וַיַּ֨עַשׂ יֹאשִׁיָּ֧הוּ בִירוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם פֶּ֖סַח לַיהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁחֲט֣וּ הַפֶּ֔סַח בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ aCf. 2 Kings 23.21–30.Josiah kept the Passover for the LORD in Jerusalem; the passover sacrifice was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.
וַיַּעֲמֵ֥ד הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים עַל־מִשְׁמְרוֹתָ֑ם וַֽיְחַזְּקֵ֔ם לַעֲבוֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} He reinstated the priests in their shifts and rallied them to the service of the House of the LORD.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לַ֠לְוִיִּ֠ם (המבונים) [הַמְּבִינִ֨ים] לְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל הַקְּדוֹשִׁ֣ים לַיהֹוָ֗ה תְּנ֤וּ אֶת־אֲרוֹן־הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ בַּ֠בַּ֠יִת אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֜ה שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה בֶן־דָּוִיד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵין־לָכֶ֥ם מַשָּׂ֖א בַּכָּתֵ֑ף עַתָּ֗ה עִבְדוּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת עַמּ֥וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ He said to the Levites, consecrated to the LORD, who taught all Israel, “Put the Holy Ark in the House that Solomon son of David, king of Israel, built; as you no longer carry it on your shoulders, see now to the service of the LORD your God and His people Israel,
(והכונו) [וְהָכִ֥ינוּ] לְבֵית־אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם כְּמַחְלְקוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בִּכְתָ֗ב דָּוִיד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבְמִכְתַּ֖ב שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנֽוֹ׃ and dispose yourselves by clans according to your divisions, as prescribed in the writing of King David of Israel and in the document of his son Solomon,
וְעִמְד֣וּ בַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ לִפְלוּגֹּת֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאָב֔וֹת לַאֲחֵיכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וַחֲלֻקַּ֥ת בֵּֽית־אָ֖ב לַלְוִיִּֽם׃ and attend in the Sanctuary, by clan divisions, on your kinsmen, the people—by clan divisions of the Levites.
וְשַׁחֲט֖וּ הַפָּ֑סַח וְהִֽתְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ וְהָכִ֣ינוּ לַאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת כִּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ {פ}
Having sanctified yourselves, slaughter the passover sacrifice and prepare it for your kinsmen, according to the word of God given by Moses.”
וַיָּ֣רֶם יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ לִבְנֵ֪י הָעָ֟ם צֹ֞אן כְּבָשִׂ֣ים וּבְנֵי־עִזִּים֮ הַכֹּ֣ל לַפְּסָחִים֒ לְכׇל־הַנִּמְצָ֗א לְמִסְפַּר֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים אֶ֔לֶף וּבָקָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֑ים אֵ֖לֶּה מֵרְכ֥וּשׁ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ {ס} Josiah donated to the people small cattle—lambs and goats, all for passover sacrifices for all present—to the sum of 30,000, and large cattle, 3,000—these from the property of the king.
וְשָׂרָ֞יו לִנְדָבָ֥ה לָעָ֛ם לַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֖ם הֵרִ֑ימוּ חִלְקִיָּ֨ה וּזְכַרְיָ֜הוּ וִיחִיאֵ֗ל נְגִידֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים נָתְנ֣וּ לַפְּסָחִ֗ים אַלְפַּ֙יִם֙ וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וּבָקָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ His officers gave a freewill offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the chiefs of the House of God, donated to the priests for passover sacrifices 2,600 [small cattle] and 300 large cattle.
(וכונניהו) [וְ֠כׇֽנַנְיָ֠הוּ] וּשְׁמַעְיָ֨הוּ וּנְתַנְאֵ֜ל אֶחָ֗יו וַחֲשַׁבְיָ֧הוּ וִיעִיאֵ֛ל וְיוֹזָבָ֖ד שָׂרֵ֣י הַלְוִיִּ֑ם הֵרִ֨ימוּ לַלְוִיִּ֤ם לַפְּסָחִים֙ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים וּבָקָ֖ר חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ Conaniah, Shemaiah, and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, officers of the Levites, donated 5,000 [small cattle] and 500 large cattle to the Levites for passover sacrifices.
וַתִּכּ֖וֹן הָעֲבוֹדָ֑ה וַיַּעַמְד֨וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים עַל־עׇמְדָ֛ם וְהַלְוִיִּ֥ם עַל־מַחְלְקוֹתָ֖ם כְּמִצְוַ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ The service was arranged well: the priests stood at their posts and the Levites in their divisions, by the king’s command.
וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ הַפָּ֑סַח וַיִּזְרְק֤וּ הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ מִיָּדָ֔ם וְהַלְוִיִּ֖ם מַפְשִׁיטִֽים׃ They slaughtered the passover sacrifice and the priests [received its blood] from them and dashed it, while the Levites flayed the animals.
וַיָּסִ֨ירוּ הָעֹלָ֜ה לְ֠תִתָּ֠ם לְמִפְלַגּ֤וֹת לְבֵית־אָבוֹת֙ לִבְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם לְהַקְרִיב֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּסֵ֣פֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה וְכֵ֖ן לַבָּקָֽר׃ They removed the parts to be burnt, distributing them to divisions of the people by clans, and making the sacrifices to the LORD, as prescribed in the scroll of Moses; they did the same for the cattle.
וַֽיְבַשְּׁל֥וּ הַפֶּ֛סַח בָּאֵ֖שׁ כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְהַקֳּדָשִׁ֣ים בִּשְּׁל֗וּ בַּסִּיר֤וֹת וּבַדְּוָדִים֙ וּבַצֵּ֣לָח֔וֹת וַיָּרִ֖יצוּ לְכׇל־בְּנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃ They roasted the passover sacrifice in fire, as prescribed, while the sacred offerings they cooked in pots, cauldrons, and pans, and conveyed them with dispatch to all the people.
וְאַחַ֗ר הֵכִ֤ינוּ לָהֶם֙ וְלַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים כִּ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֔ן בְּהַעֲל֛וֹת הָעוֹלָ֥ה וְהַחֲלָבִ֖ים עַד־לָ֑יְלָה וְהַלְוִיִּם֙ הֵכִ֣ינוּ לָהֶ֔ם וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בְּנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹֽן׃ Afterward they provided for themselves and the priests, for the Aaronite priests were busy offering the burnt offerings and the fatty parts until nightfall, so the Levites provided both for themselves and for the Aaronite priests.
וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֨ים בְּנֵי־אָסָ֜ף עַל־מַעֲמָדָ֗ם כְּמִצְוַ֤ת דָּוִיד֙ וְאָסָ֞ף וְהֵימָ֤ן וִֽידֻתוּן֙ חוֹזֵ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֖ים לְשַׁ֣עַר וָשָׁ֑עַר אֵ֣ין לָהֶ֗ם לָסוּר֙ מֵעַ֣ל עֲבֹֽדָתָ֔ם כִּֽי־אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם הַלְוִיִּ֖ם הֵכִ֥ינוּ לָהֶֽם׃ The Asaphite singers were at their stations, by command of David and Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, the seer of the king; and the gatekeepers were at each and every gate. They did not have to leave their tasks, because their Levite brothers provided for them.
וַ֠תִּכּ֠וֹן כׇּל־עֲבוֹדַ֨ת יְהֹוָ֜ה בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת הַפֶּ֔סַח וְהַעֲל֣וֹת עֹל֔וֹת עַ֖ל מִזְבַּ֣ח יְהֹוָ֑ה כְּמִצְוַ֖ת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ The entire service of the LORD was arranged well that day, to keep the Passover and to make the burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah.
וַיַּעֲשׂ֨וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֛ים אֶת־הַפֶּ֖סַח בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑יא וְאֶת־חַ֥ג הַמַּצּ֖וֹת שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃ All the Israelites present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.
וְלֹא־נַעֲשָׂ֨ה פֶ֤סַח כָּמֹ֙הוּ֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִימֵ֖י שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל הַנָּבִ֑יא וְכׇל־מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ׀ לֹֽא־עָשׂ֡וּ כַּפֶּ֣סַח אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֣ה יֹ֠אשִׁיָּ֠הוּ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם וְכׇל־יְהוּדָה֙ וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הַנִּמְצָ֔א וְיוֹשְׁבֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {ס} Since the time of the prophet Samuel, no Passover like that one had ever been kept in Israel; none of the kings of Israel had kept a Passover like the one kept by Josiah and the priests and the Levites and all Judah and Israel there present and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
בִּשְׁמוֹנֶ֤ה עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לְמַלְכ֖וּת יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ נַעֲשָׂ֖ה הַפֶּ֥סַח הַזֶּֽה׃ That Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.
אַחֲרֵ֣י כׇל־זֹ֗את אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵכִ֤ין יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת עָלָ֞ה נְכ֧וֹ מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם בְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ עַל־פְּרָ֑ת וַיֵּצֵ֥א לִקְרָאת֖וֹ יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ After all this furbishing of the Temple by Josiah, King Necho of Egypt came up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אֵלָ֣יו מַלְאָכִ֣ים ׀ לֵאמֹר֩ ׀ מַה־לִּ֨י וָלָ֜ךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה לֹא־עָלֶ֨יךָ אַתָּ֤ה הַיּוֹם֙ כִּ֚י אֶל־בֵּ֣ית מִלְחַמְתִּ֔י וֵאלֹהִ֖ים אָמַ֣ר לְבַהֲלֵ֑נִי חֲדַל־לְךָ֛ מֵאֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־עִמִּ֖י וְאַל־יַשְׁחִיתֶֽךָ׃ [Necho] sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I do not march against you this day but against the kingdom that wars with me, and it is God’s will that I hurry. Refrain, then, from interfering with God who is with me, that He not destroy you.”
וְלֹא־הֵסֵב֩ יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֨הוּ פָנָ֜יו מִמֶּ֗נּוּ כִּ֤י לְהִלָּחֵֽם־בּוֹ֙ הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֛ע אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י נְכ֖וֹ מִפִּ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֕א לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בְּבִקְעַ֥ת מְגִדּֽוֹ׃ But Josiah would not let him alone; instead, bWith Targum.he donned [his armor]-b to fight him, heedless of Necho’s words from the mouth of God; and he came to fight in the plain of Megiddo.
וַיֹּרוּ֙ הַיֹּרִ֔ים לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ לַעֲבָדָיו֙ הַעֲבִיר֔וּנִי כִּ֥י הׇחֳלֵ֖יתִי מְאֹֽד׃ Archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, “Get me away from here, for I am badly wounded.”
וַיַּעֲבִירֻ֨הוּ עֲבָדָ֜יו מִן־הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֗ה וַֽיַּרְכִּיבֻ֘הוּ֮ עַ֣ל רֶ֣כֶב הַמִּשְׁנֶה֮ אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֒ וַיּוֹלִיכֻ֙הוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וַיָּ֕מׇת וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּקִבְר֣וֹת אֲבֹתָ֑יו וְכׇל־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם מִֽתְאַבְּלִ֖ים עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ {פ}
His servants carried him out of his chariot and put him in the wagon of his second-in-command, and conveyed him to Jerusalem. There he died, and was buried in the grave of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem went into mourning over Josiah.
וַיְקוֹנֵ֣ן יִרְמְיָ֘הוּ֮ עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּ֒הוּ֒ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ כׇֽל־הַשָּׁרִ֣ים ׀ וְ֠הַשָּׁר֠וֹת בְּקִינ֨וֹתֵיהֶ֤ם עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ עַד־הַיּ֔וֹם וַיִּתְּנ֥וּם לְחֹ֖ק עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהִנָּ֥ם כְּתוּבִ֖ים עַל־הַקִּינֽוֹת׃ Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah which all the singers, male and female, recited in their laments for Josiah, as is done to this day; they became customary in Israel and were incorporated into the laments.
וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ וַחֲסָדָ֑יו כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃ The other events of Josiah’s reign and his faithful deeds, in accord with the Teaching of the LORD,
וּדְבָרָ֕יו הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֔ים עַל־סֵ֥פֶר מַלְכֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וִיהוּדָֽה׃ {פ}
and his acts, early and late, are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.