列王紀下 23:4-5 RCUVTS

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:4-27

The inability of the best intentions and the strongest will to convert a nation that is corrupt to the core. Josiah's reformation was the most energetic and the most thorough-going that was ever carried out by any Jewish king. It far transcended, not only the efforts made by Jehoiada in the time of Joash ( 2 Kings 11:17-21 ; 2 Kings 12:1-16 ), and the feeble attempts of Manasseh on his return from Babylon ( 2 Chronicles 33:15-19 ), but even the earnest endeavors of Hezekiah at the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:5

And he put down the idolatrous priests ; literally, the chemarim . The same word is used of idolatrous priests in Hosea 10:5 and Zephaniah 1:4 . It is best connected with the Arabic root chamar , colere deum , and with the Syriac cumro , "priest" or "sacrificer." The Syrian priests were probably so called at the time, and the Hebrews took the word, and applied it to all false priests or idolatrous priests, reserving their own cohanim ( כֹּהֲנִים ) for true Jehovistic... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 23:4-20

A parenthesis giving the earlier reforms of Josiah.2 Kings 23:4The priests of the second order - This is a new expression; and probably refers to the ordinary priests, called here “priests of the second order,” in contrast with the high priest, whose dignity was reviving (2 Kings 12:2 note).The vessels - This would include the whole apparatus of worship, altars, images, dresses, utensils, etc., for Baal, etc. (2 Kings 21:3-5 notes).The ashes of the idolatrous objects burned in the first... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:4

2 Kings 23:4. The king commanded Hilkiah and the priests of the second order Either those two who were next in degree to the high-priest, and in case of sickness were to manage his work; or the heads of the twenty-four courses which David had appointed. To bring forth out of the temple Or to take care they should be brought forth. All the vessels made for Baal So that, even in the house of the Lord, the sacred temple built by Solomon, and dedicated to the honour and worship of the God... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:5

2 Kings 23:5. He put down the idolatrous priests כמרים , chemarim. Their particular business, as appears from this place, was to burn incense. Hence it is thought by some, that the faithful Jews gave them this name by way of contempt, as being continually scorched by their fumigating fires. But, according to Bishop Patrick, they were so called from being clothed in black: for the Egyptians, as well as many other pagan nations; made use of black garments when they sacrificed to the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:1-27

Extent of Josiah’s reforms (23:1-27)Josiah was not discouraged by the prophecy of judgment on Judah. Rather he intensified his efforts to change his people. His greater reformation would now begin. To gain the cooperation of all the leading citizens, he explained to them the contents of the book on which he was basing his reforms, and invited them to join with him in renewing the covenant with God (23:1-3).With uncompromising zeal, Josiah removed all idolatrous priests and destroyed all shrines... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Kings 23:4

priests of the second order (or degree), i.e. ordinary priests. the grove = the 'Asherah. See App-42 . host of heaven. Compare 2 Kings 21:3 . burned them. As prescribed in Deuteronomy 7:25 . unto Beth-el. To defile the altar there, according to the prophecy in 1 Kings 13:2 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Kings 23:5

idolatrous priests = black-robed; not kohen, as appointed by God, but kemarlm, as appointed by man. Compare Hosea 10:5 , Zephaniah 1:4 . Planets = stations: i.e. the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Hebrew. mazzaloth. Spelled Mazzaroth in Job 38:32 = stations. The Babylonian name for the divisions of the zodiac. Called in the Assyrian inscriptions "Mauzalti". (See Western Asiatic Inscriptions.) read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Kings 23:4

"And the king commanded Hilkiah the High Priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring forth out of the temple of Jehovah all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel. And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordered to burn incense in the high places in the cities of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Kings 23:5

2 Kings 23:5. The idolatrous priests— In the Hebrew כמרים kemarim. It is plain from this place, that their particular business was to burn incense. Hence the faithful Jews seem to call them כמרים in contempt, as being continually scorched by their fumigating fires. Bishop Patrick thinks, that they were so called from being clothed in black; for the Egyptians, as well as many other pagan nations, made use of black garments when they sacrificed to the infernal deities: in opposition to which, the... read more