35Then Josiah announced that the Passover of the LORD would be celebrated in Jerusalem, and so the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.H2977H6213H6453H3068H3389H7819H6453H702H6240H7223H23202Josiah also assigned the priests to their duties and encouraged them in their work at the Temple of the LORD.H5975H3548H4931H2388H5656H1004H30683He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the LORD: "Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the LORD your God and his people Israel.H559H3881H995H4000H3478H6918H3068H5414H6944H727H1004H8010H1121H1732H4428H3478H1129H4853H3802H5647H3068H430H5971H34784Report for duty according to the family divisions of your ancestors, following the directions of King David of Israel and the directions of his son Solomon.H3559H3559H1004H1H4256H3791H1732H4428H3478H4385H8010H11215"Then stand in the sanctuary at the place appointed for your family division and help the families assigned to you as they bring their offerings to the Temple.H5975H6944H6391H1004H1H251H1121H5971H2515H1H1004H38816Slaughter the Passover lambs, purify yourselves, and prepare to help those who come. Follow all the directions that the LORD gave through Moses."H7819H6453H6942H3559H251H6213H1697H3068H3027H48727Then Josiah provided 30,000 lambs and young goats for the people's Passover offerings, along with 3,000 cattle, all from the king's own flocks and herds.H2977H7311H1121H5971H6629H3532H1121H5795H6453H4672H4557H7970H505H7969H505H1241H4428H73998The king's officials also made willing contributions to the people, priests, and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the administrators of God's Temple, gave the priests 2,600 lambs and young goats and 300 cattle as Passover offerings.H8269H7311H5071H5971H3548H3881H2518H2148H3171H5057H1004H430H5414H3548H6453H505H8337H3967H7969H3967H12419The Levite leaders—Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, as well as Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad—gave 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 cattle to the Levites for their Passover offerings.H3562H8098H5417H251H2811H3273H3107H8269H3881H7311H3881H6453H2568H505H2568H3967H124110When everything was ready for the Passover celebration, the priests and the Levites took their places, organized by their divisions, as the king had commanded.H5656H3559H3548H5975H5977H3881H4256H4428H468711The Levites then slaughtered the Passover lambs and presented the blood to the priests, who sprinkled the blood on the altar while the Levites prepared the animals.H7819H6453H3548H2236H3027H3881H658412They divided the burnt offerings among the people by their family groups, so they could offer them to the LORD as prescribed in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle.H5493H5930H5414H4653H1H1004H1121H5971H7126H3068H3789H5612H4872H124113Then they roasted the Passover lambs as prescribed; and they boiled the holy offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and brought them out quickly so the people could eat them.H1310H6453H784H4941H6944H1310H5518H1731H6745H7323H1121H597114Afterward the Levites prepared Passover offerings for themselves and for the priests—the descendants of Aaron—because the priests had been busy from morning till night offering the burnt offerings and the fat portions. The Levites took responsibility for all these preparations.H310H3559H3548H3548H1121H175H5927H5930H2459H3915H3881H3559H3548H1121H17515The musicians, descendants of Asaph, were in their assigned places, following the commands that had been given by David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's seer. The gatekeepers guarded the gates and did not need to leave their posts of duty, for their Passover offerings were prepared for them by their fellow Levites.H7891H1121H623H4612H4687H1732H623H1968H3038H4428H2374H7778H8179H5493H5656H251H3881H355916The entire ceremony for the LORD's Passover was completed that day. All the burnt offerings were sacrificed on the altar of the LORD, as King Josiah had commanded.H5656H3068H3559H3117H6213H6453H5927H5930H4196H3068H4687H4428H297717All the Israelites present in Jerusalem celebrated Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days.H1121H3478H4672H6213H6453H6256H2282H4682H7651H311718Never since the time of the prophet Samuel had there been such a Passover. None of the kings of Israel had ever kept a Passover as Josiah did, involving all the priests and Levites, all the people of Jerusalem, and people from all over Judah and Israel.H6453H3644H6213H3478H3117H8050H5030H6213H4428H3478H6213H6453H2977H6213H3548H3881H3063H3478H4672H3427H338919This Passover celebration took place in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign.H8083H6240H8141H4438H2977H6453H6213
Josiah Dies in Battle
20After Josiah had finished restoring the Temple, King Neco of Egypt led his army up from Egypt to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River, and Josiah and his army marched out to fight him.H310H2977H3559H1004H5224H4428H4714H5927H3898H3751H6578H2977H3318H712521But King Neco sent messengers to Josiah with this message: "What do you want with me, king of Judah? I have no quarrel with you today! I am on my way to fight another nation, and God has told me to hurry! Do not interfere with God, who is with me, or he will destroy you."H7971H4397H559H4428H3063H3117H1004H4421H430H559H926H2308H430H784322But Josiah refused to listen to Neco, to whom God had indeed spoken, and he would not turn back. Instead, he disguised himself and led his army into battle on the plain of Megiddo.H2977H5437H6440H2664H3898H8085H1697H5224H6310H430H935H3898H1237H402323But the enemy archers hit King Josiah with their arrows and wounded him. He cried out to his men, "Take me from the battle, for I am badly wounded!"H3384H3384H4428H2977H4428H559H5650H5674H3966H247024So they lifted Josiah out of his chariot and placed him in another chariot. Then they brought him back to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried there in the royal cemetery. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.H5650H5674H4818H7392H4932H7393H3212H3389H4191H6912H6913H1H3063H3389H56H297725The prophet Jeremiah composed funeral songs for Josiah, and to this day choirs still sing these sad songs about his death. These songs of sorrow have become a tradition and are recorded in The Book of Laments.H3414H6969H2977H7891H7891H559H2977H7015H3117H5414H2706H3478H3789H701526The rest of the events of Josiah's reign and his acts of devotion (carried out according to what was written in the Law of the LORD),H3499H1697H2977H2617H3789H8451H306827from beginning to end—all are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.H1697H7223H314H3789H5612H4428H3478H3063
2Chronicles 36
Jehoahaz Rules in Judah
36Then the people of the land took Josiah's son Jehoahaz and made him the next king in Jerusalem.H5971H776H3947H3059H1121H2977H4427H1H33892Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months.H3099H6242H7969H8141H1121H4427H4427H7969H2320H33893Then he was deposed by the king of Egypt, who demanded that Judah pay 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold as tribute.H4428H4714H5493H3389H6064H776H3967H3603H3701H3603H2091
Jehoiakim Rules in Judah
4The king of Egypt then installed Eliakim, the brother of Jehoahaz, as the next king of Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. Then Neco took Jehoahaz to Egypt as a prisoner.H4428H4714H471H251H4427H3063H3389H5437H8034H3079H5224H3947H3099H251H935H47145Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.H3079H6242H2568H8141H1121H4427H4427H259H6240H8141H3389H6213H7451H5869H3068H4306Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured it, and he bound Jehoiakim in bronze chains and led him away to Babylon.H5927H5019H4428H894H631H5178H3212H8947Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the treasures from the Temple of the LORD, and he placed them in his palace in Babylon.H5019H935H3627H1004H3068H894H5414H1964H8948The rest of the events in Jehoiakim's reign, including all the evil things he did and everything found against him, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Then his son Jehoiachin became the next king.H3499H1697H3079H8441H6213H4672H3789H5612H4428H3478H3063H3078H1121H4427
Jehoiachin Rules in Judah
9Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. Jehoiachin did what was evil in the LORD's sight.H3078H8083H8141H1121H4427H4427H7969H2320H6235H3117H3389H6213H7451H5869H306810In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin to Babylon. Many treasures from the Temple of the LORD were also taken to Babylon at that time. And Nebuchadnezzar installed Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, as the next king in Judah and Jerusalem.H8141H8666H4428H5019H7971H935H894H2532H3627H1004H3068H6667H251H4427H3063H3389
Zedekiah Rules in Judah
11Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years.H6667H259H6242H8141H1121H4427H4427H259H6240H8141H338912He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and he refused to humble himself when the prophet Jeremiah spoke to him directly from the LORD.H6213H7451H5869H3068H430H3665H6440H3414H5030H6310H306813He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God's name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the LORD, the God of Israel.H4775H4428H5019H7650H430H7185H6203H553H3824H7725H3068H430H347814Likewise, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful. They followed all the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, desecrating the Temple of the LORD that had been consecrated in Jerusalem.H8269H3548H5971H4603H4604H7235H8441H1471H2930H1004H3068H6942H338915The LORD, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple.H3068H430H1H7971H3027H4397H7925H7971H2550H5971H458316But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the LORD's anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done.H3931H4397H430H959H1697H8591H5030H2534H3068H5927H5971H4832
The Fall of Jerusalem
17So the LORD brought the king of Babylon against them. The Babylonians killed Judah's young men, even chasing after them into the Temple. They had no pity on the people, killing both young men and young women, the old and the infirm. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar.H5927H4428H3778H2026H970H2719H1004H4720H2550H970H1330H2205H3486H5414H302718The king took home to Babylon all the articles, large and small, used in the Temple of God, and the treasures from both the LORD's Temple and from the palace of the king and his officials.H3627H1004H430H1419H6996H214H1004H3068H214H4428H8269H935H89419Then his army burned the Temple of God, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, burned all the palaces, and completely destroyed everything of value.H8313H1004H430H5422H2346H3389H8313H759H784H7843H4261H362720The few who survived were taken as exiles to Babylon, and they became servants to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.H7611H2719H1540H894H5650H1121H4427H4438H653921So the message of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said.H4390H1697H3068H6310H3414H776H7521H7676H3117H8074H7673H4390H7657H8141
Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return
22In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom.H259H8141H3566H4428H6539H1697H3068H6310H3414H3615H3068H5782H7307H3566H4428H6539H5674H6963H4438H4385H55923"This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are the LORD's people may go there for this task. And may the LORD your God be with you!"H559H3566H4428H6539H4467H776H3068H430H8064H5414H6485H1129H1004H3389H3063H5971H3068H430H5927
Psalms 80
80[For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph, to be sung to the tune “Lilies of the Covenant.”] Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant gloryH5329H7802H4210H623H238H7462H3478H5090H3130H6629H3427H3742H33132to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Show us your mighty power. Come to rescue us!H6440H669H1144H4519H5782H1369H3212H34443Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.H7725H430H6440H215H34674O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, how long will you be angry with our prayers?H3068H430H6635H6225H8605H59715You have fed us with sorrow and made us drink tears by the bucketful.H398H3899H1832H1832H8248H79916You have made us the scorn of neighboring nations. Our enemies treat us as a joke.H7760H4066H7934H341H39327Turn us again to yourself, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.H7725H430H6635H6440H215H34678You brought us from Egypt like a grapevine; you drove away the pagan nations and transplanted us into your land.H5265H1612H4714H1644H1471H51939You cleared the ground for us, and we took root and filled the land.H6437H6440H8328H8327H4390H77610Our shade covered the mountains; our branches covered the mighty cedars.H2022H3680H6738H6057H410H73011We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea; our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River.H7971H7105H3220H3127H510412But now, why have you broken down our walls so that all who pass by may steal our fruit?H6555H1447H5674H1870H71713The wild boar from the forest devours it, and the wild animals feed on it.H2386H3293H3765H2123H7704H746214Come back, we beg you, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Look down from heaven and see our plight. Take care of this grapevineH7725H430H6635H5027H8064H7200H6485H161215that you yourself have planted, this son you have raised for yourself.H3657H3661H3225H5193H1121H55316For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies. May they perish at the sight of your frown.H8313H784H3683H6H1606H644017Strengthen the man you love, the son of your choice.H3027H376H3225H1121H120H55318Then we will never abandon you again. Revive us so we can call on your name once more.H5472H2421H7121H803419Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.H7725H3068H430H6635H6440H215H3467
Dublin, OH
.H2977
