2. Josiah's Passover 35:1-19

As Hezekiah had done, Josiah led his people in observing the Passover, that greatest feast of Israel that commemorated her redemption from Egyptian slavery. Josiah's Passover was even greater than Hezekiah's that Hezekiah had put together quickly (v. 18; cf. 29:36). Josiah offered almost twice as many sacrifices as Hezekiah had (30:24) but far fewer than Solomon had at the temple dedication (7:5). The writer's attention to detail reflects his intense interest in Josiah's concern that the people worship Yahweh properly.⁹⁶All that the writer recorded between 34:8 and 35:19 happened when Josiah was 26 years old.⁹⁷