Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 35:25
And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they [are] written in the lamentations.
25 (= 1Es 1:32 ; not in 2 Kin.). The Lamentations for Josiah
25. lamented ] i.e. “composed ( or uttered) an elegy.” The Heb. word ( nn) suggests formal composition, and the actual words of lamentation are often given; 2Sa 1:17 ff; 2Sa 3:33-34; Eze 27:32; Eze 32:2; Eze 32:16.
and they made them an ordinance ] Cp. 2Sa 1:18, R.V.
in the lamentations ] In some lost work, not in our canonical book of the Lamentations, for there we “look in vain for a single word distinctive of a funeral dirge over a devout and zealous reformer like Josiah” (E. H. Plumptre in Smith’s Bib. Dict. s.v.).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Some find Jeremiahs lament in the entire Book of Lamentations; others in a part of it Lam. 4. But most critics are of opinion that the lament is lost. Days of calamity were commemorated by lamentations on their anniversaries, and this among the number. The Book of Dirges was a collection of such poems which once existed but is now lost.
And made them an ordinance – Rather, and they made them an ordinance, they i. e. who had authority to do so, not the minstrels.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 25. Behold, they are written in the lamentations.] The Hebrews had poetical compositions for all great and important events, military songs, songs of triumph, epithalamia or marriage odes, funeral elegies, c. Several of these are preserved in different parts of the historical books of Scripture, and these were generally made by prophets or inspired men. That composed on the tragical end of this good king by Jeremiah is now lost. The Targum says, “Jeremiah bewailed Josiah with a great lamentation and all the chiefs and matrons sing these lamentations concerning Josiah to the present day, and it was a statute in Israel annually to bewail Josiah. Behold, these are written in the book of Lamentations, which Baruch wrote down from the mouth of Jeremiah.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In their lamentations to this day; in all their succeeding lamentations for their public calamities, and for the ruin of their city, and temple, and state, and church they remembered Josiahs death as their first and most fatal blow, and as that which opened the flood-gates to all their following miseries, and it was ordained that they should do so, as the next words intimate.
In the lamentations; either in that canonical book of Jeremiahs Lamentations, or in some other volume of mournful ditties, made by divers persons upon occasion of their following calamities, which is since lost.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. Jeremiah lamented for Josiah,c.The elegy of the prophet has not reached us but it seems to havebeen long preserved among his countrymen and chanted on certainpublic occasions by the professional singers, who probably got thedirges they sang from a collection of funeral odes composed on thedeath of good and great men of the nation. The spot in the valley ofMegiddo where the battle was fought was near the town ofHadad-rimmon; hence the lamentation for the death of Josiah wascalled “the lamentation of Hadad-rimmon in the valley ofMegiddo,” which was so great and so long continued, that thelamentation of Hadad passed afterwards into a proverbial phrase toexpress any great and extraordinary sorrow (Zec12:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah,…. Composed a lamentation for him, which is now lost; for what is said in La 4:20 respects Zedekiah, and not Josiah:
and all the singing men, and all the singing women, spake of Josiah in their lamentations unto this day; who were made use of on mournful occasions, as the “preficae” among the Romans, see Jer 9:17 these in their mournful ditties used to make mention of his name, and the disaster that befell him:
and made them an ordinance in Israel; an annual constitution, as the Targum calls it, appointing a solemn mourning for him once a year, which Jarchi says was on the ninth of Ab or July:
and, behold, they are written in the lamentations; not of Jeremiah; though the Targum is,
“lo, they are written in the book which Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah, concerning the lamentations,”
but respect a collection of lamentations on various subjects then in being, but since lost.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(25) And Jeremiah lamentedi.e., wrote a dirge. The special mourning of the land over Josiah is not mentioned in Kings.
The singing men . . . women.The LXX. has the ruling men . . . women, reading srm . . . srth, instead of shrm . . . shrth.
Spake of Josiah in their lamentations.In the dirges which they used to sing on certain anniversaries of disaster.
And made them an ordinance.And they made them (i.e. the laments for Josiah) a standing custom to Israel.
They are written in the lamentations.The dirges alluding to Josiahs untimely end, and among them Jeremiahs, were preserved in a Book of Dirges (qnth), which may have been extant in the chroniclers day. (Comp. the allusions in Jer. 22:10; Jer. 22:18; Zec. 12:11.)
This collection, however, was quite different from the canonical book of Lamentations, the subject of which is the ruin of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldeans.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. The lamentations See Introduction.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ch 35:25. And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, &c. It was usual with the Jews to make lamentations, or mournful songs, upon the death of great men, princes, and heroes, who had distinguished themselves in arms, or by any civil arts had merited well of their country. From the expression, Behold they are written in the Lamentations, it may be inferred, that they had certain collections of this kind of composition. The author of the book of Samuel has preserved those which David made upon the death of Saul and Jonathan, of Abner and Absalom. But this mournful piece, which the disconsolate prophet made upon the immature death of Josiah, is nowhere extant; which is a loss the more to be deplored, because, in all probability, it was a master-piece in its kind, as there never was an author more deeply affected with his subject, or more capable of carrying it through all the tender sentiments of sorrow and compassion, than Jeremiah. See Calmet.
REFLECTIONS.1st, The passover being among the most solemn ordinances that God had instituted, Josiah, having removed every known abomination, prepares to keep it with great devotion.
1. He set the priests in their courses, encouraged them to diligence and fidelity in their work; commanded the ark, which, during the repairs of the temple, had probably been removed, to be replaced; enjoined the Levites, who taught the people, to exercise with zeal their ministry, for the glory of God and the good of his Israel; and, in order thereto, he exhorts them to sanctify themselves, that they might be fitted for the work; and to prepare their brethren for the solemnity of the passover by their admonitions, instructions, and directions how to kill and order the lamb according to the law of Moses. Note; (1.) They who would prepare others for God’s service, must first set the example of that holiness which they preach. (2.) Encouragement is very needful where ministers meet with so many difficulties.
2. The king and his princes, with the chief of the priests, liberally contributed on this occasion; the king giving 30,000 lambs for those poor families who came to keep the passover; and 3000 bullocks for sacrifices of peace-offerings, to feast upon during the seven days. The great officers of God’s house also provided handsomely for their poorer brethren, that the feast might be kept with affluence and gladness. Note; (1.) They who are hearty in the service of men’s souls grudge no expence. (2.) Though we must beware not to make men hypocrites for the sake of advantage, yet it becomes us to encourage those who are sincere. (3.) They who enjoy the largest revenues of the church, are especially called upon liberally to distribute them for the support of their poorer brethren.
3. The whole was conducted with great exactness and regularity. The priests and Levites discharged their office diligently, delivering out the paschal lambs to the several families, after sprinkling the blood on the altar. These were roasted whole, according to God’s ordinance; and the peace-offerings, which belonged to the offerers, they boiled and divided among those to whom the king had given the oxen for sacrifice. And when they had served the people, the priests and Levites prepared the passover for themselves; some of their body being appointed for this service, while the rest were busied in their ministrations in the temple, or employed in praising God, or watching at the gates. Thus was this remarkable passover kept, like unto which there was none from the days of the judges; so exact was their observance, and so singular the liberality of the king and the priests. Note; (1.) Let not those who minister to others forget the great concern of their own souls. (2.) It is not the greatness of the gift, but the temper of the person who offers, that makes the service honourable and acceptable.
2nd, After all this, we might have expected to hear of the singular prosperity of Judah; but alas! in just displeasure for their hypocrisy and unprofitableness, God removes from them their good king, and with him dies all this appearance of godliness.
1. He imprudently went out to battle against Necho king of Egypt, who was on his march against the king of Assyria. Fain would he, by his ambassadors, have persuaded him to desist, assuring him that he meant nothing hostile against Judah; that the expedition he had undertaken was at God’s command; and therefore, if he perversely opposed him, he would suffer for it. Josiah, however, believed him not, and, neglecting to inquire of God, resolved to oppose him. The battle was fought near Megiddo; and though the king of Judah, for greater safety, had disguised himself, the archers wounded him, and he quickly died in his chariot, Note; (1.) In an unjust cause we must not hope to prosper. (2.) When we have fair warning, our death lies at our own door. (3.) If we neglect to inquire of God, no wonder that we involve ourselves in mischief.
2. His death exceedingly afflicted the nation, and the people in mournful poems annually commemorated his unhappy fall. Though they had not heartily joined him in his fidelity when alive, they felt their loss of him when dead, and strove to honour his memory. Note; (1.) When our blessings are removed, we are then often led to lament, too late, our folly and sin in not improving them. (2.) God’s prophets, who see the approaching evils, cannot but mourn for the poor sinners who provoke them.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
We have here introduced to us Jeremiah, whose prophetical writings make so important a part in the sacred canon of scripture. This prophet began his ministry in the 13th year of Josiah, and continued it until the carrying away of the people into Babylon. The character of Josiah cannot be better ascertained than by his lamentation of Judah. For though the times were so degenerate, yet Josiah was dear to them.
But no doubt the gracious souls lamented his death, in that they considered it as a certain presage that ruin was at hand. The righteous is taken away (saith the prophet) from the evil to come. Isa 57:1 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 35:25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they [are] written in the lamentations.
Ver. 25. And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah. ] Whose worth he had fully known; and to whom himself was better known than Daniel was afterwards to Belshazzar; who knew not till he was told by his mother that there was any such man in his kingdom. Whereas had he been a Tricongiustospot, he would sooner have taken knowledge of him.
And behold they are written in the lamentations.
“ Flete nefas magnum, sed toto flebitis orbe
Mortales: rester corruit omnis honos.
Nam regum decus et iuvenum flos, spesque bonorum,
Deliciae saecli et gloria gentis erat.
Dignus Apollineis lachrymis, doctaeque Minervae
Flosculus (heu misero) concidit ante diem.
Te tumulo dabimus Musae supremaque flentes
Munera, Melpomene tristia fata canet. ”
a
b Sueton.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jeremiah lamented. This does not refer to the book of that name (Lamentations), though Josiah is referred to in it (Lam 4:20 and Jer 22:10-18). Compare Zec 12:11. 2Ki 23:31.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jeremiah: Jer 22:10, Lam 4:20
all the singing: Job 3:8, Ecc 12:5, Jer 9:17-21, Mat 9:23
and made them: Jer 22:20
Reciprocal: Gen 23:2 – mourn Num 20:29 – General 2Sa 1:17 – lamented Isa 22:12 – call Jer 4:21 – shall I Jer 22:18 – They Eze 19:1 – the princes Eze 28:12 – take up Eze 32:16 – General Mic 2:4 – and lament Act 8:2 – made
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 35:25. Jeremiah lamented for Josiah Sorrowed much on account of the immature death of this good king, foreseeing that the utter ruin of his country would follow upon it. And as it was usual with the Jews to make lamentations, elegies, or mournful pieces upon the death of great men, princes, and others that had distinguished themselves among them, and deserved well of their country, it is probable Jeremiah wrote such a piece on the occasion of Josiahs death. If he did so, the loss of it is very much to be deplored, because, as Dr. Dodd observes, it was, no doubt, a masterpiece of its kind as there never was an author more deeply affected with his subject, or more capable of carrying it through all the tender sentiments of sorrow and compassion, than Jeremiah. All the singing-men and singing-women spake of Josiah in their lamentations Among the Jews men and women were usually employed to mourn at funerals, and to sing the praises of the dead. And so real and great was the mourning for Josiah, that for ages afterward they always remembered it in their lamentations for the dead, saying of the person deceased, Then art worthy to be lamented for, as good Josiah was, or words to the same purpose. Or, as Poole thinks, the meaning may be, that in all their succeeding lamentations for their public calamities, they remembered Josiahs death as their first and fatal blow, which opened the flood-gates to all their following miseries. And made them an ordinance in Israel Ordained that the mournful pieces, penned on this sad occasion, should be learned and sung by all sorts of people. And, behold, they are written in the Lamentations Not in the book termed The Lamentations of Jeremiah, which was written on another occasion; but in some collection of mournful poems, now lost.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
35:25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they [are] written in the {n} lamentations.
(n) Which some think Jeremiah wrote, in which he laments the state of the church after this king’s death.