2Ch 35:17 | KingComments | STEP | There are also Israelites present at the celebration of the Passover, i.e. members of God’s people from the ten tribes ( ). They should be all men of Israel, for according to the command they should go to Jerusalem three times a year, among other things to celebrate the Passover ( ; ). Unfortunately, this is not the case. Even today, many do not come to the place where the Lord Jesus is in the midst of the church to honor Him there. The Passover is followed by the celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a feast that lasts for seven days. The connection between the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Breast is very close and occurs more often ( ; ). The meaning is that our life must be in accordance with our eating of the slain Lamb. Our whole life – seven is the number that indicates a complete period – must be ‘unleavened’, i.e. free from sin, of which leaven is a picture. The Passover that Josiah celebrates is of a higher spiritual level than that of Hezekiah. The Passover celebrated by Hezekiah has not been so celebrated since the days of Solomon ( ). The Passover celebrated by Josiah even surpasses that Passover. To find a comparison for celebrating such a Passover, the chronicler must go back much further, to the days of Samuel ( ). This means that throughout the time of the kings, the Passover has not been celebrated in the way Josiah does now. God in His grace can give such glorious things that have not been there for a long time. Josiah celebrates an unprecedented Passover, also because he by far is not as rich as his predecessors and yet makes such sacrifices and provides for the whole people. We must not restrict God and deny Him revivals. Across all the unfaithfulness of the people, He can give in His grace a restoration that reminds us of the beginning. Josiah celebrates the Passover in the eighteenth year of his reign ( ). He has then cleansed the land and the house and ordered the restoration of the house of the LORD ( ). At the end of the description of his celebration of the Passover, the connection between a sanctified life and the house of God, on the one hand, and salvation on the basis of the death of the Lamb, on the other, is emphasized.

‏ 2 Chronicles 35:17

A Special Passover

There are also Israelites present at the celebration of the Passover, i.e. members of God’s people from the ten tribes (2Chr 35:17). They should be all men of Israel, for according to the command they should go to Jerusalem three times a year, among other things to celebrate the Passover (Exo 23:14-17; Deu 16:7-17). Unfortunately, this is not the case. Even today, many do not come to the place where the Lord Jesus is in the midst of the church to honor Him there.

The Passover is followed by the celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a feast that lasts for seven days. The connection between the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Breast is very close and occurs more often (Lk 22:1; 1Cor 5:7-8). The meaning is that our life must be in accordance with our eating of the slain Lamb. Our whole life – seven is the number that indicates a complete period – must be ‘unleavened’, i.e. free from sin, of which leaven is a picture.

The Passover that Josiah celebrates is of a higher spiritual level than that of Hezekiah. The Passover celebrated by Hezekiah has not been so celebrated since the days of Solomon (2Chr 30:26). The Passover celebrated by Josiah even surpasses that Passover. To find a comparison for celebrating such a Passover, the chronicler must go back much further, to the days of Samuel (2Chr 35:18). This means that throughout the time of the kings, the Passover has not been celebrated in the way Josiah does now.

God in His grace can give such glorious things that have not been there for a long time. Josiah celebrates an unprecedented Passover, also because he by far is not as rich as his predecessors and yet makes such sacrifices and provides for the whole people. We must not restrict God and deny Him revivals. Across all the unfaithfulness of the people, He can give in His grace a restoration that reminds us of the beginning.

Josiah celebrates the Passover in the eighteenth year of his reign (2Chr 35:19). He has then cleansed the land and the house and ordered the restoration of the house of the LORD (2Chr 34:8). At the end of the description of his celebration of the Passover, the connection between a sanctified life and the house of God, on the one hand, and salvation on the basis of the death of the Lamb, on the other, is emphasized.