2 Kings 23:12-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 23:4-24

We have here an account of such a reformation as we have not met with in all the history of the kings of Judah, such thorough riddance made of all the abominable things and such foundations laid of a glorious good work; and here I cannot but wonder at two things:?1. That so many wicked things should have got in, and kept standing so long, as we find here removed. 2. That notwithstanding the removal of these wicked things, and the hopeful prospects here given of a happy settlement, yet within a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:12

And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made ,.... Which were on the roof of the royal palace; the roofs of houses in Judah being flat, Deuteronomy 21:8 altars might be built upon them; so, in Arabia, altars were built on the tops of houses to offer incense thereon daily to the sun F16 Strabo, Geograph l. 16. p. 539. ; as here by Manasseh and Amon very probably, which might be chosen because nearer the heavens; for which reason... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:13

And the high places that were before Jerusalem ,.... Not only that were within the city, and at the gates of it, but what were without it: which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption : the mount of Olives, so called from the idolatry and corrupt worship performed in it, by way of reproach, with a small alteration of the letters of the word משחית for משחה ; at the right hand, or south of this mountain, as the Targum; though others say F17 Vid Adrichom. Theatrum T. S.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:14

And he brake in pieces the images ,.... Of Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom, in the above high places; which as these high places had been rebuilt by Manasseh or Amon, so new images of these deities were placed there: and cut down the groves ; in which they were set: and filled their places with the bones of men ; of idolatrous priests and worshippers, buried in parts adjacent; these he dug up and scattered in the high places and groves to defile them, bones of the dead being by law... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 23:12

On the top of the upper chamber - Altars built on the flat roof of the house. Such altars were erected to the sun, moon, stars, etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 23:13

Mount of corruption - This, says Jarchi, following the Chaldee, was the mount of Olives, for this is the mount המשחה hammishchah , of unction; but because of the idolatrous purposes for which it was used, the Scripture changed the appellation to the mount המשחית hammashchith , of corruption. Ashtoreth the abomination , etc. - See on 1 Kings 11:7 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 23:14

Filled their places with the bones of men - This was allowed to be the utmost defilement to which any thing could be exposed. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:1-14

Josiah's great reformation. The narrative of Josiah's reforms contained in this chapter incorporates several particulars which, if the Book of Chronicles is to be regarded as giving the true chronology, belong to an earlier period. It is next to incredible that, after Jehovah's worship had been regularly established, such scandals as the prostitution alluded to in 2 Kings 23:7 , and the horses and chariots of the sun in 2 Kings 23:11 , should have Been allowed to continue. The narrative... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:1-25

Good aims and bad methods. "And the king sent," etc. Did the world ever contain a people more morally corrupt than that of the Jews? When we mark them journeying in the wilderness forty years, a more murmuring, disorderly, rebellious set of men where else could we discover? When settled in Palestine, a "land flowing with milk and honey" we find them committing every crime of which humanity is capable—adulteries, suicides, murders, ruthless wars, gross idolatries, their priests impostors,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:1-37

JOSIAH 'S RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT . HIS REFORMS AND DEATH . REIGN OF JEHOAHAZ . ACCESSION OF JEHOIAKIM . read more

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