1046 - Israel Celebrates Passover

Israel Celebrates Passover


When everything was ready for the Passover celebration, the priests and the Levites took their places, organized by their divisions, as the king had commanded. 


The Levites then slaughtered the Passover lambs …and presented the blood to the priests, who sprinkled the blood on the altar, while the Levites prepared the animals. 


They divided the burnt offerings, among the people, by their family groups, so they could offer them to the Lord, as prescribed, in the Book of Moses. 


They did the same with the cattle. 


Then, they roasted the Passover lambs, as prescribed; and they boiled the holy offerings… in pots, kettles, and pans, …and they brought them out quickly, so the people could eat them. 


Afterward, the Levites prepared Passover offerings, for themselves and for the priests—the descendants of Aaron—because the priests had been busy, from morning till night, offering the burnt offerings, and the fat portions. 


The Levites took responsibility for all these preparations. 


The musicians, descendants of Asaph, were in their assigned places, following the commands, that had been given… by David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king’s seer. 


The gatekeepers guarded the gates, and did not need to leave their posts of duty, …for their Passover offerings were prepared for them, by their fellow Levites. 


The entire ceremony, for the Lord’s Passover, was completed, on that day. 


All the burnt offerings were sacrificed, on the altar of the Lord, just as King Josiah had commanded. 


All the Israelites present, in Jerusalem, celebrated Passover ….and the Festival of Unleavened Bread, for seven days. 


Not since the time of the prophet Samuel, had there been such a Passover. 


None, of the kings of Israel, had ever kept a Passover, as Josiah did, involving all the priests and Levites, all the people of Jerusalem, and people from all over Judah and Israel. 


This Passover was celebrated, in the eighteenth year, of Josiah’s reign. 


2 Chronicles 35:1–20 (NLT)


Praise be to God!



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