2 Kings 23:16-18 KJV

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 23:15-20

The altar at Bethel. From Judah Josiah passed on to Israel, continuing his work of idol-demolition. Everywhere he went he proved himself a veritable "hammer of God"—leveling, defacing, dishonoring, destroying. I. AN ANCIENT PROPHECY FULFILLED . 1. Iconoclasm at Bethel . Bethel had been the chief scene of Israel's idolatry—the head and front of its offending (cf. Hosea 4:15 ; Hosea 10:4-9 , etc.). On it Josiah's zeal first expended itself. Hosea had prophesied its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:16

And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchers that were there in the mount. The Israelite sepulchers, excavated in the reeky sides of hills, are everywhere conspicuous. Those of Bethel may have been in the low hill on which the town stands, or in the sides of the Wady Suweinit, a little further to the south. His accidentally " spying the sepulchers" gave Josiah the thought of completing his desecration of Bethel by having bones brought from them and burnt upon the altar—whereby... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:17

Then he said, What title is that that I see? rather, What pillar is that that I see? Josiah's eye caught sight of a "pillar" or obelisk ( צִיוֹן ) among the tombs, or in their neighborhood, and he had the curiosity to ask what it was. And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulcher of the man of God, which earns from Judah (see 1 Kings 13:1 ). The "pillar" could not have been the actual "sepulcher," but was no doubt a monument connected with it. Many of the Phoenician... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:18

And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. Josiah remembered the circumstances when they were recalled to him, and, in order to show honor to the "man of God" ( 1 Kings 13:1-34 ; passim ), commanded that his tomb should be undisturbed. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria ; i.e. with the bones of the Israelite prophet, who had taken care to be buried with him. The reference is to 1 Kings 13:31 . 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 23:16

2 Kings 23:16. As Josiah turned himself His care and zeal were so great that he would not trust his officers with these things, but would see them done with his own eyes. He spied the sepulchres that were in the mount It is not said whose sepulchres they were, but it is probable they were those of the idolatrous priests, (for, 2 Chronicles 34:5, he is said to have burned their bones,) and of the false prophets and great men who had been instruments to promote Jeroboam’s idolatry, and who... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:17

2 Kings 23:17. He said, What title is that that I see? It was the custom then, as it is now, to set up little pillars or stones by or upon the graves of the higher sort of men, upon which the names of the deceased persons, and some remarkable passages relating to them, were engraven. The king observing a stone or pillar of this kind more eminent than the rest, with an inscription upon it not legible, inquired whose title it was. And the men of the city told him That is, some of the old... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:18

2 Kings 23:18. He said, Let no man move his bones It is pertinently observed by Joh. Wolfius, that if pious persons, in those days, had had the same opinion about relics which has long been prevalent in the Church of Rome, the king would not have ordered his bones to remain quiet and undisturbed, but would have put them into golden boxes, and carried them to Jerusalem, to be there regarded with religious, if not idolatrous veneration by the people. 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

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:4-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:15-20

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:17

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 23:18

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

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:16

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 23:18

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:1-27

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