2 Chronicles 34

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34

Before we see Judah and Jerusalem ruined we shall yet see some glorious years, while good Josiah sits at the helm. By his pious endeavours for reformation God tried them yet once more; if they had known in this their day, the day of their visitation, the things that belonged to their peace and improved them, their ruin might have been prevented. But after this reign they were hidden from their eyes, and the next reigns brought an utter desolation upon them. In this chapter we have, I. A... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:1-7

Concerning Josiah we are here told, 1. That he came to the crown when he was very young, only eight years old (yet his infancy did not debar him from his right), and he reigned thirty-one years (2 Chron. 34:1), a considerable time. I fear, however, that in the beginning of his reign things went much as they had done in his father's time, because, being a child, he must have left the management of them to others; so that it was not till his twelfth year, which goes far in the number of his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:8-13

Here, 1. Orders are given by the king for the repair of the temple, 2 Chron. 34:8. When he had purged the house of the corruptions of it he began to fit it up for the services that were to be performed in it. Thus we must do by the spiritual temple of the heart, get it cleansed from the pollutions of sin, and then renewed, so as to be transformed into the image of God. Josiah, in this order, calls God the Lord his God. Those that truly love God will love the habitation of his house. 2. Care is... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:14-28

This whole paragraph we had, just as it is here related, 2 Kgs. 22:8-20, and have nothing to add here to what was there observed. But, 1. We may hence take occasion to bless God that we have plenty of Bibles, and that they are, or may be, in all hands,?that the book of the law and gospel is not lost, is not scarce,?that, in this sense, the word of the Lord is not precious. Bibles are jewels, but, thanks be to God, they are not rarities. The fountain of the waters of life is not a spring shut... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:29-33

We have here an account of the further advances which Josiah made towards the reformation of his kingdom upon the hearing of the law read and the receipt of the message God sent him by the prophetess. Happy the people that had such a king; for here we find that, 1. They were well taught. He did not go about to force them to do their duty, till he had first instructed them in it. He called all the people together, great and small, young and old, rich and poor, high and low. He that hath ears to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 34 This chapter begins with the good reign of Josiah, the reformation he made in the land, purging it from idolatry, 2 Chronicles 34:1 , relates the orders he gave to repair the house of the Lord, which was accordingly done, 2 Chronicles 34:8 , when the book of the law was found and brought to him, which greatly affected him, 2 Chronicles 34:12 , upon which he deputed some persons to inquire of the Lord, who did of Huldah the prophetess, to whom she gave... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:1-2

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign ,.... Of these two verses; see Gill on 2 Kings 22:1 ; see Gill on 2 Kings 22:2 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:3

For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young ,.... Being in the sixteenth year of his age; though Kimchi thinks it was the very year he began to reign, which was the eighth of his age; and Jarchi observes, it may be interpreted, "though he was young, he began to seek after the God of David his father"; to pray unto him, to seek after the knowledge of him, and the true manner of worshipping him, what were his will, commands, and ordinances; the Targum is,"to seek instruction or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:4

And they broke down the altars of Baalim in his presence ,.... He not only ordered them to be broke down, but he went in person, and saw it done; these were the altars Manasseh had reared up to the idols; and though upon his humiliation he cast them out, they were rebuilt by Amon his son, see 2 Chronicles 33:3 , and the images that were above them he cut down ; sun images, as the word signifies; these Chamanim might be representatives of Cham or Ham, the son of Noah, the same with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 34:5

And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars ,.... On which they sacrificed, in detestation of their idolatry, and to deter from it; and this he did according to the prophecy of him, above three hundred and fifty years before: and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem ; from idolatry, and all the monuments of it. read more

Group of Brands