2Kings 23:22 (Passover), and 23:25 (King Josiah)

[Larry1700]

Two unrelated questions from 2 Kings 23:

Verse 22 reads: “For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the Judges who ruled Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah.”
Question 1) This surprised me, and I particularly thought of King David, who knew Samuel. Why wouldn’t King David have kept the Passover?

Verse 25 reads (speaking of King Josiah: “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”
Question 2: King Josiah was greater than King David? Greater than King Solomon?

 

[BartholomewB]

As the climax of Josiah’s reform of Temple worship, “a great Passover celebration occurred in Jerusalem, such as had not been known since the days of the Judges.” According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, it doesn’t mean that Passover hadn’t been celebrated at all since the days of the Judges, just that it had never again been celebrated on such a magnificent scale.

There are other details in the article that may help to answer your question 2:

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8926-josiah

 

[Genesis315]

From the Haydock commentary:

Verse 22: No such, in all respects. (Haydock) — The number of paschal lambs was certainly greater when all Israel was assembled; but the other victims presented by the king and his officers during the octave is here noticed, (2 Paralipomenon xxxv. 7.; Menochius) as they are also styled the Phase; (Haydock) and this explains John xviii. 28. (Tirinus) — Neither ought we to push these expressions too far, as they only mean, that this solemnity was very great. See ver. 25., and chap. xviii. 5. (Calmet)

Verse 25: Like him. Every person has some peculiarity, which distinguishes him from every other. (Haydock) — Thus we say of many saints: There was none found like unto him, Ecclesiasticus xliv. 20. (Tirinus)

(Note, “Paralipomenon” is the Latin Vulgate derived title for Chronicles and “Ecclesiasticus” is the Vulgate title for Sirach)

 

[GiftofMercy]

Verse 25 reads (speaking of King Josiah: “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”

I will also add this is from the Shama (Shema)
"with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, "

This prayer, in Torah, taken from the Bible is one of the most important in the OId Testament and still to Jewish people today, and to many Christians.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
‘Hear Oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.’

This Bible passage then, is saying, in one respect, that King Josiah was a good king, a king who had deep respect for the law of God handed down to Moses. King Josiah was the King who followed the way of loving God more then any other.
There had been and were to be, some bad kings. Those who disrespected the Law and their people. One who comes to mind is Alexander Jannaeus. He was acting as High Priest at the Temple on the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot. He tipped holy water on the ground, instead of on the altar. The Temple was packed with pilgrims. They responded by pelting him with their citrons. He retaliated by killing around 6000 of them. And stopping the people sacrificing . Later after a rebellion he retaliated again by crucifying hundreds. Before he killed these rebels he had their families murdered in front of them while he was feasting with his concubines.
Jannaeus was a king well known as disrespectful of the Law of God handed down to Moses.
The Essenes wrote about him in their Dead Sea Scrolls, and of this event.
The Dead Sea Scrolls refer to him as the furious young lion. The rebels are known as the seekers of smooth things.

 

[Larry1700]

Thanks, everyone. Maybe I was a little sleepy when I read the passage and posed the questions. It makes sense to me now.

 

[Darryl_B]

There probably has been a greater passover since.