Josiah kept the passover to his Lord in Jerusalem: Josiah ruled in Judah from 640 to 609 B.C. In many languages it will be helpful to identify Josiah as “King Josiah” (Good News Bible). The passover is the annual celebration held by Jews to remember the events surrounding their escape from slavery in Egypt, led by Moses. It centers around a meal (see Exo 12.43—13.10; Deut 16.1-8). The Hebrew word for passover is derived from the verb meaning “to pass over,” which is used in Exo 12 (verses 12, 23, 27)as, where it says that the angel of the LORD “passed over” the homes of the Hebrews during the night when he destroyed the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. Translators who do not already have a good expression for passover may call it “festival [or, fiesta] of deliverance” or “festival of passing over.” The phrase to his Lord may be rendered “in honor of the Lord” (Good News Bible). However, some translators may need to say “in honor of the heavenly ruler” or even “in honor of God” if Lord will be misunderstood as a human ruler. Lord (Greek kurios) is the equivalent of the Hebrew ʾadonai meaning “One who rules” or “Master.” For this whole clause the Contemporary English Version (Contemporary English Version) has “Josiah commanded that Passover be celebrated in Jerusalem to honor the Lord.” This helpful model indicates that Josiah did not celebrate the Passover alone.

He killed the passover lamb: The passover lamb was the animal slaughtered to be served at the Passover meal. The passover lamb is literally “the Passover” (An American Translation). Revised Standard Version supplies the implied information of lamb. But Good News Bible uses the plural “animals,” since more than one lamb was killed here and the animals killed for the Passover meal could be either male sheep or male goats (see 1 Esdras 1.7), but only those that were a year old (see Exo 12.5). He killed does not mean that King Josiah himself killed the animals, only that it was done at his direction. The Levites actually killed them (see verse 6). Good News Bible does not misrepresent the Greek text by saying “they killed the animals for the festival,” so it may be used as a model. Contemporary English Version has “the lambs were killed for the Passover celebration.” Another possible model is “he had them kill the male lambs and kids for the celebration.” When studying the models of the various English translations, such as Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version, translators should keep in mind that they should be used only as guides to decide the best way to translate the text. They should never copy any of these models unless they represent what is the best style in their own languages.

On the fourteenth day of the first month was the normal time for the Passover (see Exo 12.6; Lev 23.5). The first month refers to the first month of the Hebrew calendar year, which corresponds to mid-March to mid-April in the modern Gregorian calendar and not to January. In the Pentateuch the first month is called Abib, but in the books written after the exile the first month is called Nisan. The fourteenth day would be approximately the end of March.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

It will be helpful to begin a new sentence here (so Good News Bible). This verse describes part of the preparations for the Passover.

Having placed the priests according to their divisions means Josiah divided the priests into their regular groups, or teams, for serving in the Temple. So we may translate “Josiah assigned each of the priests to serve according to their particular order.” The priests were the men who received authority from God to offer sacrifices and perform other religious ceremonies on behalf of his people. They served as intermediaries between God and the people of Israel. In the Old Testament the office of the priesthood was limited to the tribe of Levi, and more specifically to one family of that tribe, the family of Aaron. Regulations with regard to the qualifications of priests are given in Lev 21.16-23. The word priest is often rendered “sacrifice-making person” or “ceremony person.”

Arrayed in their garments refers to the priestly garments (see Exo 28). The clothes included a number of objects and layers. When the priests were so dressed, they were ready for service. This phrase does not say that they were simply wearing clothes, so “proper priestly clothes” (Contemporary English Version) is better than “priestly robes” (Good News Bible).

In the temple of the Lord may be rendered simply “in the Temple” (Good News Bible).

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• He [or, Josiah] saw to it [or, made sure] that the priests were in the Temple, ready for service. He made sure that each one was properly dressed, and standing with his assigned group.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

And he told the Levites, the temple servants of Israel …: The verb told may be rendered “instructed” (Good News Bible) or “gave orders to.” The Levites were men from the tribe of Levi who assisted the priests in their Temple duties, and in some languages it will be helpful to makes this clear by translating the Levites, the temple servants of Israel as “the men from the tribe of Levi who helped the priests [or, worked] in the Temple” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

That they should sanctify themselves to the Lord means the Levites should perform the rituals that would make them ritually pure, eligible to serve in the Temple. This clause may be rendered “that they should make themselves ritually clean [or, pure] so as to be fit to serve the Lord.”

And put the holy ark of the Lord in the house: The holy ark of the Lord was a box made of acacia wood measuring about 110 centimeters (45 inches) by 66 centimeters (27 inches) and was approximately 66 centimeters (27 inches) high (Exo 25.10-22; 37.1-9). It represented the presence of God with his people. It was kept in the inner shrine (the holiest place) of the Temple. The house refers to the Temple. The traditional English rendering ark is a transliteration of the Latin, which means “chest” or “box.” Holy means the box was taboo and belonged to the Lord. Good News Bible provides a helpful model for this whole clause, saying “so that they could put the sacred Covenant Box of the Lord in the Temple.” According to 2 Chr 5, the ark had already been placed in the Temple at the time of King Solomon. Nothing is said here about why the ark should be replaced in the Temple. Perhaps it had been temporarily removed to make repairs on the Temple building. Perhaps it had been moved during the period preceding Josiah’s reforms, when the worship of God was not conducted correctly. Perhaps, as some scholars suggest from a study of passages such as Psa 48 and 132, the ark was brought out of the Temple for special ceremonial processions; the passage here would then be saying that it was to remain in the Temple and not be ever again taken out.

Which Solomon the king, the son of David, had built may be rendered “built by King Solomon son of David” (Contemporary English Version).

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• He also gave orders to the men of Levi who worked [or, helped the priests] in the Temple, to make themselves ritually clean so that they could serve the Lord [or, God]. Then he instructed them to put God’s Covenant Box in the Temple that King Solomon, the son of David, had built.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

And he said introduces what Josiah said to the Levites in verses 4-6. The pronoun he refers to Josiah, not to the last-mentioned David or Solomon. Good News Bible makes this clear by using the name “Josiah.”

You need no longer carry it upon your shoulders: The ark was equipped with rings mounted on the sides, through which poles were inserted (see Exo 25.13-15). The Levites would carry the ark by lifting the poles, never touching the ark itself. You need no longer carry it upon your shoulders does not mean that there is now some other way of carrying it. It means that the Levites will no longer carry it at all. It is to stay in the Temple permanently. So we may translate “You don’t have to ever carry it again.”

Now worship the Lord your God and serve his people Israel: See Good News Bible‘s helpful model here. We may also translate “Now you must worship the Lord your God and minister to his people, the Israelites.” The Lord your God in some languages will be rendered “the heavenly ruler your God,” while in others it will be necessary to make it clear that the phrase your God does not mean that God belongs to the people, but that he is the God whom they worship. So we may say simply “Now you must worship God and minister to….”

And prepare yourselves by your families and kindred: Prepare yourselves means the Levites had to get ready to carry out their duties for the Passover. Good News Bible uses the general expression “Get ready … to carry out your duties,” but it is better to be more specific by saying “You must get ready to celebrate the Passover.” Good News Bible renders by your families and kindred as “by family and clan,” which is a helpful model. This phrase may also be rendered “by your families and family groups.”

This verse is connected to the next one, where we will provide a model for verses 4 and 5.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

In accordance with the directions of David king of Israel and the magnificence of Solomon his son: This first half of the verse refers to 2 Chr 8.14-15. The directives of David referred to in 2 Chronicles are more general, but here they apply specifically to this Passover occasion. The Levites had to carry out the Passover instructions given by David. The magnificence of Solomon his son may be rendered “the splendid way they were carried out by Solomon his son” (similarly Good News Bible) or “the magnificent way that Solomon his son carried them out.”

Stand in order in the temple according to the groupings of the fathers’ houses of you Levites, who minister before your brethren the people of Israel: The Levites had to position themselves in such a way as to be able to help every fellow Israelite. Your brethren are the people of Israel. This sentence may be expressed as “You Levites, who serve your fellow Israelites, must arrange yourselves in family groups and stand in the Temple” or “You Levites must organize yourselves in family groups and stand in the Temple, where you will serve your fellow Israelites.”

Here are alternative models for verses 4-5:

• 4 Josiah told them, “You are no longer required to carry the Covenant Box from place to place. Simply worship the Lord your God and minister to Israel, his people. Now, get all your families and groups of families ready to observe the Passover 5 according to the directions given by King David of Israel, and in the splendid way they were carried out by his son King Solomon. All you Levites, who serve your fellow Israelites, organize yourselves in family groups and stand in the Temple.

• 4 Josiah told them, “I do not require you any longer to carry God’s Covenant Box from place to place. What you must do is simply worship the heavenly ruler God and minister to his people, the Israelites. Now, get all your families and clans [or, family groups] ready to celebrate the Passover Festival [or, Fiesta], 5 following the directions [or, instructions] that King David of Israel has given to you. You must do them in the splendid way that his son King Solomon performed them. So, all you Levites, who serve your fellow Israelites, arrange yourselves in family groups and stand in the Temple.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

And kill the passover lamb: See the comments on 1 Esdras 1.1. Good News Bible says “Kill the Passover lambs and goats,” which is a helpful model. We may say simply “Kill the Passover animals.”

And prepare the sacrifices for your brethren: The sacrifices does not refer to the Passover animals, but to the cattle that were offered as sacrifices during the festival (see 1 Esdras 1.7).

And keep the passover according to the commandment of the Lord which was given to Moses: The Levites had to observe the Passover according to the instructions that God gave through Moses.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• When your people bring you Passover lambs and goats, you must kill these animals. Then you should also prepare the cattle that are to be sacrificed for your people. You must observe the Passover according to the commandments that the Lord gave to Moses.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

And Josiah gave to the people who were present thirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves: King Josiah made a personal contribution to the celebration of the Passover. The lambs and kids (young goats) were for the Passover meal, and the calves were for the sacrifices (see 1 Esdras 1.6). The Greek word for lambs refers to young male sheep, and the word for kids to young male goats. Thirty thousand lambs and kids means a total of 30,000 young sheep and goats, not 30,000 lambs and 30,000 kids. The Greek word for calves refers to young bulls. We may render this sentence as “Josiah gave to the people who were there, 30,000 young [male] sheep and goats and 3,000 calves [or, young male cows], for them to use while celebrating the Passover feast [or, fiesta].”

These were given from the king’s possessions, as he promised, to the people and the priests and Levites: The reference to this promise is unknown, unless the writer has in mind 2 Chr 34.31-32, in which case the promise was made to God, not to the people. This is not certain, however. The first part of the verse says that these animals were given to the people. The most natural way to understand the Greek of this second part is that the animals were given to the people, priests, and Levites, but it is not clear to whom Josiah made his promise. Since the first part of verse 7 has Josiah giving animals to the people, with verse 8 having three certain men giving animals to the priests, and verse 9 having six other men giving animals to the Levites, it is natural to assume that Josiah had made a promise to the people, the priests, and the Levites that he would give all these animals to the people. If, as some scholars believe, the first part of this book is missing, it could be that material now lost spoke of Josiah’s promise.

Alternative models for this verse are:

• Josiah gave to the people [who were] there, for use in the Passover, 30,000 young sheep and goats and 3,000 calves. These were animals from his own herds, which he gave to carry out a promise he had made to the people, the priests, and the Levites.

• Josiah gave 30,000 young [male] sheep and goats and 3,000 calves [or, young bulls] to the people who were there, for them to use in the Passover celebration [or, festival/fiesta]. These were….

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

And Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the temple, gave to the priests for the passover two thousand six hundred sheep and three hundred calves: As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, the Greek text has the name “Esyelus” instead Jehiel. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible harmonize this text with 2 Chr 35.8, and we agree, although no footnote is necessary. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel were the chief officers of the temple, which may be rendered “the officials in charge of the temple” (Contemporary English Version). Good News Bible translates for the passover as “for the sacrifices during the festival,” which is quite adequate, but some translators may wish to say “for them to celebrate the Passover.” The Greek word for sheep can also include goats, so translators may refer to “sheep and goats” here (compare 2 Chr 35.8). The following model of this verse is based on Contemporary English Version:

• In addition, the officials in charge of the Temple—Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel—gave the priests 2,600 sheep [and goats] and 300 calves, so that the priests could celebrate the Passover.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.