Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 35:18
No such Passover had been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel ever observed a Passover like the one that Josiah observed with the priests, the Levites, all Judah, the Israelites who were present, and the people of Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records the events of Josiah’s eighteenth regnal year, addressing the national assembly of priests, Levites, Judah, returning Israelites, and Jerusalem’s residents during a centralized Passover celebration.
The words — נַעֲשָׂה (na.'a.Sah) translates literally as "it had been observed," and פֶסַח (Fe.sach) means "a passover," anchoring the verse’s claim in a specific, unrepeatable ritual act.
The thread — The narrative links Josiah’s reform to earlier covenant renewals, echoing the Passover commands in 2 Kings 23:21 and the historical comparisons in 2 Chronicles 30:5 and 2 Chronicles 30:26.
Why it lands — The text asserts a historical benchmark for Passover observance under Josiah, demanding recognition of the event’s unprecedented scale and its departure from prior national practice.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 23:21 The king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover of the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”
- 2 Chronicles 30:5 So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it in great numbers as prescribed.
- 2 Chronicles 30:26 So there was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this had happened there since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel.