2 Kings 23:21-27

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:21

And the king commanded all the people ,.... Not at Jerusalem only, but throughout the whole kingdom: saying: keep the passover unto the Lord your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant ; which had been lately found and read, and they had agreed to observe, and in which this ordinance was strictly enjoined, and was a commemoration of their deliverance out of Egypt, and a direction of their faith to the Messiah, the antitype of the passover. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:22

Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel ,.... As the king commanded; the people obeyed and kept the passover, according to the law of the Lord; the manner of its being kept is not here recorded, but is at large in 2 Chronicles 35:1 where it is observed there had not been such an one from the days of Samuel, the last of the judges; so that the days of the judges here mean the last days of them: nor in all the days of the kings of Israel,... read more

John Gill

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

But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the Lord in Jerusalem. This shows that Josiah must begin the reformation very early that year, since he did all that is before recorded in this and the preceding chapter by the fourteenth of Nisan, the day on which the passover was kept, which month answers to part of our March and part of April, see 2 Kings 22:3 and was the same year the repairs of the temple were finished. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:24

Moreover, the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards ,.... Who were not to be allowed among the Israelites, Deuteronomy 18:10 . and the images; or teraphim: and the idols, and all the abominations ; which were worshipped by the Heathens, and introduced among the Jews, and forbidden by the word of God: that were spied in the land of Judah, and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away ; for which, it seems, diligent search was made, and wherever they were discovered were removed: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:25

And like unto him was there no king before him ,.... The same is said of Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:5 , Hezekiah might excel him in some things, as Josiah might excel Hezekiah in others: that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might ; with such sincerity, heartiness, zeal, and constancy: according to all the law of Moses ; having respect to every commandment, especially relative to worship, with the greatest precision and exactness: neither... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:26

Notwithstanding, the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah ,.... Notwithstanding the great reformation wrought among them; for though Josiah was a sincere reformer, and did what he did heartily, as to the Lord, according to his will, and for his glory; yet the people were not sincere in their compliance, they turned to the Lord not with their whole heart, but feignedly, Jeremiah 3:10 . because of all the provocations that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 23:27

And the Lord said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel. Not from his all seeing eye, but from being the object of his special care and protection; the meaning is, that he would suffer them to he carried out of their land into captivity as Israel was; this he had said in his heart, was determined upon; the decree was gone forth, and it was irrevocable: and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen : for the place of his worship, the people having... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 23:22

Surely there was not holden such a passover - Not one on purer principles, more heartily joined in by the people present, more literally consecrated, or more religiously observed. The words do not apply to the number present, but to the manner and spirit. See the particulars and mode of celebrating this passover in 2 Chronicles 35:1-18 (note). read more

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