A common misinterpretation is to take the statement literally as claiming no Passover was ever observed before Josiah, ignoring the biblical record of prior observances like those under Hezekiah or during the wilderness wanderings; instead, it emphasizes the unique magnitude, sincerity, and comprehensive involvement of this particular Passover, not the complete absence of all previous ones, which overlooks the context of Josiah's reforms eradicating deep-seated apostasy.
II Kings 23:22
King James Version (1769)
22 Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
This verse underscores the extraordinary significance of the Passover celebration instituted by King Josiah during his sweeping religious reforms, declaring it unparalleled in scale, purity, and national participation since the time of Israel's judges or any subsequent kings of Israel or Judah, symbolizing a profound return to covenant faithfulness and obedience to God's law after generations of idolatry and neglect.