Chapter XXXIV
8-18. He Repairs the Temple, in the eighteenth year of Ills reign ... he sent Shaphan—(see on 2 Kings
Ver. 1, 2. JosiAH's GooB Reign. 1. Josiah was eight years old—(see on 2 Kings 22. 1, 2). The testimony borne
22. 3-9).
19-33. And, causing the Law to be Rbab, Renews THE Covenant between God and the 1'eople. 19. when the king had Iteard the words of the law, &c.
to tlie undeviating steadfastness of his adherence to the cause of true religion places his character and reign in honovTftble contrast with those of many of his royal predecessors.
(see on 2 Kings 22. 11-20 ; 23. 1-3).
a-7. He Dkstkots Idolatry. 3. In the elglith year of his reign—This was the sixteenth year of his age, and, as the kings of .Tudah were considered minors till they had completed their thirteenth year, it was three years
CHAPTER XXXV.
Ver. 1-19. Josiah Keeps a Solemn Passover. 1. Moreover Josiah kept a passover—(see on 2 Kings 23. 21-
after he had attained majority. He had very early man-
23). The first nine verses give an account of the preparations made for the celebration of the solemn feast. The day appointed by the law was kept on this occasion (cf. ch. 30. 2, 13). The priests were ranged in their courses, and exhorted to be ready for their duties in the manner, that legal purity required (cf. ch. 29. 5). The Levites, the min-
ifested the piety and excellent dispositions of his charac-
ter. In tlie twelfth year of his reign, but the twentieth of his age, he began to take a lively interest in the purgation of his kingdom from all the monuments of idolatry which, in his father's short reign, had been erected; and, at a later period, his increasing zeal for securing the pur-
ity of Divine worship led him to superintend the work of demolition in various parts of his dominions. The course of the narrative in this passage is somewhat different from that followed in the book of Kings. For the historian, having made allusion to the early manifestation of Josiah's zeal, goes on with a full detail of all the measures this good king adopted for the extirpation of Idolatry, whereas the author of the book of Kings sets out with the cleansing of the temple, immediately previous to the celebration of the passover, and embraces that occasion
isters or instructors of the people in all matters pertaining to the Divine worship, were commanded (ti. 3) to " put the holy ark in the house which Solomon did build." Their duty was to transport the ark from place to place according to circumstances. .Some think that it had been Ignominiously put away from the sanctuary by order of some idolatrous king, probably Manasseh, who set a carved image in the house of God (ch. 33. 7), or Amon; while others are of opinion that it had been temporarily removed by Josiah himself into some adjoining chamber, during the repairs on the temple. In replacing it, the Levites had evidently carried it upon their shoulders, deeming that still to be the duty which the law imposed on them. But Josiah reminded them of tlie change of circumstances, when, as the service of God was now performed in a fixed and permanent temple, tliey were not required to be bearers of the ark any longer, and, being released from the service, they should address themselves with the greater alacrity to the discharge of other functions. 4. prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses i. e., each course or division was to be composed of tliose who belonged to the same fathers' house, according to the writing of David and . . . Solomon. Their injunctions are recorded
to give a general description of Josiah's policy for freeing the land from idolatrous pollution. The exact chronologi-
cal order is not followed either in Kings or Chronicles. But
11 is clearly recorded in both that the abolition of idolatry began in the twelfth and was completed in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign. Notwithstanding Josiah's undoubted sincerity and zeal, and the people's apparent compliance with the king's orders, he could not extinguish a strongly-rooted attachment to idolatries introduced in the early part of Manasseli's reign. This latent predilection appears unmistakably developed in the subsequent reigns, and the Divine decree for the removal of Judah, as well as Israel, into captivity was Irrevocably passed. 4. the graves of tliem that had sacrificed unto them. He treated the graves themselves as guilty of the crimes of those who were lying in them. [Bbrtheau.] 5. lie burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars —a greater brand of infamy could not .have been put on
(ch. 8. 14; 1 Chronicles 23.; 24.; 25.; 28). 5, stand in the holy place—in the court of the priests, the place where the victims were killed. The people were admitted according to their families In groups or companies of several households at a time. When the first company entered the court (which consisted commonly of as many as it could well hold), the gates were shut and the oITering was made. The Levites stood in rows from the slaughtering-places to the altar, and handed the blood and fat from one to another of the officiating priests (cli.
idolatrous priests than the disinterment of their bones, and a gi'eater defilement could not have been done to the altars of Idolatry than the burning upon them the bones of those who had there officiated in their lifetime. 6. -with their mattocks—or "In their deserts"—so that the verse will stand thus: "And so did (viz., break the altars, and burn the bones of priests) he In the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, in their deserted suburbs." The reader Is apt to be surprised on finding that Josiah, whose hereditary possessions were confined to the kingdom of Judah, exercised as much authority among the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, Simeon, and others as far as Naphtali, as he did within his own dominions; and, therefore. It is necessary to observe that, after the destruction of Samaria, by Shalmaneser, the remnant that continued on the mountains of Israel maintained a close Intercourse with Judah, and loolced to the sovereigns of that kingdom as their natural protectors. Those kings acquired great Influence over them, which Josiah exercised in removing every vestige of idolatry from the land. He could not have done this without the acquiescence of the people in the propriety of this proceeding, conscious that this was conformable to their an-
30. 16-18). 6. So kill the passover, &c.—The design of the minute directions given here was to facilitate the distribution of the paschal lambs. These were to be eaten by
the respective families according to their numljers (Exodus 12. 3). But multitudes of tlie people, especially those from Israel, having been reduced to poverty througli the Assyrian devastations, were to be provided witli the means of commemorating the passover; and, therefore, the king enjoined the Levites that when the paschal lambs were brought to them to be killed (7-9) they should take care to have everything put in so ordi^rly a train, that the lambs, after due presentation, miglit be easily delivered to the various families to be roasted and eaten by themselves apart. 7. Josiah gave to the people . . . lambs and kids—these were in all probability destined
for the poor ; a lamb or a kid might be used nt convenience (Exodus 12. 5). and . . . bullocks—which were offered
ii85
Josmh Keeps a Solemn Passover. 2 CHRONICLES XXXV. He is Slain at McfjiMo.
with the exception of a few from the kingdom of Israel, were confined to two tribes ; but it was the ardent devotion of the king and people, the disregard of purely traditional customs, and the unusually strict adherence, even In the smallest minutiee, to the forms of observance pre-
after the Iambs on each of the successive days of the
feast. 8. Ills princes—They gave to tlie priests and Leviles ; as those of Hezekiah's'princes (ch. 30. 24). They were ecclesiastical princes, viz., Hilkiah the high priest
(ch. 3-1. 9), Zechariah, probably the second priest of tlie Eleazar (2 Kings 10. 18), and Jehiel of the Ithamar, line. And as the Levitical tribes were not yet sufficiently provided (v. 9), some of tlieir eminent brethren wlio liad been distinguished in Hezekiah's time (ch. 31. 13-1.5), gave a large additional contribution for tlie use of the Levites exclusively. 10. So the service was prepared, Ac.—All the necessary preparations having been completed, and the appointed time arrived for the passover, the solemnity was celebrated. One remarkable feature in the account is the prominent part tliat was taken by tlie Levites in the preparation of tlie sacrifices, viz., the killing find stripping of the skins, which were properly the peculiar duties of the priests; but as those functionaries were notable to overtake the extraordinary amount of work, and the Levites had been duly sanctified for the service, tliey were enlisted for tlie time in this priestly employment. At the passover in Hezekiah's time, the Levites officiated in tlie same departments of duty, the reason assigned for that deviation from tlie establislied rule being the unprepared state of many of the people
scri bed in the book of the law, the discovery of an original copy of which had produced so great a sensation. Instead of "from the days of Samuel," the author of the book of Kings says, "from the days of the judges who judged Israel." The meaning is the same in both passages, for Samuel concluded the era of the judges, all Israel that were present—the great majority of tlie people of the northern kingdom were in exile, but some of the remaining inhabitants performed the Journey to Jerusalem on this occasion. 37,600 paschal lambs and kids were used, which, at ten to a company, would make 370,000 persons attending the feast. 19. In the eighteentli year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept—" It is said (.2 Kings 22. 3) that Josiah sent Sliaphan to Hilkiah in the eighth month of that year." If this statement rests upon an historical basis, all the events narrated here (from ch.
34. 8 to ch. 3.5. 19) must have happened in about the space of live months and a half. We should then have a proof that the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign was reckoned from the autumn (cf. ch. 29.3). "The eighth month" of the sacred year in the eighteenth year of his reign, would be the second month of his eighteenth year, an4 the first month of the new year would be the seventh niontli. [Bertheau.]
(cli. 30. 17). But on this occasion the whole people had been duly sanctified, and therefore the exceptional enlistment of the Levites' services must have been rendered unavoidably necessary from the multitudes engaged in celebrating the passover. IrJ. they removed the burnt offerings—Some of tlie small cattle being designed lor burnt ott'criiigs were put apart by themselves, that they miglit not be intermingled witli the paseliaf lambs, whicli were carefully selected according to certain rules, and intended to be sacramentally eaten; and the manner in wliich those burnt offerings were presented seems to have been the following: "All the subdivisions of the
20^-27. His Death. 20. After all this, when Josiah liad prepared tine temple—lie most probably calculated that lie restoration of the Divine worship, with tlie revival )f vit.al religion in the land, would lead, according to ood's promise, and the uniform experience of the Hebrew people, to a period of settled peace and increased prosperity. His hopes were disappointed. The bright interval of tranquillity that followed his rc-establishnient of the true religion was brief. But it must l)e ob.servcil that this interruption did not proceed from any unli'ilhfulness in the Divine promise, but from the state into wliich the kingdom of Judali had brought itself by the national apostasy, which was drawing down upon it the long threatened but long deferred judgments of tiod. Neriio king of Egypt came ... to hglit against Carcliemlsh by Euplirates— Necho, son of I'samuieli-
difl'ereiit fathers' houses came one after another to the altar in solemn procession to bring to the priests the portions which had been cut off, and the priests laid these pieces upon tlie fire of the altar of burnt offering." 13. they roasted the passover according to the ordinance —(see Exodus 12. 7-9). This mode of preparation was prescribed by the law exclusively for the paschal lamb, the other offerings and thank offerings were cooked in pots, kettles and pans (1 Samuel 2. H). divided them speedily among the people—The haste was either owing to the multiiUicity of the priests' business, or because the heat and flavour of the viands would have been otherwise diminished. Hence it appears that the meal consisted not of the paschal lambs alone, but of tlie meat of the thank offerings—for part of the flesh fell to the portion of the offerer, who, being In this Instance, the king and the princes, were by them made over to the people, who were recommended to eat them the day they were offered, though not absolutely forbidden to do so on the next (Leviticus 7. 15-18). 14. afterwards they made . . . for themselves and for the priests—The Levites rendered this aid to the priests solely from their being so engrossed the entire day that they had no leisure to provide any refreshments for themselves. 15. And the singers,
cus, succeeded to the throne of Egypt In the twentieth year of Josiah. He was a bold and enterprising king, who entered with all his heart into the struggle which the two great powers of Egypt and Assyria had long carried on for the political ascendency.
ICacli, jealous of the aggressive movements of its rival, was desirous to maintain Palestine as a trout ier barrier. After the overthrow of Israel, the kingdom of Jndah became in that respect doubly Important, and although the king and people had a strong bias for alliance with Egypt, yet from the time of Manasseh It had become a vassal of Assyria, and Josiah, true to his polltlcaJ no less than his religious engagements, thought himself bound to support the Interests of his Assyrian liege-lord. Hence, when "Neelio king of Egypt came up to fight against Carcliemlsh, Josiah went out against him." t'arcliemish, (.m the eastern side of the Eiii>hrates, was the key of Assyria on the west, and In going thither the king of Egypt would transport his troops by sea along the coast of I'alestine, nortliwai'ds. Josiah, as a faithful vassal, resolved to oppose Neclio's march across the northern parts of that country. They met In the "valley of Meglddo," i.e., the valley or plain of Esdraelon. The Egyptian king had come either by water or through the iilains of I'lilllstia, keeping constantly along the coast, round the north-west corner of Carmel, and so ^o the great jilalii of Meglddo. This was not only his direct way to the Euphrates, hut the only route fit for his chariots, whlh' thereby also he
&c., were in their place—While the priests and people \vere so much engaged, the choir were not idle. Tlicy had to sing certain i)salms, viz., 113. to 118. inclusive, once, twice, and even a third time, during the continuance of each company of offerers. As they could not leave their posts, therefore, for the singing was resumed as every
fresli com|)any entered, the Levites prepared for them also; for the various bands relieved each otlu?r in funis, and while the •general choir were doing duty, a portion of the tuneful brethren, relieved for a time, purlooU of the viands that wt^re brought them. 18. tliere was no passover lihe to lliat l<ept in Israel from the days of Samuel—One feature by which this passover was illstiugulshed was the liberality of .losiah. ISnt what distinguished It above all preceding solemnities was, not the Imposing grandeur of the ceremonies, nor the iiiiiiKMislty of the assembled concourse of worshijipers, for these, 286
lelt .luduli and Jerusah'iii <iulto t<t his right. In tliU valley, liowev<-r, the Egyptian army had iiiccssarily to strike across the country, and It was on that occasion that JoHiah could most conveniently Intercept his passago. To avoid the dilUculty of pa.ssliig the river Klshou,
Jehoahaz is Deposed by Pharaoh. 2 CHRONICLES XXXVI. Jehoiakim is Carried Captive to Babylon,
Necho kept to the south of it, and must, therefore, have come past Megiddo. Joslah, iu following with his char-
leisure towards Rlblah, laid a tribute on the country, raised Elialtim (Jehoiakim) as his vassal to the tlirone, and on liis departure brotfght .Jehoahaz captive witli liira to Ribluh. The old expositors mostly assumed that Neclio, after the battle of Megiddo, marched directly against Careheniish, and then on Ills return came to Jerusalem. The impiobabilily, indeed the impossibility, of his doing so appears from this: that Carelieiuish was from four hundred to Ave hundred miles from Megiddo, so liiat witliin "three months" an army could not possibly make its way thither, conquer the fenced city of Careheniish, and then mai'ch back a still greater distance to Jerusalem, and take that city. [Keil.] an hundred talents of silver— £3418 l.5s. and a talent of gold—
lots and horsemen from Jerusalem, had to marcli northwards along the highway tlirough Samaria by Kefr-Kiid
(the ancient Caper-Cotia) to Megiddo. [Van de Velde.]
iSl. Bnt lie sent ambassadors . . . Wliat Uave I to do wltli tliee, tliou king of Judahl—Not wisliing to spend time or strength in vain, Neclio informed tlie liing of Judah tiiat lie had no intention of molesting the Jews; that his expedition was directed solely against his old Assyrian enemy; and that he hatl undertaken it by an express commission from God. Commentators are not agreed whether it was really a Divine commission given him through Jeremiah, or whether he merely used the name of God as an authority that Josiah would not refuse to obey. As he could not know the truth of Necho's declaration, Josiali did not sin in opposing him, or, if lie sinned at all, it was a sin of ignorance. The engagement took place. Josiah was mortally wounded. 24. took lilm out of tliat chariot, and put htm in the second chariot—the carriage he had for ordinary use, and whicli would be more comfortable for the royal sufferer than the war-chariot. The death of this good king was the subject of universal and lasting regret. 25. Jeremiah lamented for Josiali, &c.—The elegy of the prophet has not reached us ; but It seems to have been long preserved among his countrymen, and chaunted on certain public occasions by the professional singers, who proljably got the dirges they sang from a collection of funeral odes composed on the death of good and great men of the nation. Tlie spot in the valley of Megiddo where the battle was fought was near the town of Hadad-rimmon
£5475; total amount of tribute, £88^3 15s. carried him (Jehoahaz) to Egypt—there he died (Jeremiali 22. 10-12).
5-8. Jehoiakim, Reigning III, i.s Cariiied into Babylon. 5. Jehoiakim . . . did that which was evil In the sight of the Lord i. e., he followed tlie course of his idolatrous predecessors, and tlie people, to a great extent, disinclined to tlie reforming policy of his fatlier, eagerly availed themselves of the vicious license whicii his lax administration restored. His cliaracter is portrayed with a masterly hand in the propliecy of Jeremiali (ch. 22. 13-19). As the deputy of tlie king of Egypt, he departed further than his predecessor from the {irinciples of Josiah's government; and, in trying to meet the insatiable cupidity of his master by grinding exactions from his subjects, he recklessly plunged into all evil. 6. Against him came up IVehuchadnezzar king of Babylon—This refers to the flrst expedition of Nebuchadnezzar against Palestine, in the lifetime of his father Nabopolassar, who, being old and infirm, adopted Ills son as joint-sovereign, and despatched him, with the command of his army, against the Egyptian invaders of his empire. Nebuchadnezzar defeated them at Carchemish, and drove them out of Asia, and reduced all the provinces west of the Euphrates to obedience—among the rest
hence the lamentation for the death of Josiah was called "the lamentation of Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo," which was so great and so long continued, that the lamentation of Hadad passed afterwards into a proverbial phra.se to express any great and extraordinary Horrow (Zechariab 12. 11).
tlie kingdom of Jehoiakim, who became a vassal of the Assyrian empire (2 Kings 24. 1). Jelioiakim at the end of three years threw off the yoke, being probably instigated to revolt by the solicitations of the king of Egypt, wlio planned a new expedition against Carchemisli. But he was completely vanquished by the Baliy Ionian king, who stripped him of ail his possessions between tlie Euphrates and the Nile (2 Kings 24. 7). Then marching against the Egyptian's ally in Judah, he took Jerusalem, carried away a portion of the sacred vessels of tlie temple, perhaps in lieu of the unpaid tribute, anil deposited them in the temple of his god, Belus, at Babylon (Daniel 1. 2; 5. 2), Though Jehoiakim had been talteii prisoner, and it was designed at first to transport him in cliains to Babylon, he was allowed to remain in iiis tributary kingdom. But having given not long after some new offence, Jerusalem was besieged by a host of Assj'rian dependants—iu a sally against whom Jehoiakim was killed (see on 2 Kings 24.2-7; also Jeremiah 22.18, 19; 3G. 30). 9. Jeholachin was eight years old—called also .Teconiah or Coniah (Jeremiah 22. 23)—" eight" should have been "eighteen," as appears from 2 Kings 24. S, and also from the