1 King Josiah|strong="H2977" celebrated|strong="H6213" the|strong="H3068" Passover|strong="H6453" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068" in|strong="H3068" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". The|strong="H3068" Passover|strong="H6453" lamb was|strong="H3068" killed|strong="H7819" on|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3068" 14th day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3068" first|strong="H7223" month|strong="H2320".
2 Josiah chose the|strong="H5921" priests|strong="H3548" to|strong="H5921" do their|strong="H3068" duties|strong="H4931". He|strong="H3068" encouraged|strong="H2388" the|strong="H5921" priests|strong="H3548" while|strong="H1004" they|strong="H5921" were|strong="H5921" serving|strong="H5656" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004".
3 He|strong="H0834" spoke|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881" who|strong="H0834" taught|strong="H0995" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" and|strong="H1121" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" made|strong="H5414" holy|strong="H6944" for|strong="H1004" service|strong="H1004" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068". He|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881", “Put|strong="H5414" the|strong="H3605" Holy|strong="H6944" Box in|strong="H0430" the|strong="H3605" Temple|strong="H1004" that|strong="H0834" Solomon|strong="H8010" built|strong="H1129". Solomon|strong="H8010" was|strong="H0369" David’s|strong="H1732" son|strong="H1121". David|strong="H1732" was|strong="H0369" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478". Don’t|strong="H0369" carry|strong="H4853" the|strong="H3605" Holy|strong="H6944" Box from|strong="H3478" place|strong="H5414" to|strong="H0559" place|strong="H5414" on|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" shoulders|strong="H3802" again. Now|strong="H6258" serve|strong="H5647" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971", the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478".
4 Make|strong="H3559" yourselves ready|strong="H3559" for|strong="H1004" service|strong="H1004" in|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3559" Temple|strong="H1004" by|strong="H3478" your|strong="H3559" tribes. Do the|strong="H3559" jobs that|strong="H1732" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H1732" son|strong="H1121" King|strong="H4428" Solomon|strong="H8010" gave you|strong="H1004" to|strong="H3478" do.
5 Stand|strong="H5975" in|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0251" Holy|strong="H6944" Place|strong="H6944" with|strong="H1004" a|strong="H5975" group of|strong="H1121" Levites|strong="H3881". Do this|strong="H5975" for|strong="H1004" each|strong="H5971" different tribe|strong="H0251" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0251" people|strong="H5971" so|strong="H5975" that|strong="H1121" you|strong="H5971" can|strong="H5975" help|strong="H5971" them|strong="H5975".
6 Kill|strong="H7819" the|strong="H3068" Passover|strong="H6453" lambs and|strong="H3068" make|strong="H6213" yourselves|strong="H3027" holy|strong="H6942" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3068" Lord|strong="H3068". Get|strong="H3559" ready|strong="H3559" to|strong="H3068" help your|strong="H3068" fellow|strong="H0251" Israelites. Do|strong="H6213" everything the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068" commanded us|strong="H6213" in|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3068" laws he|strong="H6213" gave|strong="H6213" to|strong="H3068" Moses|strong="H4872".”
7 Josiah|strong="H2977" gave the|strong="H3605" Israelites 30,000 sheep|strong="H6629" and|strong="H1121" goats|strong="H5795" to|strong="H4428" kill for|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" sacrifices. He|strong="H1241" also|strong="H4428" gave 3000 cattle|strong="H1241" to|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971". All|strong="H3605" these|strong="H0428" animals were|strong="H1121" from|strong="H1121" King|strong="H4428" Josiah’s|strong="H2977" own animals.
8 Josiah’s officials|strong="H8269" also|strong="H0430" freely|strong="H5071" gave|strong="H5414" animals and|strong="H3967" things|strong="H7969" to|strong="H5414" the|strong="H5414" people|strong="H5971", to|strong="H5414" the|strong="H5414" priests|strong="H3548", and|strong="H3967" Levites|strong="H3881" to|strong="H5414" use for|strong="H1004" the|strong="H5414" Passover|strong="H6453". Hilkiah|strong="H2518" the|strong="H5414" high|strong="H7311" priest|strong="H3548", Zechariah|strong="H2148", and|strong="H3967" Jehiel|strong="H3171" were|strong="H3881" the|strong="H5414" officials|strong="H8269" in|strong="H0430" charge|strong="H5414" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H5414" Temple|strong="H1004". They|strong="H5971" gave|strong="H5414" the|strong="H5414" priests|strong="H3548" 2600 lambs and|strong="H3967" goats and|strong="H3967" 300 bulls|strong="H1241" for|strong="H1004" Passover|strong="H6453" sacrifices.
9 Also|strong="H8269" Conaniah|strong="H3562" with|strong="H1241" Shemaiah|strong="H8098" and|strong="H3967" Nethanel|strong="H5417", his|strong="H7311" brothers|strong="H0251", and|strong="H3967" Hashabiah|strong="H2811", Jeiel|strong="H3273" and|strong="H3967" Jozabad|strong="H3107" gave 500 sheep and|strong="H3967" goats and|strong="H3967" 500 bulls|strong="H1241" for|strong="H1241" Passover|strong="H6453" sacrifices to|strong="H0251" the|strong="H0251" Levites|strong="H3881". These men|strong="H8269" were|strong="H3881" leaders|strong="H8269" of|strong="H8269" the|strong="H0251" Levites|strong="H3881".
10 When|strong="H5656" everything was|strong="H4428" ready|strong="H3559" for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" Passover service|strong="H5656" to|strong="H5921" begin, the|strong="H5921" priests|strong="H3548" and|strong="H4428" Levites|strong="H3881" went to|strong="H5921" their|strong="H5921" places. This|strong="H5975" is|strong="H4428" what|strong="H3559" the|strong="H5921" king|strong="H4428" commanded|strong="H4687".
11 The|strong="H7819" Passover|strong="H6453" lambs were|strong="H3881" killed|strong="H7819". Then|strong="H3548" the|strong="H7819" Levites|strong="H3881" skinned|strong="H6584" the|strong="H7819" animals and|strong="H3027" gave the|strong="H7819" blood to|strong="H3027" the|strong="H7819" priests|strong="H3548". The|strong="H7819" priests|strong="H3548" sprinkled|strong="H2236" the|strong="H7819" blood on|strong="H3027" the|strong="H7819" altar.
12 Then|strong="H3651" they|strong="H3651" gave|strong="H5414" the|strong="H5414" animals to|strong="H3068" be|strong="H1121" used|strong="H5414" for|strong="H1004" burnt|strong="H5930" offerings|strong="H3068" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H5414" different tribes. This|strong="H3651" was|strong="H3068" done so|strong="H3651" that|strong="H3651" the|strong="H5414" burnt|strong="H5930" offerings|strong="H3068" could|strong="H5971" be|strong="H1121" offered|strong="H7126" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H5414" LORD|strong="H3068" the|strong="H5414" way|strong="H3651" the|strong="H5414" Law of|strong="H1121" Moses|strong="H4872" taught. And|strong="H1121" they|strong="H3651" did|strong="H3651" the|strong="H5414" same|strong="H3651" with|strong="H1004" the|strong="H5414" bulls|strong="H1241".
13 The|strong="H3605" Levites roasted|strong="H1310" the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" sacrifices|strong="H6944" over|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" fire|strong="H0784" in|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" way|strong="H4941" they|strong="H7323" were|strong="H1121" commanded. And|strong="H1121" they|strong="H7323" boiled|strong="H1310" the|strong="H3605" holy|strong="H6944" offerings|strong="H6453" in|strong="H1121" pots|strong="H5518", kettles|strong="H1731", and|strong="H1121" pans|strong="H6745". Then|strong="H3605" they|strong="H7323" quickly|strong="H7323" gave the|strong="H3605" meat to|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971".
14 After|strong="H0310" this|strong="H3588" was|strong="H1121" finished, the|strong="H3588" Levites|strong="H3881" got|strong="H5927" meat for|strong="H3588" themselves|strong="H0310" and|strong="H1121" for|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3588" priests|strong="H3548" who|strong="H3548" were|strong="H1121" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Aaron|strong="H0175". These|strong="H1992" priests|strong="H3548" were|strong="H1121" kept very|strong="H5704" busy, working until|strong="H5704" it|strong="H3588" got|strong="H5927" dark. They|strong="H1992" worked|strong="H5704" hard burning the|strong="H3588" burnt|strong="H5930" offerings|strong="H5930" and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3588" fat|strong="H2459" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3588" sacrifices.
15 The|strong="H5921" Levite|strong="H3881" singers|strong="H7891" from|strong="H5493" Asaph’s family got in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" places that|strong="H3588" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H1732" had|strong="H1732" chosen for|strong="H3588" them|strong="H5921" to|strong="H5921" stand. They|strong="H3588" were|strong="H1121" Asaph|strong="H0623", Heman|strong="H1968", and|strong="H1121" Jeduthun|strong="H3038" the|strong="H5921" king’s|strong="H4428" prophet|strong="H2374". The|strong="H5921" gatekeepers|strong="H7778" at|strong="H5921" each|strong="H8179" gate|strong="H8179" did not|strong="H0369" have|strong="H0369" to|strong="H5921" leave|strong="H5493" their|strong="H5921" places because|strong="H3588" their|strong="H5921" brother|strong="H0251" Levites|strong="H3881" made|strong="H3559" everything ready|strong="H3559" for|strong="H3588" them|strong="H5921" for|strong="H3588" the|strong="H5921" Passover.
16 So|strong="H6213" everything|strong="H3605" was|strong="H3068" done|strong="H6213" that|strong="H3605" day|strong="H3117" for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" worship of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" as|strong="H3068" King|strong="H4428" Josiah|strong="H2977" commanded|strong="H4687". The|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" was|strong="H3068" celebrated|strong="H6213" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" burnt|strong="H5930" offerings|strong="H6453" were|strong="H3117" offered|strong="H5927" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" LORD’S|strong="H3068" altar|strong="H4196".
17 The|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" who|strong="H1931" were|strong="H3478" there|strong="H4672" celebrated|strong="H6213" Passover|strong="H6453" and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" Festival|strong="H2282" of|strong="H1121" Unleavened|strong="H4682" Bread|strong="H4682" for|strong="H3117" seven|strong="H7651" days|strong="H3117".
18 Passover|strong="H6453" hadn’t been|strong="H3644" celebrated|strong="H6213" like|strong="H3644" this|strong="H0834" since|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" time|strong="H3117" of|strong="H4428" Samuel|strong="H8050" the|strong="H3605" prophet|strong="H5030"! None|strong="H3808" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" kings|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478" had|strong="H0834" ever celebrated|strong="H6213" a|strong="H4672" Passover|strong="H6453" like|strong="H3644" this|strong="H0834". King|strong="H4428" Josiah|strong="H2977", the|strong="H3605" priests|strong="H3548", the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881", and|strong="H3063" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3427" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H3063" Israel|strong="H3478" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" there|strong="H3427" with|strong="H3427" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" celebrated|strong="H6213" the|strong="H3605" Passover|strong="H6453" in|strong="H3427" a|strong="H4672" very special way|strong="H3605".
19 They|strong="H8141" celebrated|strong="H6213" this|strong="H2088" Passover|strong="H6453" in|strong="H8141" Josiah’s|strong="H2977" 18th year|strong="H8141" as|strong="H8141" king.
20 Josiah|strong="H2977" did|strong="H0834" all|strong="H3605" these|strong="H2063" good things|strong="H3605" for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" Temple|strong="H1004". Later|strong="H0310", King|strong="H4428" Neco|strong="H5224" of|strong="H4428" Egypt|strong="H4714" led|strong="H3318" an|strong="H3559" army|strong="H5927" to|strong="H5921" fight|strong="H3898" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" town of|strong="H4428" Carchemish|strong="H3751" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" Euphrates|strong="H6578" River. King|strong="H4428" Josiah|strong="H2977" went|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" to|strong="H5921" fight|strong="H3898" against|strong="H5921" Neco|strong="H5224".
21 But|strong="H3588" Neco sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to|strong="H0413" Josiah.
22 But|strong="H3588" Josiah|strong="H2977" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" go|strong="H0935" away|strong="H4480". He|strong="H3588" put|strong="H0935" on|strong="H0413" different clothes to|strong="H0413" hide|strong="H2664" who|strong="H0430" he|strong="H3588" was|strong="H0430" and|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" fight|strong="H3898" the|strong="H6440" battle|strong="H3898". Josiah|strong="H2977" refused|strong="H3808" to|strong="H0413" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H6440" warning Neco|strong="H5224" had|strong="H0430" received|strong="H0935" from|strong="H4480" God|strong="H0430" and|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" fight|strong="H3898" on|strong="H0413" the|strong="H6440" plain|strong="H1237" of|strong="H0430" Megiddo|strong="H4023".
23 Then|strong="H0559" King|strong="H4428" Josiah|strong="H2977" was|strong="H4428" shot|strong="H3384" by|strong="H3588" arrows while|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" was|strong="H4428" in|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" battle. He|strong="H3588" told|strong="H0559" his|strong="H3588" servants|strong="H5650", “Take me|strong="H5650" away|strong="H5674", I|strong="H3588" am wounded|strong="H2470" badly|strong="H3966"!”
24 So|strong="H4480" the|strong="H3605" servants|strong="H5650" took|strong="H4191" Josiah|strong="H2977" out|strong="H4480" of|strong="H0001" his|strong="H3605" chariot|strong="H4818" and|strong="H3063" put|strong="H4191" him|strong="H5921" in|strong="H5921" another chariot|strong="H4818" he|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" brought with|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921" to|strong="H4191" the|strong="H3605" battle. Then|strong="H5674" they|strong="H0834" took|strong="H4191" Josiah|strong="H2977" to|strong="H4191" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". He|strong="H0834" died|strong="H4191" there|strong="H3605" and|strong="H3063" was|strong="H0834" buried|strong="H6912" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" tombs|strong="H6913" where|strong="H0834" his|strong="H3605" ancestors|strong="H0001" were|strong="H0834" buried|strong="H6912". All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H0001" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H3063" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" were|strong="H0834" very sad because|strong="H5921" Josiah|strong="H2977" was|strong="H0834" dead|strong="H4191".
25 Jeremiah|strong="H3414" wrote|strong="H3789" and|strong="H3478" sang|strong="H7891" some|strong="H3605" funeral songs for|strong="H5921" Josiah|strong="H2977". And|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H3605" and|strong="H3478" women|strong="H6969" singers|strong="H7891" still|strong="H5704" sing|strong="H7891" these|strong="H3605" sad songs today|strong="H3117". It|strong="H5414" became something the|strong="H3605" people of|strong="H3117" Israel|strong="H3478" always|strong="H3117" do|strong="H3605"—they|strong="H3117" sing|strong="H7891" a|strong="H5414" sad song|strong="H7891" for|strong="H5921" Josiah|strong="H2977". These|strong="H3605" songs are|strong="H3117" written|strong="H3789" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" book, Funeral Songs.