Josiah’s Passover was the greatest celebration of God’s deliverance since the era of the judges, reminding us that renewal often begins with a return to genuine worship and obedience to God’s Word.
When King Josiah celebrated the Passover in his eighteenth year, the Scripture tells us that “Surely such a Passover had not been celebrated from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and of the kings of Judah.” (v.22) The passage emphasizes Josiah’s wholehearted dedication to restore proper worship in Judah, especially after discovering the book of the Law in the temple. This was a momentous event in the history of God’s people: Josiah cleared away idols, reestablished the covenant, and brought the entire community together to observe the Passover in a manner that reflected the ancient instructions given through Moses (2 Chronicles 35:1-19). Although many kings passed before him, none had led the nation to uphold the Passover with such complete obedience.
By highlighting the fact that there had been no Passover like this since the days of the judges, 2 Kings 23:22 calls special attention to Judah’s long-standing neglect of God’s commands. Instead of following the covenant with devotion, previous generations became entangled with foreign gods and practices. Josiah’s reforms sought to return Judah to the pure worship of Yahweh, restoring not only ritual observances but also the people's hearts toward God. His efforts remind us that any revival—whether ancient or modern—starts with an earnest return to Scripture, a removal of false idols, and a renewed desire to honor God’s covenant.
Believers can see in Josiah’s Passover a foreshadowing of Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), who fulfills the meaning of deliverance from bondage and brings salvation to all who trust in Him. Through Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), the entire message of these ancient observances is transformed and completed: the faithful who gather around Him experience the grace and holiness that Josiah longed to reestablish in Judah.
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2 Kings 23:22 meaning
When King Josiah celebrated the Passover in his eighteenth year, the Scripture tells us that “Surely such a Passover had not been celebrated from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and of the kings of Judah.” (v.22) The passage emphasizes Josiah’s wholehearted dedication to restore proper worship in Judah, especially after discovering the book of the Law in the temple. This was a momentous event in the history of God’s people: Josiah cleared away idols, reestablished the covenant, and brought the entire community together to observe the Passover in a manner that reflected the ancient instructions given through Moses (2 Chronicles 35:1-19). Although many kings passed before him, none had led the nation to uphold the Passover with such complete obedience.
By highlighting the fact that there had been no Passover like this since the days of the judges, 2 Kings 23:22 calls special attention to Judah’s long-standing neglect of God’s commands. Instead of following the covenant with devotion, previous generations became entangled with foreign gods and practices. Josiah’s reforms sought to return Judah to the pure worship of Yahweh, restoring not only ritual observances but also the people's hearts toward God. His efforts remind us that any revival—whether ancient or modern—starts with an earnest return to Scripture, a removal of false idols, and a renewed desire to honor God’s covenant.
Believers can see in Josiah’s Passover a foreshadowing of Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), who fulfills the meaning of deliverance from bondage and brings salvation to all who trust in Him. Through Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), the entire message of these ancient observances is transformed and completed: the faithful who gather around Him experience the grace and holiness that Josiah longed to reestablish in Judah.