2 Kings 23:12-14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:4-27

Josiah ' s reformation of religion . The reformation of religion by Josiah next engages the writer's attention, and is treated, not chronologically, but rather gee-graphically, under the three heads of The celebration of the Passover is then briefly noticed ( 2 Kings 23:21-25 ); and the section concludes with a eulogy of Josiah ( 2 Kings 23:24 , 2 Kings 23:25 ), who, however, it is noticed could not, with all his piety, obtain a revocation of the sentence passed on Judah in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:4-27

The inability of the best intentions and the strongest will to convert a nation that is corrupt to the core. Josiah's reformation was the most energetic and the most thorough-going that was ever carried out by any Jewish king. It far transcended, not only the efforts made by Jehoiada in the time of Joash ( 2 Kings 11:17-21 ; 2 Kings 12:1-16 ), and the feeble attempts of Manasseh on his return from Babylon ( 2 Chronicles 33:15-19 ), but even the earnest endeavors of Hezekiah at the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:12

And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz. It would seem that "the upper chamber of Ahaz" was within the temple precincts, since the pollutions spoken of, both before and after, are pollutions belonging to the temple. It may have been erected on the flat roof of one of the gates, or on the top of a store-chamber. Altars upon roofs were a new form of idolatry, apparently connected with the worship of the "host of heaven" (see Jeremiah 19:13 ; Zephaniah 1:5 ). Which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:13

And the high places that were before Jerusalem. The high places which Solomon established in the neighborhood of Jerusalem for the use of his wives, and in the worship at which he became himself entangled in his old age, appear to have been situated on the ridge of the mountain which lies over against Jerusalem to the east, a part of which is Olivet. The southern summit, the traditional roans offensionis , was probably the high place of Moloch (Milcom), while the most northern summit... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:14

And he brake in pieces the images —or, pillars (see the comment on 1 Kings 14:23 )— and out down the groves — i.e. the asherim , or "sacred trees"— and filled their places with the bones of men. Whatever spoke of death and dissolution was a special defilement to shrines where the gods worshipped were deities of productivity and generation. Bones of men had also the actual taint of corruption about them. The "uncleanness" of dead bodies arose first out of man's natural shrinking... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 23:4-20

A parenthesis giving the earlier reforms of Josiah.2 Kings 23:4The priests of the second order - This is a new expression; and probably refers to the ordinary priests, called here “priests of the second order,” in contrast with the high priest, whose dignity was reviving (2 Kings 12:2 note).The vessels - This would include the whole apparatus of worship, altars, images, dresses, utensils, etc., for Baal, etc. (2 Kings 21:3-5 notes).The ashes of the idolatrous objects burned in the first... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:12

2 Kings 23:12. The altars on the top of the upper chamber, &c. “Read,” says Mr. Locke, “the altars on the house-top.” According to Jeremiah, chap. Jeremiah 32:29, they were so mad upon their idols, that they were not content with their numerous public high places and altars, but made others upon their house-tops for the worship of Baal and others of their false gods. And the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts, &c. We learn from 2 Chronicles 33:13-15, that when... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:13

2 Kings 23:13. The high places on the right hand of the mount of Corruption That is, the mount of Olives, (1 Kings 11:7,) called the mount of Corruption, for the gross idolatry there practised. Which Solomon had builded for Ashtoreth, &c. Not the same individual altars; which, doubtless, either Solomon, upon his repentance, or some other of Josiah’s predecessors, had taken away, but other altars built by Manasseh or Amen, which, because erected by Solomon’s example, and for the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:14

2 Kings 23:14 . And filled their places The places of the groves; with the bones of men Of the idolatrous priests, which he caused to be taken out of their graves, 2 Kings 23:18. As he carried the ashes of the images to the graves, to mingle them with dead men’s bones, so he carried dead men’s bones to the places where the images had been, that both ways idolatry might be rendered loathsome. Dead men and dead gods were indeed much alike, and fittest to go together. 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

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