sodomites = male prostitutes. Suppression directed in Deuteronomy 23:17 , Deuteronomy 23:18 . See note on 1 Kings 14:23 , 1 Kings 14:24 . hangings. Hebrew houses. Probably veils to cover the 'Asherah, as it is covered in Romish processions to-day. read more
the high places. Seemingly (from 2 Kings 23:9 ) some were used for the worship of Jehovah. See notes on 2 Kings 18:20 ; 2Ki 19:10 , 2 Kings 19:14 . Geba. NOW Jeba (Joshua 18:24 ). Beer-sheba. Southern boundary (Genesis 21:31 .Judges 20:1; Judges 20:1 ). Compare Amos 5:5 ; Amos 8:14 . read more
FURTHER EXTENSIONS OF JOSIAH'S REFORMATION"And 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 he brake down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city. Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of Jehovah in Jerusalem, but they did eat unleavened bread... read more
2 Kings 23:6. And he brought out the grove— And he brought out Aschera. Houbigant. read more
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
7. brake down the houses of the sodomites—not solid houses, but tents, called elsewhere [ :-] Succoth-benoth, "the booths of the young women," who were devoted to the service of Asherah, for which they made embroidered hangings, and in which they gave themselves to unbridled revelry and lust. Or the hangings might be for Asherah itself, as it is a popular superstition in the East to hang pieces of cloth on trees. read more
8, 9. he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places, c.—Many of the Levitical order, finding in the reigns of Manasseh and Amon the temple-worship abolished and the tithes and other offerings alienated, had been betrayed into the folly of officiating on high places, and presenting such sacrifices as were brought to them. These irregularities, even though the object of that worship was the true God, were prohibited in the law ( :-). Those who had been guilty... read more
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
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
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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