And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
There had been no Passover celebration like this one in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel. None of the kings of Israel had ever held such a Passover as King Josiah did, along with the priests, the Levites, and all the people of Judah and Israel who were there, and the residents of Jerusalem.
This verse celebrates that King Josiah's Passover was the most magnificent and faithful celebration Israel had experienced in centuries.
📚 Historical Context
King Josiah ruled Judah from 640-609 BC and led major religious reforms, restoring proper worship and removing idolatry. This Passover celebration occurred around 622 BC as part of his efforts to bring the nation back to God after decades of unfaithful kings. The comparison to Samuel's time (around 1100-1000 BC) shows this was the greatest Passover in over 400 years.
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