2 Chronicles 35:12
They set aside the burnt offerings to be given to the divisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD, as is written in the Book of Moses; and they did the same with the bulls.
They set aside the burnt offerings

The Levites prepared the animals for the Passover sacrifices, separating the portions required for the burnt offerings. Their careful work enabled the people to present their offerings in the manner God had commanded.

Num 28:3-4 And tell them that this is the food offering…
Lev 1:3-9 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd,…
Exo 29:38-42 This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar…

to be given to the divisions of the families of the people

The offerings were distributed according to the family groups gathered in Jerusalem. This arrangement allowed each household to participate in the national observance while preserving the order established for Israel’s worship.

2Ch 31:2 Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests…
1Ch 24:1-19 These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron…
1Ch 23:6-32 Then David divided the Levites into divisions…

to offer to the LORD,

The sacrifices were presented to the covenant God of Israel as acts of obedience and worship. Josiah’s Passover was marked by a deliberate return to the worship required in the Law.

Deu 16:2 You are to offer to the LORD your God the Passover sacrifice…
Exo 12:27 It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD,…
Lev 17:5-6 For this reason the Israelites will bring to the LORD…

as it is written in the Book of Moses.

The priests and Levites followed the instructions God had given through Moses rather than adapting the service to their own preferences. The restored Passover was grounded in the written requirements of the Law.

Ezr 6:18 They also appointed the priests by their divisions…
Jos 8:31-35 just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD…
Deu 31:24-26 When Moses had finished writing in a book…

And they did the same with the bulls.

The same orderly preparation was made for the bulls used in the sacrifices. The large number of animals reflects the scale of the gathering and the thoroughness with which the leaders carried out the prescribed worship.

Lev 1:10-13 If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering…
Num 15:8-10 When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering…
1Ki 8:63 And Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Josiah
The King of Judah who initiated religious reforms and restored the observance of the Passover.

2. Levites
The tribe assigned to religious duties, including the preparation and distribution of offerings.

3. The Book of Moses
Refers to the Torah, particularly the instructions regarding sacrifices and offerings.

4. Passover
A significant Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, which Josiah reinstated.

5. Jerusalem
The central place of worship where the Passover was celebrated.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Word
Josiah's actions highlight the importance of aligning our practices with Scripture. We should seek to understand and apply God's Word in our lives.

Role of Leadership in Spiritual Renewal
Josiah's leadership was pivotal in leading the nation back to God. Spiritual leaders today have a responsibility to guide others in truth and righteousness.

Community Worship and Participation
The distribution of offerings to the families underscores the communal aspect of worship. Our faith is strengthened when we participate in corporate worship and fellowship.

Preservation of Tradition
By adhering to the instructions in the "Book of Moses," Josiah preserved the traditions that honored God. We should value and maintain the traditions that align with biblical truth.

Holistic Worship
The preparation and offering of sacrifices involved the whole community, indicating that worship is not just a personal act but a collective expression of faith.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Josiah's adherence to the "Book of Moses" challenge us to prioritize Scripture in our daily lives?

2. In what ways can spiritual leaders today emulate Josiah's example in leading others toward God?

3. How can we foster a sense of community and shared worship in our local church or fellowship group?

4. What traditions or practices in your life or church align with biblical teachings, and how can they be preserved or enhanced?

5. Reflect on a time when communal worship strengthened your faith. How can you encourage others to engage in corporate worship?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 12
Provides the original instructions for the Passover, which Josiah sought to follow.

Leviticus 1-7
Details the laws concerning burnt offerings and other sacrifices, which are referenced in the "Book of Moses."

2 Kings 23
Offers a parallel account of Josiah's reforms and the celebration of the Passover.

Deuteronomy 16
Discusses the observance of Passover and other feasts, emphasizing adherence to God's commands.
The Great Passover of JosiahT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 35:1-19
The Service of the LordW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 35:6-16
People
Aaron, Asaph, Charchemish, Conaniah, David, Hashabiah, Heman, Hilkiah, Jeduthun, Jehiel, Jeiel, Jeremiah, Josiah, Jozabad, Levites, Necho, Nethaneel, Samuel, Shemaiah, Solomon
Places
Carchemish, Egypt, Euphrates River, Holy Place, Jerusalem, Megiddo
Topics
Apart, Aside, Book, Bring, Bulls, Burned, Burnt, Burnt-offering, Burnt-offerings, Cattle, Classes, Distribute, Divisions, Families, Fathers, Groupings, Households, Houses, Lay, Offer, Offered, Offerings, Oxen, Portions, Present, Recorded, Removed, Sections, Sons, Subdivisions, Turn, Written
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 35:12

     1611   Scripture, inspiration and authority
     5232   book

2 Chronicles 35:1-19

     7245   Judah, kingdom of
     8466   reformation

2 Chronicles 35:10-13

     4605   animals, religious role

Library
Cheer Up, My Comrades!
The first thing is to get every man into his proper place; the next thing is for every man to have a good spirit in his present place, so as to occupy it worthily. I will suppose, dear friends, that in the providence of God you are in your place, and that by the direction of God's Spirit you have also sought and found the precise form of usefulness in which you ought to exercise yourself. To-night it shall not be my business to arrange you; but assuming that it is well for you to keep where you are,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 26: 1880

The New Temple and Its Worship
'And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo: and they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16. And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Importance in Luke's History of the Story of the Birth of Christ
IT needs no proof that Luke attached the highest importance to this part of his narrative. That Jesus was indicated from the beginning as the Messiah -- though not a necessary part of his life and work, and wholly omitted by Mark and only briefly indicated in mystical language by John -- was a highly interesting and important fact in itself, and could not fail to impress the historian. The elaboration and detail of the first two chapters of the Gospel form a sufficient proof that Luke recognized
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem?

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
"Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place."--2 Kings
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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