2 Chronicles 34-36

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:33

And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel ,.... All their idols, as related in 2 Kings 23:4 , &c.; and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God ; by his edicts, and by his example: and all his days they departed not from following the Lord God of their fathers ; not publicly and universally; otherwise there were great declensions and corruptions among them, as the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 34

Josiah reigns thirty-one years; destroys idolatry in Judah, as also in Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and even to Naphtali, 2 Chronicles 34:1-7 . He begins to repair the temple, and collects money for the purpose, and employs workmen, 2 Chronicles 34:8-13 . Hilkiah the priest finds the book of the law in the temple, which is read by Shaphan before the king, 2 Chronicles 34:14-19 . He is greatly troubled, and consults Huldah the prophetess, 2 Chronicles 34:20-22 . Her exhortation, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 34:2

He declined neither to the right hand , nor to the left - He never swerved from God and truth; he never omitted what he knew to be his duty to God and his kingdom; he carried on his reformation with a steady hand; timidity did not prevent him from going far enough; and zeal did not lead him beyond due bounds. He walked in the golden mean, and his moderation was known unto all men. He went neither to the right nor to the left, he looked inward, looked forward, and looked... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 34:4

The altars of Baalim - How often have these been broken down, and how soon set up again! We see that the religion of a land is as the religion of its king. If the king were idolatrous, up went the altars, on them were placed the statues, and the smoke of incense ascended in ceaseless clouds to the honor of that which is vanity, and nothing to the world; on the other hand, when the king was truly religious, down went the idolatrous altars, broken in pieces were the images, and the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 34:5

He burnt the bones of the priests - כומריא kumeraiya , the kemarim , says the Targum. See this word explained, 2 Kings 23:5 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 34:6

The cities of Manasseh - Even those who were under the government of the Israelitish king permitted their idols and places of idolatry to be hewn down and destroyed: after the truth was declared and acknowledged, the spade and the axe were employed to complete the reformation. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 34:9

And they returned to Jerusalem - Instead of וישבו vaiyashubu , "they returned," we should read יושבי yoshebey , "the inhabitants;" a reading which is supported by many MSS., printed editions, and all the versions, as well as by necessity and common sense. See the note on 2 Chronicles 19:8 , where a similar mistake is rectified. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 34:12

All that could skill of instruments of music - Did the musicians play on their several instruments to encourage and enliven the workmen? Is not this a probable case from their mention here? If this were really the case, instrumental music was never better applied in any thing that refers to the worship of God. It is fabled of Orpheus, a most celebrated musician, that such was the enchanting harmony of his lyre, that he built the city of Thebes by it: the stones and timbers... read more

Adam Clarke