Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 35:2
He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Josiah directs the priests to resume their assigned roles during his preparation of the Passover in Jerusalem.
The words — The Hebrew verb יַעֲמֵד (ya'améd) means "he appointed" or "he established," while חִזֵּק (chizzéq) translates to "he strengthened" or "he encouraged."
The thread — This administrative reorganization parallels Hezekiah’s priestly divisions in 2 Chronicles 31:2 and echoes the sanctuary duty warnings in Numbers 18:5.
Why it lands — The text states that Josiah actively reestablished priestly roles and bolstered their commitment to temple service, requiring readers to recognize that proper worship depends on deliberate leadership and clear assignments.
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 he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord,
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 31:2 Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.
- 1 Chronicles 22:19 Now set your heart and soul to seek the LORD your God. Begin building the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy articles of God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.”
- Numbers 18:5 And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.
- 1 Chronicles 24:1 These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- 2 Chronicles 23:8 So the Levites and all Judah did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.
- 2 Chronicles 23:18 Moreover, Jehoiada put the oversight of the house of the LORD into the hands of the Levitical priests, whom David had appointed over the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and song, as ordained by David.
- 2 Chronicles 29:5 “Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.
- Ezra 6:18 They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.