“Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.”
The Scripture useth in sundry places to call the lamb the Passover, which was but the sign of the Passover, because in all sacraments the signs have the names of the things which are signified. Cross references: : 2 Kings 23:21
“And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,”
As it was before the Temple was built: therefore your office only is now to teach the people, and to praise God. So that the Levite’s charge was not only to minister in the Temple, but also to instruct the people in the word of God.
“So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.”
Exhort everyone to examine themselves, that they be not unmeet to eat of the Passover.
“Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen. gave: Heb. offered”
So that everyone and of all sorts gave of that they had, a liberal portion to the service of God.
“And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.”
Meaning, of the Lamb, which was called the Passover: for only the Priests might sprinkle, and in necessity the Levites might kill the sacrifice.
“And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people , to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.”
They reserved for the people that which was not expedient to be offered, that every man might offer peace offerings, and so have his portion.
“And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them. place: Heb. station”
Meaning hereby his Prophet, because he appointed the Psalms and prophecies which were to be sung. 1 Chron. 25:1
“In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.”
Which was in his six and twentieth year of his age.
“After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. temple: Heb. house”
2 Kings 23:29 Which was a city of the Assyrians, and Josiah fearing lest he passing through Judah, would have taken his kingdom, made war against him, and consulted not with the Lord. Or, Euphrates.
“Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.”
That is, armed himself, or disguised himself, because he might not be known.
“His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. in one: or, among the sepulchres”
The people so much lamented the loss of this good king, that after when there was any great lamentation this was spoken of as a proverb, read Zech. 12:11 .
“And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.”
Which some think Jeremiah made, wherein he lamenteth the state of the Church after this king’s death.