For example, the expression by the mouth of God is used as naturally of Neco as it is of Jeremiah (cf. 36:12, 21,22), and God regularly employs foreigners as his spokespersons (e.g. 2 Ch. 2:11-12; 9:8; 36:22-23). Though Neco is surprisingly blunt in claiming that God has told me to hurry (v. 21), his language is no more shocking than that of other non-Israelites (e.g. Gn. 20:3-7; Mt. 27:19)." 35:21 Pharaoh Neco II's warning message to Josiah was "stop for your own sake" ‒ BDB 292, KB 292, Qal IMPERATIVE, SINGULAR "that He may not destroy you" ‒ BDB 1007, KB 1469, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense Neco felt he was doing God's will in attacking the Babylonian army so as to preserve a buffer state (i.e., remnants of the Assyrian army) between himself and Babylon. 35:22 Josiah disguised himself (BDB 344, KB 341, Hithpael PERFECT, cf. 1 Sam. 28:8; 1 Kgs. 22:30; 2 Chr. 18:29), probably so as not to be targeted. But a random arrow found its mark (2 Chr. 35:23-24). Was Josiah's death a result of disobedience to God's word (v. 23; Targum comment on v. 23 ‒ "Josiah died because he did not seek instruction from the Lord") a random act (v. 23) a reversal of the promise of God in 2 Chr. 34:28 Josiah's attempt to help the Babylonians? Although Josiah was a true faithful follower, the people of Judah were not truly changed. YHWH's predicted judgment (cf. 2 Chr. 34:22-28) will come (2 Chronicles 36). NASB, NKJV, NRSV "disguised himself" —omited— NJB, REV, JPSOA, Targums "determined to fight he donned [his armour]" "he was strengthened" "for he had gone to fight with him" "for he had sought a pretext for fighting with him" Although other kings had "disguised" themselves, this does not fit Josiah. "the plain of Megiddo" This was the site of several battles. Joshua and the king of Megiddo ‒ Josh. 7:21; 12:21 Manasseh and the Canaanites ‒ Josh. 17:11-13; Jdgs. 1:27 Pharaoh Shishak and Judah ‒ 1 Kgs. 14:25-28; 1 Chr. 12:2 Tiglath-pileser of Assyria and Israel ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:29-30 Pharaoh Neco II and Josiah ‒ 2 Kgs. 23:29-30 35:25 "Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah" The Jewish tradition of Jeremiah's authorship of Lamentations (Baba Bathra 15a) may be the source of the LXX and Vulgate's attributing authorship to Jeremiah. All of the speculation may have come from this verse. Modern scholars do not know what part, or if any part, of Scripture this refers to. "all the male and female singers" "in the Lamentations" 35:26 "his deeds of devotion" This NOUN (BDB 338) is the powerful covenant term hesed, usually used of YHWH; here, used of the actions and motives of this godly king. SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed) "written in the Law of the Lord" See note at 2 Chr. 34:14. 35:27 "written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah" See notes at Introduction to Chronicles, IV., F., #2. Edwin R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, p. 204, suggests: "When the chronicler did his work toward the end of the fifth century, the combined volume of the Kings of Israel and Judah was in existence. This is known from the fact that the sources there cited are no longer the separate journals of days of the kings of Israel or those of Judah as cited in Kings, but a combined "book of kings of Judah and Israel" (2 Chron 16:11; 25:26; 27:7; 28:26; 32:32; 35:27; 36:8)."