2 Kings 23:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:6

2 Kings 23:6. And cast the powder thereof upon the graves By the law, a ceremonial uncleanness was contracted by the touch of a grave, so that by casting these ashes here, he declared them most impure, and that none could touch them without making themselves unclean thereby. The Chaldee renders it, He cast it into the graves, to signify that he would have all idolatry buried out of his sight, as a loathsome thing. Of the children of the people The common people, whose graves were made... 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 23:6

graves. Hebrew. keber. See note on 2 Kings 21:26 . of the children of the people = of the common people in Jeremiah 26:23 . In 2 Chronicles 35:5 it = the laity as distinguished from Levites. children = sons. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Kings 23:6

2 Kings 23:6. And he brought out the grove— And he brought out Aschera. Houbigant. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 23:6

6. brought out the grove—that is, Asherah, the mystic tree, placed by Manasseh in the temple [2 Kings 21:5; 2 Chronicles 33:5], removed by him after his conversion [2 Chronicles 33:5- :], but replaced in the sanctuary by his wicked son Amon [2 Kings 21:20; 2 Kings 21:21]. Josiah had it taken to Kidron, burnt the wood, ground the metal about it to powder, and strewed the ashes "on the graves of the children of the people." The poor were buried in a common on part of the valley of Kidron. But... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 23:1-30

D. Josiah’s Good Reign 22:1-23:30Since Josiah was eight years old when his father died at age 22, he must have been born when Amon was only 14. It was very common, both in the ancient Near East generally and in Israel, for kings to marry very young and to father children when they were early teenagers. [Note: Nadav Na’aman, "Historical and Chronological Notes on the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah in the Eighth Century B.C.," Vetus Testamentum 36 (1986):83-91.] The years Josiah ruled were 640-609... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 23:3-27

2. Josiah’s reforms 22:3-23:27Josiah began to seek Yahweh when he was 16 years old and began initiating religious reforms when he was 20 (2 Chronicles 34:3-7). His reforms were more extensive than those of any of his predecessors. One of them involved the repair of Solomon’s temple (2 Kings 22:5; cf. 2 Kings 12:4-16). He began this project when he was 26.". . . Josiah rules during years in which Assyria fades but also those in which Babylon is not yet ready to rule as far west as Judah and in a... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 23:1-37

Religious Reform. Josiah’s Death2. The prophets] Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah lived about this time. Read in their ears] cp. the similar proceeding related in Nehemiah 8:4.; 3. By a pillar] or, ’upon a platform’: cp. Nehemiah 11:144. The priests of the second order] probably to be corrected into ’the second priest’ (as in 2 Kings 25:18), i.e. the high priest’s deputy. Grove] see on 2 Kings 21:7. 5. The planets] or, ’the signs of the zodiac’ The word is said to mean ’mansions,’ the stars... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 23:6

(6) And he brought out the grove . . .—The Asherah set up by Manasseh (2 Kings 21:3; 2 Kings 21:7), and removed by him on his repentance (2 Chronicles 33:15), but restored (probably) by Amon (2 Kings 21:21).Unto the brook . . . at the brook.—Unto the ravine . . . in the ravine, or wady.The graves of the children (sons) of the people—i.e., the common graves (Jeremiah 26:23); a mark of utter contempt: 2 Chronicles 34:4 paraphrases, “the graves of them that sacrificed unto them.” read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:1-25

JOSIAH’S REFORMATION2 Kings 22:8-20; 2 Kings 23:1-25"And the works of Josias were upright before his Lord with a heart full of godliness."- #/RAPC 1 Esdras 1:23"From Zion shall go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem."- Isaiah 2:3IT is from the Prophets-Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Ezekiel-that we catch almost our sole glimpses of the vast world-movements of the nations which must have loomed large on the minds of the King of Judah and of all earnest politicians in... read more

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