2 Kings 23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 23

We have here, I. The happy continuance of the goodness of Josiah's reign, and the progress of the reformation he began, reading the law (2 Kgs. 23:1, 2), renewing the covenant (2 Kgs. 23:3), cleansing the temple (2 Kgs. 23:4), and rooting out idols and idolatry, with all the relics thereof, in all places, as far as his power reached (2 Kgs. 23:5-20), keeping a solemn passover (2 Kgs. 23:21-23), and clearing the country of witches (2 Kgs. 23:24); and in all this acting with extraordinary... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 23:1-3

Josiah had received a message from God that there was no preventing the ruin of Jerusalem, but that he should deliver only his own soul; yet he did not therefore sit down in despair, and resolve to do nothing for his country because he could not do all he would. No, he would do his duty, and then leave the event to God. A public reformation was the thing resolved on; if any thing could prevent the threatened ruin it must be that; and here we have the preparations for that reformation. 1. He... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 23:25-30

Upon the reading of these verses we must say, Lord, though thy righteousness be as the great mountains?evident, conspicuous, and past dispute, yet thy judgments are a great deep, unfathomable and past finding out, Ps. 36:6. What shall we say to this? I. It is here owned that Josiah was one of the best kings that ever sat upon the throne of David, 2 Kgs. 23:25. As Hezekiah was a non-such for faith and dependence upon God in straits (2 Kgs. 18:5), so Josiah was a non-such for sincerity and zeal... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 23:31-37

Jerusalem saw not a good day after Josiah was laid in his grave, but one trouble came after another, till within twenty-two years it was quite destroyed. Of the reign of two of his sons here is a short account; the former we find here a prisoner and the latter a tributary to the king of Egypt, and both so in the very beginning of their reign. This king of Egypt having slain Josiah, though he had not had any design upon Judah, yet, being provoked by the opposition which Josiah gave him, now, it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 23 This chapter treats of Josiah's reading the book of the law, and of him and the people renewing the covenant with God, 2 Kings 23:1 , and of his removing idols and idolatry in every shape, and witchcraft, out of the land, which he did in the sincerity of his heart, 2 Kings 23:4 , yet the wrath of God was still determined upon the land, 2 Kings 23:26 and Josiah was taken away by an untimely death, 2 Kings 23:29 and was succeeded by two sons of his, one... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:1

And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. Josiah sent messengers throughout the land, and convened all the principal men in it at Jerusalem. read more

John Gill

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

And the king went up into the house of the Lord ,.... To the temple, from his palace: and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him : they met him there: and the priests, and the prophets ; the prophets Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Uriah, who, though they might not be at Jerusalem when the book of the law was found, yet, upon this message of the king's, might come up thither from the countries where they were; the Targum interprets the word "scribes": and some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:3

And the king stood by a pillar ,.... As the manner of kings was, 2 Kings 11:14 and is thought to be the brasen scaffold erected by Solomon, on which he stood at the dedication of the temple, and now Josiah at the reading of the law, 2 Chronicles 6:13 , it is said to be his place, 2 Chronicles 34:31 ; see Gill on 2 Kings 11:14 . and made a covenant before the Lord : agreed and promised in the presence of God, both he and his people: to walk after the Lord : the worship of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:4

And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order ,.... Or the second course of the priests; the course of Jedaiah, 1 Chronicles 24:7 as some think; or rather, the two chief priests next to the high priest, who were of the line both of Eleazar and Ithamar; though the Targum interprets it of the Sagan of the priests, a deputy of the high priest, such as in later times the high priest had always appointed for him on the day of atonement F18 Misn. Yoma,... read more

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