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2CHRONICLES
CHAPTER 35

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.

Josiah led the priests in observing the "passover." This beautiful feast pictured the coming of Christ in the world to "pass over" our sins, and offer the eternal sacrifice for our souls.
Perhaps they had been negligent in observing the passover in recent years. The reason I say that is because of verse 3. It seems the "ark of the covenant" was not properly placed in the "Holy of Holies" as God had commanded. During the long reign of Manasseh and the short one of Amon, perhaps the ark had been displaced. Or perhaps the temple had been so neglected that the priests had been carrying the ark around to places where people would worship the Lord.
Nevertheless, we can see that the people and the priests had been negligent in observing the feasts of the Lord.
Josiah also led the priests to utilize the "courses" by month as David and Solomon had devised. According to verse 5, the priests had probably not been "in their places" to help the people with their sacrifices when they came.
When the worship of the Lord is neglected by the ministers of the Lord, the people become slack in attendance.

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.

The desire to observe the "passover" feast led Josiah to be sure that ample sacrificial animals were prepared for that time.
His leadership in offering of his own, led the "princes" of Judah to do the same.
When people come to the house of the Lord to worship, they should first be prepared.

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.

Having prepared for worship they were ready to begin. And the amount of sacrifices offered kept the priests very BUSY!
In fact, the priests were so busy preparing for the people, they had no time to prepare for themselves.
But the Levites prepared FOR them (verse 14). Ministers need helpers!
The "singers" were on hand to offer praise to God while the priests and Levites made the offerings of sacrifice.
A worship service should be filled with music of praise which lifts the name of God, and also encourages people to genuinely WORSHIP.

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.

This passover wasn't held until Josiah's 18th year in his reign. Obviously he spent much time considering and organizing this event.
For worship to be meaningful, there must be much preparation!
When the passover was held, it was more greatly attended than any passover since Samuel's day!
When worship is properly prepared people will attend!

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.

Josiah's reign was 31 years. In the 18th year he held the passover.
Verse 20 jumps time some 13 years, and begins to discuss the LAST year of Josiah's reign.
Obviously, God had blessed Judah, and the nation was prospering once again as Josiah had led them in revival and reform.
When Josiah heard that the king of Egypt was fighting against Carchemish (former capital of Assyria), he determined to stop the advance of Egypt's movement.
This caused a world-wide difference in rulership. Pharoah Necho was actually on his way to fight against Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon.
When Josiah fought against the Egyptian king and lost, then the Egyptian king continued in his march to meet Nebuchadnezzar II.
The Egyptians were terribly defeated by the Babylonians, which led to the ability of Babylon to control the world.
That's perhaps why the Bible says that Josiah was warned by "the mouth of God" (verse 22) not to enjoin himself in battle against Pharoah Necho. Josiah's loss of that battle put the people of Judah in a very precarious position.
Necho sent Josiah some ambassadors who reasoned with him that his stance against the king of Egypt was wrong and futile. Again, let me point out that verse 22 says this warning was from "the mouth of God." But Josiah wouldn't LISTEN!
Now, I'm going to make a point here. Josiah was a very good king. It is not like him to NOT LISTEN to the warning sent from God. Why would he do such a thing?
Perhaps he thought the warning was from Pharoah only. Josiah was obviously a very astute king, and knew the two dominating powers of the world were Egypt and Babylon. He also knew that if Egypt and Babylon fought, Judah would be caught in the middle! And whoever won the battle between Egypt and Babylon would want to control Judah also. Josiah could "see" Judah falling prey to one of these "super-powers."
Therefore, he determined to do all that he could to STOP this war.

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.

Perhaps God had another plan in mind that Josiah did not see. Maybe after the two colossal forces of Egypt and Babylon met, Judah could "mop up" and become strong again.
But Josiah could not see that plan. Verse 22 said he would not turn about, but met Pharoah Necho for war.
How often do we purpose to do something of our own volition and do not heed the advice and counsel of our Lord, simply because we "feel" that it is right as we perceive it?
Josiah was killed. At 39 years of age, and perhaps one of the most influential kings of Judah, he was mourned greatly.
He had led the nation to revival of worshipping God ONLY. He had led the nation in reform of living by godly principles. He had led the nation to unity and joy in praise.
Josiah was greatly missed by the people.
Great leaders are sorely missed when they die.

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