351 Then Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem , and they slaughtered the Passover animals on the fourteenth e day of the first month . 2 He set the priests in their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of the Lord . 3 He also said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the Lord , "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built ; it will be a burden on your shoulders no longer. Now serve the Lord your God and His people Israel . 4 " Prepare yourselves by your fathers' households in your divisions , according to the writing of David king of Israel and according to the writing of his son Solomon . 5 "Moreover, stand in the holy place according to the sections of the fathers' households of your brethren the lay people , and according to the Levites , by division of a father's household . 6 "Now slaughter the Passover animals, sanctify yourselves and prepare for your brethren to do according to the word of the Lord by Moses ." 7 Josiah contributed to the lay people , to all who were present , flocks of lambs and young e goats e , all for the Passover offerings , numbering 30,000 e plus 3,000 e bulls ; these were from the king's possessions . 8 His officers also contributed a freewill offering to the people , the priests and the Levites . Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel , the officials of the house of God , gave to the priests for the Passover offerings 2,600 e from the flocks and 300 e bulls . 9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel , his brothers , and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad , the officers of the Levites , contributed to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 e from the flocks and 500 e bulls .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 35:1-9
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 35:1-19
(Read 2 Chronicles 35:1-19)
The destruction Josiah made of idolatry, was more largely related in the book of Kings. His solemnizing the passover is related here. The Lord's supper resembles the passover more than any other of the Jewish festivals; and the due observance of that ordinance, is a proof of growing piety and devotion. God alone can truly make our hearts holy, and prepare them for his holy services; but there are duties belonging to us, in doing which we obtain this blessing from the Lord.