Josiah Celebrates the Passover: 35:1–19 This section presents the most remarkable expansion of source material in this chapter (if not in the whole book). The Deuteronomistic version reports in 2 Kings 23:21–23 (only three verses!) that, following Josiah’s cultic reform measures (2 Kgs. 23:4–20, 24a), the king commanded the people to celebrate the Passover. The Chronicler expanded this description, however, into an elaborate narrative of nineteen verses, which follow after the account of the covenant ceremony. The king’s concluding a covenant before the Lord on behalf of the people leads to the glorious celebration of the Passover.

The Chronicler included the Deuteronomist’s description in 2 Chronicles 35:1 and 35:18–19, but he did make some changes. Whereas 2 Kings 23:21 provided the order…