Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Chronicles 35
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Chronicles 35
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Chronicles 35
"And he said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, that were holy unto Jehovah, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; there shall no more be a burden upon your shoulders: now serve Jehovah your God, and his people Israel." — 2 Chronicles 35:3 (ASV)
Put the holy ark etc. - The ark of the covenant may have been temporarily removed from the holy of holies while Josiah carried out necessary repairs.
It shall not be a burden upon your shoulders - Josiah means that the task of removing and replacing the ark will no longer be your duty. The ark is to remain undisturbed in the holy of holies. You are to return to your former duties: serving God and instructing the people.
"And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the fathers` houses of your brethren the children of the people, and [let there be for each] a portion of a fathers` house of the Levites." — 2 Chronicles 35:5 (ASV)
The meaning of this verse is likely: “So divide yourselves that for every distinct family among the people who come to the Passover, there shall be a portion of a Levitical family to minister.”
"And kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brethren, to do according to the word of Jehovah by Moses." — 2 Chronicles 35:6 (ASV)
Prepare your brethren... - that is, “as you minister to your brethren the people, by killing and flaying their offerings and handing the blood to the priests, instruct them how they are to eat the Passover acceptably.” It is implied that many would be ignorant of the requirements of the Law.
"And Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all of them for the passover-offerings, unto all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king`s substance. And his princes gave for a freewill-offering unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover-offerings two thousand and six hundred [small cattle], and three hundred oxen. Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for the passover-offerings five thousand [small cattle], and five hundred oxen. So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites by their courses, according to the king`s commandment. And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled [the blood which they received] of their hand, and the Levites flayed them." — 2 Chronicles 35:7-11 (ASV)
See the marginal references and note.
His princes—that is, his ecclesiastical princes, the chief men of the priests and Levites. For the poor families of their own order, the leading priests provided both Passover cattle and cattle for thank offerings. The chief Levites acted similarly toward the poor Levitical families.
"And they removed the burnt-offerings, that they might give them according to the divisions of the fathers` houses of the children of the people, to offer unto Jehovah, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen." — 2 Chronicles 35:12 (ASV)
They removed the burnt offerings - They separated from the Passover lambs those parts which were to be burned on the altar. They gave these parts to the people offering them, who then took them to the altar and handed them to the officiating priests.
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