Jozabad
Jozabad, along with other Levitical leaders, generously provided animals for the Passover offerings during King Josiah's reign.
Biography
Jozabad was a Levitical leader during the reign of King Josiah who distinguished himself through extraordinary generosity at the great Passover celebration of 621 BC (2 Chronicles 35:9). Together with Conaniah and Shimei and other Levitical chiefs, he donated 5,000 small livestock and 500 cattle as freewill offerings for the Passover sacrifices. This Passover, described as unparalleled since the days of Samuel, was a centerpiece of Josiah's national reformation following the discovery of the Book of the Law. Jozabad's contribution from his own resources reflected both his personal wealth and his commitment to the restoration of proper Levitical worship in the newly purified temple.
Significance
Jozabad's lavish Passover offering illustrates the connection between genuine repentance and generous, worshipful action. Josiah's reformation was not merely a matter of destroying false altars, it issued in extravagant devotion to the LORD through renewed covenant celebration. The Passover itself was Israel's foundational redemption narrative, and Jozabad's willingness to contribute thousands of animals to its observance expressed a theology of gratitude: those who remember God's saving acts respond with open-handed generosity. His example challenges every generation to let encounter with God's Word translate into costly, joyful worship rather than mere intellectual acknowledgment.
Verse Appearances (1)
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References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]