Josiah Restores the Passover
(2 Kings 23:21–27)

1  וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (And made) יֹאשִׁיָּ֧הוּ (Josiah) בִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (in Jerusalem) פֶּ֖סַח (a Passover) לַיהוָ֑ה (to YHWH), וַיִּשְׁחֲט֣וּ (and they slaughtered) הַפֶּ֔סַח (the Passover) בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה (on the four) עָשָׂ֖ר (and tenth) לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ (of the month) הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ (first). 2  וַיַּעֲמֵ֥ד (And he set) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (the priests) עַל־ (over) מִשְׁמְרוֹתָ֑ם (their charges) וַֽיְחַזְּקֵ֔ם (and he strengthened them) לַעֲבוֹדַ֖ת (for the service) בֵּ֥ית (of the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

3  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לַ֠לְוִיִּם (to the Levites) הַמְּבוּנִים (who taught) לְכָל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (Israel), הַקְּדוֹשִׁ֣ים (who were holy) לַיהוָ֗ה (to YHWH), תְּנ֤וּ (Put) אֶת־ (-) אֲרוֹן־ (ark) הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ (the holy) בַּ֠בַּיִת (in the house) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) בָּנָ֜ה (built) שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה (Solomon) בֶן־ (son) דָּוִיד֙ (of David) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel). אֵין־ (Not) לָכֶ֥ם (to you⁺) מַשָּׂ֖א (is it a burden) בַּכָּתֵ֑ף (on the shoulder). עַתָּ֗ה (Now) עִבְדוּ֙ (serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ God) וְאֵ֖ת (and) עַמּ֥וֹ (His people) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel). 4  וְהָכִ֥ונוּ (And prepare) לְבֵית־ (by the house) אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם (of your⁺ fathers), כְּמַחְלְקוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (according to your⁺ divisions), בִּכְתָ֗ב (by the writing) דָּוִיד֙ (of David) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) וּבְמִכְתַּ֖ב (and by the writing) שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה (of Solomon) בְנֽוֹ׃ (his son).

5  וְעִמְד֣וּ (And stand) בַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ (in the Holy Place) לִפְלֻגּוֹת֙ (according to the divisions) בֵּ֣ית (of houses) הָֽאָב֔וֹת (of the fathers) לַאֲחֵיכֶ֖ם (of your⁺ brothers), בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) הָעָ֑ם (of the people), וַחֲלֻקַּ֥ת (and by the division) בֵּֽית־ (of the house) אָ֖ב (of a father) לַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (of the Levites). 6  וְשַׁחֲט֖וּ (And slaughter) הַפָּ֑סַח (the Passover), וְהִתְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ (and consecrate yourselves), וְהָכִ֣ינוּ (and prepare them) לַאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם (for your⁺ brothers), לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (that they may do) כִּדְבַר־ (according to the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) בְּיַד־ (by the hand) מֹשֶֽׁה׃פ (of Moses).

7  וַיָּ֣רֶם (And gave) יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ (Josiah) לִבְנֵ֪י (to the sons) הָעָ֟ם (of the people) צֹ֞אן (from the flock) כְּבָשִׂ֣ים (of lambs) וּבְנֵֽי־ (and sons) עִזִּים֮ (of female goats), הַכֹּ֣ל (all) לַפְּסָחִים֒ (for the Passovers) לְכָל־ (for all) הַנִּמְצָ֗א (who were present), לְמִסְפַּר֙ (to the number) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (of thirty) אֶ֔לֶף (thousand), וּבָקָ֖ר (and as well as cattle) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (three) אֲלָפִ֑ים (thousand) אֵ֖לֶּה (these were) מֵרְכ֥וּשׁ (from the possessions) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ס (of the king).

8  וְשָׂרָ֞יו (And his leaders) לִנְדָבָ֥ה (for a freewill offering) לָעָ֛ם (to the people), לַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים (to the priests), וְלַלְוִיִּ֖ם (and to the Levites) הֵרִ֑ימוּ (lifted up). חִלְקִיָּ֨ה (Hilkiah) וּזְכַרְיָ֜הוּ (and Zechariah) וִֽיחִיאֵ֗ל (and Jehiel), נְגִידֵי֙ (rulers) בֵּ֣ית (of the house) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), לַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים (to the priests) נָתְנ֣וּ (gave) לַפְּסָחִ֗ים (for the Passovers) אַלְפַּ֙יִם֙ (two thousand) וְשֵׁ֣שׁ (and six) מֵא֔וֹת (hundred), וּבָקָ֖ר (and bulls) שְׁלֹ֥שׁ (three) מֵאֽוֹת׃ (hundred). 9  וְכָונַנְיָהוּ (And Conaniah) וּשְׁמַֽעְיָ֨הוּ (and Shemaiah) וּנְתַנְאֵ֜ל (and Nethanel) אֶחָ֗יו (his brothers), וַחֲשַׁבְיָ֧הוּ (and Hashabiah) וִיעִיאֵ֛ל (and Jeiel) וְיוֹזָבָ֖ד (and Jozabad) שָׂרֵ֣י (chiefs) הַלְוִיִּ֑ם (of the Levites) הֵרִ֨ימוּ (lifted up) לַלְוִיִּ֤ם (to the Levites) לַפְּסָחִים֙ (for the Passovers) חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת (five) אֲלָפִ֔ים (thousand), וּבָקָ֖ר (and bulls) חֲמֵ֥שׁ (five) מֵאֽוֹת׃ (hundred).

10  וַתִּכּ֖וֹן (And was prepared) הָעֲבוֹדָ֑ה (the service), וַיַּֽעַמְד֨וּ (and stood) הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים (the priests) עַל־ (in) עָמְדָ֛ם (their places), וְהַלְוִיִּ֥ם (and the Levites) עַל־ (according to) מַחְלְקוֹתָ֖ם (their divisions), כְּמִצְוַ֥ת (according to command) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king). 11  וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ (And they slaughtered) הַפָּ֑סַח (the Passover), וַיִּזְרְק֤וּ (and splattered) הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ (the priests) מִיָּדָ֔ם (with their hands), וְהַלְוִיִּ֖ם (and the Levites) מַפְשִׁיטִֽים׃ (skinned). 12  וַיָּסִ֨ירוּ (And they turned aside) הָעֹלָ֜ה (the burnt offering), לְ֠תִתָּם (to give) לְמִפְלַגּ֤וֹת (to the divisions) לְבֵית־ (of the house) אָבוֹת֙ (of the fathers) לִבְנֵ֣י (for the sons) הָעָ֔ם (of the people), לְהַקְרִיב֙ (to offer) לַיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH) כַּכָּת֖וּב (aswritten) בְּסֵ֣פֶר (in the Book) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (of Moses); וְכֵ֖ן (and likewise) לַבָּקָֽר׃ (with the bulls).

13  וַֽיְבַשְּׁל֥וּ (And they roasted) הַפֶּ֛סַח (the Passover) בָּאֵ֖שׁ (with the fire) כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט (according to the ordinance), וְהַקֳּדָשִׁ֣ים (and the holy things) בִּשְּׁל֗וּ (they boiled) בַּסִּיר֤וֹת (in the pots), וּבַדְּוָדִים֙ (and in the kettles), וּבַצֵּ֣לָח֔וֹת (and in the pans), וַיָּרִ֖יצוּ (and quickly brought them) לְכָל־ (to all) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) הָעָֽם׃ (of the people). 14  וְאַחַ֗ר (And afterward) הֵכִ֤ינוּ (they prepared) לָהֶם֙ (for themselves) וְלַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (and for the priests), כִּ֤י (since) הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ (the priests), בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (of Aaron), בְּהַֽעֲל֛וֹת (were offering up) הָעוֹלָ֥ה (the burnt offering) וְהַחֲלָבִ֖ים (and the fat) עַד־ (until) לָ֑יְלָה (night); וְהַלְוִיִּם֙ (and the Levites) הֵכִ֣ינוּ (made preparations) לָהֶ֔ם (for themselves) וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (and for the priests), בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) אַהֲרֹֽן׃ (of Aaron).

15  וְהַמְשֹֽׁרֲרִ֨ים (And the singers), בְּנֵי־ (the sons) אָסָ֜ף (of Asaph), עַל־ (on) מַעֲמָדָ֗ם (their station), כְּמִצְוַ֤ת (according to the command) דָּוִיד֙ (of David), וְאָסָ֞ף (and Asaph), וְהֵימָ֤ן (and Heman), וִֽידֻתוּן֙ (and Jeduthun) חוֹזֵ֣ה (seer) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king). וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֖ים (And the gatekeepers) לְשַׁ֣עַר (were at gate) וָשָׁ֑עַר (and gate); אֵ֣ין (not) לָהֶ֗ם (they) לָסוּר֙ (did turn aside) מֵעַ֣ל (from upon) עֲבֹֽדָתָ֔ם (their position), כִּֽי־ (because) אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם (their brothers) הַלְוִיִּ֖ם (the Levites) הֵכִ֥ינוּ (made preparations) לָהֶֽם׃ (for them).

16  וַ֠תִּכּוֹן (And was prepared) כָּל־ (all) עֲבוֹדַ֨ת (the service) יְהוָ֜ה (of YHWH) בַּיּ֤וֹם (on the day) הַהוּא֙ (that), לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת (to keep) הַפֶּ֔סַח (the Passover) וְהַעֲל֣וֹת (and to cause to ascend) עֹל֔וֹת (burnt offerings) עַ֖ל (on) מִזְבַּ֣ח (the altar) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), כְּמִצְוַ֖ת (according to the command) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (of King) יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ (Josiah). 17  וַיַּעֲשׂ֨וּ (And kept) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל (of Israel) הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֛ים (who were present) אֶת־ (-) הַפֶּ֖סַח (the Passover) בָּעֵ֣ת (at the time) הַהִ֑יא (that), וְאֶת־ (and) חַ֥ג (the Feast) הַמַּצּ֖וֹת (of the Unleavened) שִׁבְעַ֥ת (seven) יָמִֽים׃ (days). 18  וְלֹֽא־ (And not) נַעֲשָׂ֨ה (had been kept) פֶ֤סַח (a Passover) כָּמֹ֙הוּ֙ (like that) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (in Israel) מִימֵ֖י (since the days) שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל (of Samuel) הַנָּבִ֑יא (the prophet) וְכָל־ (and) מַלְכֵ֣י (of the kings) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל׀ (of Israel). לֹֽא־ (None) עָשׂ֡וּ (had kept) כַּפֶּ֣סַח (a Passover) אֲשֶׁר־ (as) עָשָׂ֣ה (kept) יֹֽ֠אשִׁיָּהוּ (by Josiah), וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים (and the priests), וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם (and the Levites), וְכָל־ (and all) יְהוּדָה֙ (Judah) וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (and Israel) הַנִּמְצָ֔א (who were present), וְיוֹשְׁבֵ֖י (and the dwellers) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס (of Jerusalem). 19  בִּשְׁמוֹנֶ֤ה (In the eight) עֶשְׂרֵה֙ (and tenth) שָׁנָ֔ה (year) לְמַלְכ֖וּת (of the reign) יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ (of Josiah) נַעֲשָׂ֖ה (was kept) הַפֶּ֥סַח (the Passover) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

The Death of Josiah
(2 Kings 23:28–30)

20  אַחֲרֵ֣י (After) כָל־ (all) זֹ֗את (this), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (when) הֵכִ֤ין (had prepared) יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ (Josiah) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֔יִת (the house), עָלָ֞ה (came up) נְכ֧וֹ (Neco) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) מִצְרַ֛יִם (of Egypt) לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם (to fight) בְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ (against Carchemish) עַל־ (by) פְּרָ֑ת (the Euphrates), וַיֵּצֵ֥א (and went out) לִקְרָאת֖וֹ (to meet him) יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ (Josiah). 21  וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (And he sent) אֵלָ֣יו (to him) מַלְאָכִ֣ים׀ (messengers), לֵאמֹר֩׀ (saying), מַה־ (What) לִּ֨י (have I to do) וָלָ֜ךְ (and with you), מֶ֣לֶךְ (O king) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah)? לֹא־ (Not) עָלֶ֨יךָ (against) אַתָּ֤ה (you) הַיּוֹם֙ (this day), כִּ֚י (but) אֶל־ (against) בֵּ֣ית (the house) מִלְחַמְתִּ֔י (I am fighting), וֵאלֹהִ֖ים (and for God) אָמַ֣ר (told me) לְבַֽהֲלֵ֑נִי (to hurry). חֲדַל־ (Cease) לְךָ֛ (for yourself) מֵאֱלֹהִ֥ים (from God) אֲשֶׁר־ (who is) עִמִּ֖י (with me), וְאַל־ (and not) יַשְׁחִיתֶֽךָ׃ (He will destroy you).

22  וְלֹֽא־ (And not) הֵסֵב֩ (did turn) יֹאשִׁיָּ֨הוּ (Josiah) פָנָ֜יו (his face) מִמֶּ֗נּוּ (from him). כִּ֤י (But) לְהִלָּחֵֽם־ (to fight) בּוֹ֙ (against him) הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ (he disguised himself), וְלֹ֥א (and not) שָׁמַ֛ע (did he listen) אֶל־ (to) דִּבְרֵ֥י (the words) נְכ֖וֹ (of Neco) מִפִּ֣י (from the mouth) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God); וַיָּבֹ֕א (and he came) לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם (to fight) בְּבִקְעַ֥ת (on the Plain) מְגִדּֽוֹ׃ (of Megiddo). 23  וַיֹּרוּ֙ (And the archers) הַיֹּרִ֔ים (shot) לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (King) יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ (Josiah), וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (and said) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (the king) לַעֲבָדָיו֙ (to his servants), הַעֲבִיר֔וּנִי (Take me away), כִּ֥י (for) הָחֳלֵ֖יתִי (I am wounded) מְאֹֽד׃ (severely).

24  וַיַּֽעֲבִירֻ֨הוּ (And took him out) עֲבָדָ֜יו (His servants) מִן־ (from) הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֗ה (the chariot), וַֽיַּרְכִּיבֻהוּ֮ (and they made him ride) עַ֣ל (in) רֶ֣כֶב (chariot) הַמִּשְׁנֶה֮ (the second) אֲשֶׁר־ (that was) לוֹ֒ (unto him), וַיּוֹלִיכֻ֙הוּ֙ (and they brought him) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (to Jerusalem). וַיָּ֕מָת (And he died) וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר (and was buried) בְּקִבְר֣וֹת (in the tombs) אֲבֹתָ֑יו (of his fathers). וְכָל־ (And all) יְהוּדָה֙ (Judah) וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (and Jerusalem) מִֽתְאַבְּלִ֖ים (mourned) עַל־ (for) יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃פ (Josiah).

Laments over Josiah

25  וַיְקוֹנֵ֣ן (And lamented) יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ (Jeremiah) עַל־ (for) יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ֒ (Josiah), וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (and spoke) כָֽל־ (all) הַשָּׁרִ֣ים׀ (the singers) וְ֠הַשָּׁרוֹת (and the songstresses) בְּקִינ֨וֹתֵיהֶ֤ם (in their lamentations) עַל־ (over) יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ (Josiah). עַד־ (To) הַיּ֔וֹם (this day) וַיִּתְּנ֥וּם (and they made it) לְחֹ֖ק (a custom) עַל־ (in) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), וְהִנָּ֥ם (and behold) כְּתוּבִ֖ים (they are written) עַל־ (in) הַקִּינֽוֹת׃ (the Laments).

26  וְיֶ֛תֶר (And the rest) דִּבְרֵ֥י (of the acts) יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ (of Josiah), וַחֲסָדָ֑יו (and his loving devotions) כַּכָּת֖וּב (according to what is written) בְּתוֹרַ֥ת (in the Law) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH), 27  וּדְבָרָ֕יו (and his deeds) הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים (from the first) וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים (and to the last), הִנָּ֣ם (indeed) כְּתוּבִ֔ים (they are written) עַל־ (in) סֵ֥פֶר (the Book) מַלְכֵֽי־ (of the Kings) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) וִיהוּדָֽה׃ (and Judah).