2 Kings 23

King James Version

Full text for 2 Kings Chapter 23

1¶ And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.

2And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.

3And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all [their] heart and all [their] soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

4¶ And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.

5And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

6And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped [it] small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.

7And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that [were] by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

8And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that [were] in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which [were] on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.

9Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren.

10And he defiled Topheth, which [is] in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

11And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathanmelech the chamberlain, which [was] in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.

12And the altars that [were] on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake [them] down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.

13And the high places that [were] before Jerusalem, which [were] on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.

14And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.

15Moreover the altar that [was] at Bethel, [and] the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, [and] stamped [it] small to powder, and burned the grove.

16And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that [were] there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned [them] upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

17Then he said, What title [is] that that I see? And the men of the city told him, [It is] the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel.

18And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

19And all the houses also of the high places that [were] in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke [the LORD] to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.

20And he slew all the priests of the high places that [were] there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.

21And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as [it is] written in the book of this covenant.

22Surely 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;

23But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, [wherein] this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem.

24Moreover the [workers with] familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

25¶ And like unto him was there no king before him, that 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; neither after him arose there [any] like him.

26Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.

27And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.

28Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

29In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.

30And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.

31¶ Jehoahaz [was] twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

32And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

33And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

34And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.

35And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give [it] unto Pharaohnechoh.

36Jehoiakim [was] twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

37And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Josiah, after the discovery of the Book of the Covenant, leads Judah in a national covenant renewal with the LORD. He then initiates a sweeping religious reformation, systematically purging idolatry, high places, and abominable practices throughout Judah and even into the former kingdom of Israel. This extensive purification culminates in an unprecedented Passover celebration. Despite Josiah's unparalleled devotion, the LORD's fierce wrath against Judah remains due to Manasseh's sins, and Josiah's reign ends tragically in battle, followed by the wicked reigns of his sons.

Medium Summary

Upon hearing the words of the newly found Book of the Covenant, King Josiah gathers the people, reads the law to them, and leads a national covenant renewal, pledging to walk after the LORD. He then embarks on a comprehensive religious purge, removing all vessels and altars dedicated to Baal, the host of heaven, and other pagan deities from the Temple and throughout Judah. Josiah defiles high places, destroys cultic objects, and eliminates idolatrous priests, extending his reforms even to Bethel and the cities of Samaria, fulfilling ancient prophecies. A grand Passover is then celebrated in Jerusalem, noted as the most significant since the days of the judges. Despite Josiah's unparalleled devotion and thorough reforms, the LORD's fierce anger against Judah is not appeased, primarily due to the severe provocations of King Manasseh, leading to a divine decree that Judah will eventually be removed from His sight. The chapter concludes with Josiah's death in battle against Pharaohnechoh at Megiddo and the brief, wicked reigns of his sons, Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, who quickly revert to evil.

Long Summary

King Josiah, after the discovery of the Book of the Covenant, convenes all the elders, priests, prophets, and people of Judah and Jerusalem at the Temple. He publicly reads the entire book, then stands by a pillar to make a solemn covenant before the LORD, pledging to walk after Him and keep His commandments with all their heart and soul, a covenant to which all the people likewise assent. Following this renewal, Josiah initiates a radical and thorough religious reformation across the land. He commands the removal and burning of all idolatrous vessels dedicated to Baal, the Asherah, and the host of heaven from the Temple, scattering their ashes in Bethel. Josiah deposes idolatrous priests, destroys high places from Geba to Beersheba, and breaks down the houses of male cult prostitutes near the Temple. He defiles Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom to prevent child sacrifice to Molech and removes sun-worshipping horses and chariots. The king dismantles altars built by previous kings, including Ahaz and Manasseh, and defiles high places constructed by Solomon for foreign deities like Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom, filling their sites with human bones. His reforms extend beyond Judah into the former northern kingdom, where he destroys the altar and high place at Bethel, originally built by Jeroboam, and pollutes it with bones, fulfilling a prophecy. Josiah also purges the high places in the cities of Samaria, slaying their priests upon their altars. After these extensive purifications, Josiah commands the people to observe the Passover, which is celebrated with such grandeur that no similar Passover had been held since the time of the judges or previous kings. Furthermore, Josiah eradicates all familiar spirits, wizards, images, and idols, diligently performing all the words of the law found in the discovered book. The text highlights Josiah as an unparalleled king in his devotion, turning to the LORD with all his heart, soul, and might according to the Law of Moses. However, despite his profound piety and reforms, the LORD's fierce wrath against Judah remains unabated due to the severe provocations of Manasseh, leading to a divine declaration that Judah, like Israel, would be removed from His sight, and Jerusalem, along with its Temple, would be cast off. The chapter concludes with Josiah's death in battle at Megiddo against Pharaohnechoh of Egypt, and the subsequent, short, and evil reigns of his sons, Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, who continue the wicked practices of their fathers, indicating a swift decline after Josiah's righteous rule.

Core Concepts

  • Covenant RenewalJosiah leads the people in a solemn renewal of their covenant with the LORD after the discovery of the Book of the Law, committing to obey God's commandments with all their heart and soul.
  • Religious ReformationKing Josiah undertakes an extensive and systematic purge of idolatry throughout Judah and the former kingdom of Israel, destroying altars, high places, pagan cult objects, and eliminating idolatrous priests.
  • Purging AbominationsSpecific abominable practices such as child sacrifice to Molech, sun worship, and cultic prostitution are targeted and eradicated by Josiah, who defiles their sites to prevent future use.
  • Unparalleled PietyJosiah is uniquely praised among all kings for turning to the LORD with his whole heart, soul, and might, diligently following the Law of Moses.
  • Divine Wrath and JudgmentDespite Josiah's profound reforms, the LORD's fierce anger against Judah persists due to the prior provocations of Manasseh, leading to an irreversible decree of judgment and removal for Judah and Jerusalem.
  • Passover ObservanceA grand and unprecedented Passover celebration is commanded and held by Josiah in Jerusalem, signifying a return to proper worship according to the rediscovered law.
  • Tragic End and SuccessionJosiah's righteous reign concludes with his death in battle, followed by the brief and wicked reigns of his sons, Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, who quickly revert to evil, foreshadowing Judah's impending downfall.