Study Desk

Then Josiah ^(C1)celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and ^(C2)they slaughtered the Passover animals on the fourteenth day of the first month.

He appointed the priests to their offices and ^(C1)encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.

He also said to ^(C1)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; ^(C2)it will not be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.

"^(C1)Prepare yourselves by your fathers' households in your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel and ^(C2)according to the writing of his son Solomon.

"Furthermore, ^(C1)stand in the holy place according to the sections of the fathers' households of your countrymen, the ^(F1)lay people, and according to the Levites, by division of a father's household.

"Now ^(C1)slaughter the Passover animals, ^(C2)keep one another consecrated, and prepare for your countrymen to act in accordance with the word of the LORD by Moses."

Josiah contributed to the lay people, to all who were present, flocks of lambs and young goats, all for the Passover offerings, numbering thirty thousand, plus three thousand bulls; these were from the king's property.