2 Kings 22:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 22:1-10

Concerning Josiah we are here told, I. That he was very young when he began to reign (2 Kgs. 22:1), only eight years old. Solomon says, Woe unto thee, O land! when thy king is a child; but happy art thou, O land! when thy king is such a child. Our English Israel had once a king that was such a child, Edward VI. Josiah, being young, had not received any bad impressions from the example of his father and grandfather, but soon saw their errors, and God gave his grace to take warning by them. See... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 22:4

Go up to Hilkiah the high priest ,.... Who had an apartment in the temple; there was an Hilkiah, a priest, in those times, who was the father of Jeremiah the prophet, Jeremiah 1:1 , whom an Arabic writer F12 Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. p. 68. takes to be the same with this; but it is not likely: that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the Lord which the people voluntarily offered for the repairing of it; this he would have the priest take an account of, that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 22:4

That he may sum the silver - As Josiah began to seek the Lord as soon as he began to reign, we may naturally conclude that the worship of God that was neglected and suppressed by his father, was immediately restored; and the people began their accustomed offerings to the temple. Ten years therefore had elapsed since these offerings began; no one had, as yet, taken account of them; nor were they applied to the use for which they were given, viz., the repairing the breaches of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:1-7

GENERAL CHARACTER OF JOSIAH 'S REIGN . His repair of the temple . The writer begins his account of Josiah's reign with the usual brief summary, giving his age at his accession, the length of his reign, his mother's name and birthplace ( 2 Kings 22:1 ), and the general character of his rule ( 2 Kings 22:2 ). He then proceeds to mention some circumstances connected with the repair of the temple, which Josiah had taken in hand ( 2 Kings 22:3-7 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:1-7

Josiah: the temple again repaired. The reign of Josiah affords another example of the law of action and reaction in national life. Dr. R. Payne Smith says, "The nation itself had gradually swung round, as nations now do, and had begun to be as dissatisfied with Baal and Moloch as their fathers had been with Jehovah" ('Introduction to Jeremiah'); and Dean Stanley remarks, "The popular election which placed Josiah on the throne, of itself marks some strong change of public feeling". It is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:1-13

A righteous branch from a wicked root. Josiah is the most astonishing instance that is contained in Scripture of goodness springing up, and attaining high perfection under the most extraordinarily unfavorable circumstances. Josiah was— I. THE SON OF AN EXTRAORDINARILY WICKED FATHER . Amon, Josiah's father, did evil in the sight of the Lord to an extent scarcely equaled even by any of the Israelite monarchs. "He forsook the Lord God of his fathers" ( 2 Kings 21:22 ), and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:1-20

ACCESSION OF JOSIAH . REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE . RECOVERY OF THE BOOK OF THE LAW . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:1-20

A monarch of rare virtue, and a God of retributive justice. "Josiah was eight years old," etc. There are two subjects in this chapter that arrest our attention, and which are fertile with suggestions. I. A MONARCH OF RARE VIRTUE . "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem," etc. In this monarch we discover four distinguished merits. 1. Religiousness of action . "He did that which was right in the sight of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:4

Go up to Hilkiah the high priest. Hilkiah is mentioned again in the genealogy of Ezra ( Ezra 7:1 ). He is there called "the son of Shallum." That he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the Lord. A collection must have been progressing for some time. As in the reign of Joash, after the impieties and idolatry of Athaliah, it was found necessary to collect money for the repair of the temple ( 2 Kings 12:4-14 ), so now, after the wicked doings of Manasseh and Amen, a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 22:4

Hilkiah - Hilkiah was the father (or grandfather) of Seraiah (compare 1 Chronicles 6:13-14, with Nehemiah 11:11), high priest at the time of the captivity 2 Kings 25:18. and ancestor of Ezra the scribe Ezra 7:1.It is evident from the expressions of this verse that a collection for the repairs of the temple, similar to that established in the reign of Joash 2 Kings 12:9-10, had been for some considerable time in progress (compare 2 Chronicles 34:3), and the king now sent to know the result. read more

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