Westminster Leningrad Codex with Strong’s numbers

1 וַיִּשְׁלַחH7971 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 וַיַּאַסְפוּH622 אֵלָיוH413 כָּלH3605 זִקְנֵיH2205 יְהוּדָהH3063 וִירוּשָׁלִָֽםH3389

2 וַיַּעַלH5927 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 וְכָלH3605 אִישׁH376 יְהוּדָהH3063 וְכָלH3605 יֹשְׁבֵיH3427 יְרוּשָׁלִַםH3389 אִתּוֹH854 וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִיםH3548 וְהַנְּבִיאִיםH5030 וְכָלH3605 הָעָםH5971 לְמִקָּטֹןH6996 וְעַדH5704 גָּדוֹלH1419 וַיִּקְרָאH7121 בְאָזְנֵיהֶםH241 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 דִּבְרֵיH1697 סֵפֶרH5612 הַבְּרִיתH1285 הַנִּמְצָאH4672 בְּבֵיתH1004 יְהוָֽהH3068

3 וַיַּעֲמֹדH5975 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 עַֽלH5921 הָעַמּוּדH5982 וַיִּכְרֹתH3772 אֶֽתH853 הַבְּרִיתH1285 לִפְנֵיH6440 יְהוָהH3068 לָלֶכֶתH1980 אַחַרH310 יְהוָהH3068 וְלִשְׁמֹרH8104 מִצְוֺתָיוH4687 וְאֶתH853 עֵדְוֺתָיוH5715 וְאֶתH853 חֻקֹּתָיוH2708 בְּכָלH3605 לֵבH3820 וּבְכָלH3605 נֶפֶשׁH5315 לְהָקִיםH6965 אֶתH853 דִּבְרֵיH1697 הַבְּרִיתH1285 הַזֹּאתH2063 הַכְּתֻבִיםH3789 עַלH5921 הַסֵּפֶרH5612 הַזֶּהH2088 וַיַּעֲמֹדH5975 כָּלH3605 הָעָםH5971 בַּבְּרִֽיתH1285

4 וַיְצַוH6680 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 אֶתH853 חִלְקִיָּהוּH2518 הַכֹּהֵןH3548 הַגָּדוֹלH1419 וְאֶתH853 כֹּהֲנֵיH3548 הַמִּשְׁנֶהH4932 וְאֶתH853 שֹׁמְרֵיH8104 הַסַּףH5592 לְהוֹצִיאH3318 מֵהֵיכַלH1964 יְהוָהH3068 אֵתH853 כָּלH3605 הַכֵּלִיםH3627 הָֽעֲשׂוּיִםH6213 לַבַּעַלH1168 וְלָֽאֲשֵׁרָהH842 וּלְכֹלH3605 צְבָאH6635 הַשָּׁמָיִםH8064 וַֽיִּשְׂרְפֵםH8313 מִחוּץH2351 לִירוּשָׁלִַםH3389 בְּשַׁדְמוֹתH7709 קִדְרוֹןH6939 וְנָשָׂאH5375 אֶתH853 עֲפָרָםH6083 בֵּֽיתH0 אֵֽלH1008

5 וְהִשְׁבִּיתH7673 אֶתH853 הַכְּמָרִיםH3649 אֲשֶׁרH834 נָֽתְנוּH5414 מַלְכֵיH4428 יְהוּדָהH3063 וַיְקַטֵּרH6999 בַּבָּמוֹתH1116 בְּעָרֵיH5892 יְהוּדָהH3063 וּמְסִבֵּיH4524 יְרוּשָׁלִָםH3389 וְאֶתH853 הַֽמְקַטְּרִיםH6999 לַבַּעַלH1168 לַשֶּׁמֶשׁH8121 וְלַיָּרֵחַH3394 וְלַמַּזָּלוֹתH4208 וּלְכֹלH3605 צְבָאH6635 הַשָּׁמָֽיִםH8064

6 וַיֹּצֵאH3318 אֶתH853 הָאֲשֵׁרָהH842 מִבֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 מִחוּץH2351 לִירוּשָׁלִַםH3389 אֶלH413 נַחַלH5158 קִדְרוֹןH6939 וַיִּשְׂרֹףH8313 אֹתָהּH853 בְּנַחַלH5158 קִדְרוֹןH6939 וַיָּדֶקH1854 לְעָפָרH6083 וַיַּשְׁלֵךְH7993 אֶתH853 עֲפָרָהּH6083 עַלH5921 קֶבֶרH6913 בְּנֵיH1121 הָעָֽםH5971

7 וַיִּתֹּץH5422 אֶתH853 בָּתֵּיH1004 הַקְּדֵשִׁיםH6945 אֲשֶׁרH834 בְּבֵיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 אֲשֶׁרH834 הַנָּשִׁיםH802 אֹרְגוֹתH707 שָׁםH8033 בָּתִּיםH1004 לָאֲשֵׁרָֽהH842

8 וַיָּבֵאH935 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 הַכֹּֽהֲנִיםH3548 מֵעָרֵיH5892 יְהוּדָהH3063 וַיְטַמֵּאH2930 אֶתH853 הַבָּמוֹתH1116 אֲשֶׁרH834 קִטְּרוּH6999 שָׁמָּהH8033 הַכֹּהֲנִיםH3548 מִגֶּבַעH1387 עַדH5704 בְּאֵרH0 שָׁבַעH884 וְנָתַץH5422 אֶתH853 בָּמוֹתH1116 הַשְּׁעָרִיםH8179 אֲשֶׁרH834 פֶּתַחH6607 שַׁעַרH8179 יְהוֹשֻׁעַH3091 שַׂרH8269 הָעִירH5892 אֲשֶֽׁרH834 עַלH5921 שְׂמֹאולH8040 אִישׁH376 בְּשַׁעַרH8179 הָעִֽירH5892

9 אַךְH389 לֹאH3808 יַֽעֲלוּH5927 כֹּהֲנֵיH3548 הַבָּמוֹתH1116 אֶלH413 מִזְבַּחH4196 יְהוָהH3068 בִּירוּשָׁלִָםH3389 כִּיH3588 אִםH518 אָכְלוּH398 מַצּוֹתH4682 בְּתוֹךְH8432 אֲחֵיהֶֽםH251

10 וְטִמֵּאH2930 אֶתH853 הַתֹּפֶתH8612 אֲשֶׁרH834 בְּגֵיH1516 בניH1121 בֶןH1121 הִנֹּםH2011 לְבִלְתִּיH1115 לְהַעֲבִירH5674 אִישׁH376 אֶתH853 בְּנוֹH1121 וְאֶתH853 בִּתּוֹH1323 בָּאֵשׁH784 לַמֹּֽלֶךְH4432

11 וַיַּשְׁבֵּתH7673 אֶתH853 הַסּוּסִיםH5483 אֲשֶׁרH834 נָתְנוּH5414 מַלְכֵיH4428 יְהוּדָהH3063 לַשֶּׁמֶשׁH8121 מִבֹּאH935 בֵיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 אֶלH413 לִשְׁכַּתH3957 נְתַןH0 מֶלֶךְH5419 הַסָּרִיסH5631 אֲשֶׁרH834 בַּפַּרְוָרִיםH6503 וְאֶתH853 מַרְכְּבוֹתH4818 הַשֶּׁמֶשׁH8121 שָׂרַףH8313 בָּאֵֽשׁH784

12 וְאֶֽתH853 הַֽמִּזְבְּחוֹתH4196 אֲשֶׁרH834 עַלH5921 הַגָּגH1406 עֲלִיַּתH5944 אָחָזH271 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשׂוּH6213 מַלְכֵיH4428 יְהוּדָהH3063 וְאֶתH853 הַֽמִּזְבְּחוֹתH4196 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָׂהH6213 מְנַשֶּׁהH4519 בִּשְׁתֵּיH8147 חַצְרוֹתH2691 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 נָתַץH5422 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 וַיָּרָץH7323 מִשָּׁםH8033 וְהִשְׁלִיךְH7993 אֶתH853 עֲפָרָםH6083 אֶלH413 נַחַלH5158 קִדְרֽוֹןH6939

13 וְֽאֶתH853 הַבָּמוֹתH1116 אֲשֶׁרH834 עַלH5921 פְּנֵיH6440 יְרוּשָׁלִַםH3389 אֲשֶׁרH834 מִימִיןH3225 לְהַרH2022 הַמַּשְׁחִיתH4889 אֲשֶׁרH834 בָּנָהH1129 שְׁלֹמֹהH8010 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 לְעַשְׁתֹּרֶתH6253 שִׁקֻּץH8251 צִידֹנִיםH6722 וְלִכְמוֹשׁH3645 שִׁקֻּץH8251 מוֹאָבH4124 וּלְמִלְכֹּםH4445 תּוֹעֲבַתH8441 בְּנֵֽיH1121 עַמּוֹןH5983 טִמֵּאH2930 הַמֶּֽלֶךְH4428

14 וְשִׁבַּרH7665 אֶתH853 הַמַּצֵּבוֹתH4676 וַיִּכְרֹתH3772 אֶתH853 הָאֲשֵׁרִיםH842 וַיְמַלֵּאH4390 אֶתH853 מְקוֹמָםH4725 עַצְמוֹתH6106 אָדָֽםH120

15 וְגַםH1571 אֶתH853 הַמִּזְבֵּחַH4196 אֲשֶׁרH834 בְּבֵֽיתH0 אֵלH1008 הַבָּמָהH1116 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָׂהH6213 יָרָבְעָםH3379 בֶּןH1121 נְבָטH5028 אֲשֶׁרH834 הֶחֱטִיאH2398 אֶתH853 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 גַּםH1571 אֶתH853 הַמִּזְבֵּחַH4196 הַהוּאH1931 וְאֶתH853 הַבָּמָהH1116 נָתָץH5422 וַיִּשְׂרֹףH8313 אֶתH853 הַבָּמָהH1116 הֵדַקH1854 לְעָפָרH6083 וְשָׂרַףH8313 אֲשֵׁרָֽהH842

16 וַיִּפֶןH6437 יֹאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 וַיַּרְאH7200 אֶתH853 הַקְּבָרִיםH6913 אֲשֶׁרH834 שָׁםH8033 בָּהָרH2022 וַיִּשְׁלַחH7971 וַיִּקַּחH3947 אֶתH853 הָֽעֲצָמוֹתH6106 מִןH4480 הַקְּבָרִיםH6913 וַיִּשְׂרֹףH8313 עַלH5921 הַמִּזְבֵּחַH4196 וַֽיְטַמְּאֵהוּH2930 כִּדְבַרH1697 יְהוָהH3068 אֲשֶׁרH834 קָרָאH7121 אִישׁH376 הָאֱלֹהִיםH430 אֲשֶׁרH834 קָרָאH7121 אֶתH853 הַדְּבָרִיםH1697 הָאֵֽלֶּהH428

17 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 מָהH4100 הַצִּיּוּןH6725 הַלָּזH1975 אֲשֶׁרH834 אֲנִיH589 רֹאֶהH7200 וַיֹּאמְרוּH559 אֵלָיוH413 אַנְשֵׁיH376 הָעִירH5892 הַקֶּבֶרH6913 אִישׁH376 הָֽאֱלֹהִיםH430 אֲשֶׁרH834 בָּאH935 מִֽיהוּדָהH3063 וַיִּקְרָאH7121 אֶתH853 הַדְּבָרִיםH1697 הָאֵלֶּהH428 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשִׂיתָH6213 עַלH5921 הַמִּזְבַּחH4196 בֵּֽיתH0 אֵֽלH1008

18 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 הַנִּיחוּH3240 לוֹH0 אִישׁH376 אַלH408 יָנַעH5128 עַצְמֹתָיוH6106 וַֽיְמַלְּטוּH4422 עַצְמֹתָיוH6106 אֵתH854 עַצְמוֹתH6106 הַנָּבִיאH5030 אֲשֶׁרH834 בָּאH935 מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹןH8111

19 וְגַםH1571 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 בָּתֵּיH1004 הַבָּמוֹתH1116 אֲשֶׁרH834 בְּעָרֵיH5892 שֹׁמְרוֹןH8111 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשׂוּH6213 מַלְכֵיH4428 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 לְהַכְעִיסH3707 הֵסִירH5493 יֹֽאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 וַיַּעַשׂH6213 לָהֶםH1992 כְּכָלH3605 הַֽמַּעֲשִׂיםH4639 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָׂהH6213 בְּבֵֽיתH0 אֵֽלH1008

20 וַיִּזְבַּחH2076 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 כֹּהֲנֵיH3548 הַבָּמוֹתH1116 אֲשֶׁרH834 שָׁםH8033 עַלH5921 הַֽמִּזְבְּחוֹתH4196 וַיִּשְׂרֹףH8313 אֶתH853 עַצְמוֹתH6106 אָדָםH120 עֲלֵיהֶםH5921 וַיָּשָׁבH7725 יְרוּשָׁלִָֽםH3389

21 וַיְצַוH6680 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 הָעָםH5971 לֵאמֹרH559 עֲשׂוּH6213 פֶסַחH6453 לַֽיהוָהH3068 אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶםH430 כַּכָּתוּבH3789 עַלH5921 סֵפֶרH5612 הַבְּרִיתH1285 הַזֶּֽהH2088

22 כִּיH3588 לֹאH3808 נַֽעֲשָׂהH6213 כַּפֶּסַחH6453 הַזֶּהH2088 מִימֵיH3117 הַשֹּׁפְטִיםH8199 אֲשֶׁרH834 שָׁפְטוּH8199 אֶתH853 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 וְכֹלH3605 יְמֵיH3117 מַלְכֵיH4428 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 וּמַלְכֵיH4428 יְהוּדָֽהH3063

23 כִּיH3588 אִםH518 בִּשְׁמֹנֶהH8083 עֶשְׂרֵהH6240 שָׁנָהH8141 לַמֶּלֶךְH4428 יֹֽאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 נַעֲשָׂהH6213 הַפֶּסַחH6453 הַזֶּהH2088 לַיהוָהH3068 בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽםH3389

24 וְגַםH1571 אֶתH853 הָאֹבוֹתH178 וְאֶתH853 הַיִּדְּעֹנִיםH3049 וְאֶתH853 הַתְּרָפִיםH8655 וְאֶתH853 הַגִּלֻּלִיםH1544 וְאֵתH853 כָּלH3605 הַשִּׁקֻּצִיםH8251 אֲשֶׁרH834 נִרְאוּH7200 בְּאֶרֶץH776 יְהוּדָהH3063 וּבִירוּשָׁלִַםH3389 בִּעֵרH1197 יֹֽאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 לְמַעַןH4616 הָקִיםH6965 אֶתH853 דִּבְרֵיH1697 הַתּוֹרָהH8451 הַכְּתֻבִיםH3789 עַלH5921 הַסֵּפֶרH5612 אֲשֶׁרH834 מָצָאH4672 חִלְקִיָּהוּH2518 הַכֹּהֵןH3548 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָֽהH3068

25 וְכָמֹהוּH3644 לֹֽאH3808 הָיָהH1961 לְפָנָיוH6440 מֶלֶךְH4428 אֲשֶׁרH834 שָׁבH7725 אֶלH413 יְהוָהH3068 בְּכָלH3605 לְבָבוֹH3824 וּבְכָלH3605 נַפְשׁוֹH5315 וּבְכָלH3605 מְאֹדוֹH3966 כְּכֹלH3605 תּוֹרַתH8451 מֹשֶׁהH4872 וְאַחֲרָיוH310 לֹֽאH3808 קָםH6965 כָּמֹֽהוּH3644

26 אַךְH389 לֹֽאH3808 שָׁבH7725 יְהוָהH3068 מֵחֲרוֹןH2740 אַפּוֹH639 הַגָּדוֹלH1419 אֲשֶׁרH834 חָרָהH2734 אַפּוֹH639 בִּֽיהוּדָהH3063 עַלH5921 כָּלH3605 הַכְּעָסִיםH3708 אֲשֶׁרH834 הִכְעִיסוֹH3707 מְנַשֶּֽׁהH4519

27 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 יְהוָהH3068 גַּםH1571 אֶתH853 יְהוּדָהH3063 אָסִירH5493 מֵעַלH5921 פָּנַיH6440 כַּאֲשֶׁרH834 הֲסִרֹתִיH5493 אֶתH853 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 וּמָאַסְתִּיH3988 אֶתH853 הָעִירH5892 הַזֹּאתH2063 אֲשֶׁרH834 בָּחַרְתִּיH977 אֶתH853 יְרוּשָׁלִַםH3389 וְאֶתH853 הַבַּיִתH1004 אֲשֶׁרH834 אָמַרְתִּיH559 יִהְיֶהH1961 שְׁמִיH8034 שָֽׁםH8033

28 וְיֶתֶרH3499 דִּבְרֵיH1697 יֹאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 וְכָלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָׂהH6213 הֲלֹאH3808 הֵםH1992 כְּתוּבִיםH3789 עַלH5921 סֵפֶרH5612 דִּבְרֵיH1697 הַיָּמִיםH3117 לְמַלְכֵיH4428 יְהוּדָֽהH3063

29 בְּיָמָיוH3117 עָלָהH5927 פַרְעֹהH0 נְכֹהH6549 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 מִצְרַיִםH4714 עַלH5921 מֶלֶךְH4428 אַשּׁוּרH804 עַלH5921 נְהַרH5104 פְּרָתH6578 וַיֵּלֶךְH1980 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 יֹאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 לִקְרָאתוֹH7125 וַיְמִיתֵהוּH4191 בִּמְגִדּוֹH4023 כִּרְאֹתוֹH7200 אֹתֽוֹH853

30 וַיַּרְכִּבֻהוּH7392 עֲבָדָיוH5650 מֵתH4191 מִמְּגִדּוֹH4023 וַיְבִאֻהוּH935 יְרוּשָׁלִַםH3389 וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻהוּH6912 בִּקְבֻֽרָתוֹH6900 וַיִּקַּחH3947 עַםH5971 הָאָרֶץH776 אֶתH853 יְהֽוֹאָחָזH3059 בֶּןH1121 יֹאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 וַיִּמְשְׁחוּH4886 אֹתוֹH853 וַיַּמְלִיכוּH4427 אֹתוֹH853 תַּחַתH8478 אָבִֽיוH1

31 בֶּןH1121 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְשָׁלֹשׁH7969 שָׁנָהH8141 יְהוֹאָחָזH3059 בְּמָלְכוֹH4427 וּשְׁלֹשָׁהH7969 חֳדָשִׁיםH2320 מָלַךְH4427 בִּירוּשָׁלִָםH3389 וְשֵׁםH8034 אִמּוֹH517 חֲמוּטַלH2537 בַּֽתH1323 יִרְמְיָהוּH3414 מִלִּבְנָֽהH3841

32 וַיַּעַשׂH6213 הָרַעH7451 בְּעֵינֵיH5869 יְהוָהH3068 כְּכֹלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשׂוּH6213 אֲבֹתָֽיוH1

33 וַיַּאַסְרֵהוּH631 פַרְעֹהH0 נְכֹהH6549 בְרִבְלָהH7247 בְּאֶרֶץH776 חֲמָתH2574 במלךH4427 מִמְּלֹךְH4427 בִּירוּשָׁלִָםH3389 וַיִּתֶּןH5414 עֹנֶשׁH6066 עַלH5921 הָאָרֶץH776 מֵאָהH3967 כִכַּרH3603 כֶּסֶףH3701 וְכִכַּרH3603 זָהָֽבH2091

34 וַיַּמְלֵךְH4427 פַּרְעֹהH0 נְכֹהH6549 אֶתH853 אֶלְיָקִיםH471 בֶּןH1121 יֹאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 תַּחַתH8478 יֹאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 אָבִיוH1 וַיַּסֵּבH5437 אֶתH853 שְׁמוֹH8034 יְהוֹיָקִיםH3079 וְאֶתH853 יְהוֹאָחָזH3059 לָקָחH3947 וַיָּבֹאH935 מִצְרַיִםH4714 וַיָּמָתH4191 שָֽׁםH8033

35 וְהַכֶּסֶףH3701 וְהַזָּהָבH2091 נָתַןH5414 יְהוֹיָקִיםH3079 לְפַרְעֹהH6547 אַךְH389 הֶעֱרִיךְH6186 אֶתH853 הָאָרֶץH776 לָתֵתH5414 אֶתH853 הַכֶּסֶףH3701 עַלH5921 פִּיH6310 פַרְעֹהH6547 אִישׁH376 כְּעֶרְכּוֹH6187 נָגַשׂH5065 אֶתH853 הַכֶּסֶףH3701 וְאֶתH853 הַזָּהָבH2091 אֶתH853 עַםH5971 הָאָרֶץH776 לָתֵתH5414 לְפַרְעֹהH0 נְכֹֽהH6549

36 בֶּןH1121 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְחָמֵשׁH2568 שָׁנָהH8141 יְהוֹיָקִיםH3079 בְּמָלְכוֹH4427 וְאַחַתH259 עֶשְׂרֵהH6240 שָׁנָהH8141 מָלַךְH4427 בִּירוּשָׁלִָםH3389 וְשֵׁםH8034 אִמּוֹH517 זבידהH2080 זְבוּדָּהH2080 בַתH1323 פְּדָיָהH6305 מִןH4480 רוּמָֽהH7316

37 וַיַּעַשׂH6213 הָרַעH7451 בְּעֵינֵיH5869 יְהוָהH3068 כְּכֹלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשׂוּH6213 אֲבֹתָֽיוH1

Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary
 1   JOSIAH CAUSES THE LAW TO BE READ. (2Kgs 23:1-3)
the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders--This pious and patriotic king, not content with the promise of his own security, felt, after Huldah's response, an increased desire to avert the threatened calamities from his kingdom and people. Knowing the richness of the divine clemency and grace to the penitent, he convened the elders of the people, and placing himself at their head, accompanied by the collective body of the inhabitants, went in solemn procession to the temple, where he ordered the book of the law to be read to the assembled audience, and covenanted, with the unanimous concurrence of his subjects, to adhere steadfastly to all the commandments of the Lord. It was an occasion of solemn interest, closely connected with a great national crisis, and the beautiful example of piety in the highest quarter would exert a salutary influence over all classes of the people in animating their devotions and encouraging their return to the faith of their fathers.

 2   he read in their ears--that is, "caused to be read."

 3   all the people stood to the covenant--that is, they agreed to the proposals made; they assented to what was required of them.

 4   HE DESTROYS IDOLATRY. (2Ki. 23:4-28)
the king commanded Hilkiah, &c.--that is, the high priest and other priests, for there was not a variety of official gradations in the temple.
all the vessels, &c.--the whole apparatus of idol-worship.
burned them without Jerusalem--The law required them to be consigned to the flames (Deut 7:25).
in the fields of Kidron--most probably that part of the valley of Kidron, where lies Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. It is a level, spacious basin, abounding at present with plantations [ROBINSON]. The brook winds along the east and south of the city, the channel of which is throughout a large portion of the year almost or wholly dry, except after heavy rains, when it suddenly swells and overflows. There were emptied all the impurities of the temple (2Chr 29:15-16) and the city. His reforming predecessors had ordered the mutilated relics of idolatry to be thrown into that receptacle of filth (1Kgs 15:13; 2Chr 15:16; 2Chr 30:14); but Josiah, while he imitated their piety, far outstripped them in zeal; for he caused the ashes of the burnt wood and the fragments of the broken metal to be collected and conveyed to Beth-el, in order thenceforth to associate ideas of horror and aversion with that place, as odious for the worst pollutions.

 5   put down the idolatrous priests--Hebrew, chemarim, "scorched," that is, Guebres, or fire-worshippers, distinguished by a girdle (Ezek 23:14-Ezek 23:17) or belt of wool and camel's hair, twisted round the body twice and tied with four knots, which had a symbolic meaning, and made it a supposed defense against evil.
them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, &c.--or Baal-shemesh, for Baal was sometimes considered the sun. This form of false worship was not by images, but pure star-worship, borrowed from the old Assyrians.
and--rather, "even to all the host of heaven."

 6   brought out the grove--that is, Asherah, the mystic tree, placed by Manasseh in the temple [2Kgs 21:5; 2Chr 33:5], removed by him after his conversion [2Chr 33:15], but replaced in the sanctuary by his wicked son Amon [2Kgs 21:20-21]. Josiah had it taken to Kidron, burnt the wood, ground the metal about it to powder, and strewed the ashes "on the graves of the children of the people." The poor were buried in a common on part of the valley of Kidron. But reference is here made to the graves "of those that had sacrificed" (2Chr 34:4).

 7   brake down the houses of the sodomites--not solid houses, but tents, called elsewhere [2Kgs 17:30] Succoth-benoth, "the booths of the young women," who were devoted to the service of Asherah, for which they made embroidered hangings, and in which they gave themselves to unbridled revelry and lust. Or the hangings might be for Asherah itself, as it is a popular superstition in the East to hang pieces of cloth on trees.

 8   he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places, &c.--Many of the Levitical order, finding in the reigns of Manasseh and Amon the temple-worship abolished and the tithes and other offerings alienated, had been betrayed into the folly of officiating on high places, and presenting such sacrifices as were brought to them. These irregularities, even though the object of that worship was the true God, were prohibited in the law (Deut 12:11). Those who had been guilty of this sin, Josiah brought to Jerusalem. Regarding them as defiled, he debarred them from the service of the temple, but gave them an allowance out of the temple revenues, like the lame and disabled members of the priesthood (Lev 21:21-Lev 21:22).
from Geba to to Beer-sheba--the most northern and the most southern places in Judah--meaning all parts of the kingdom.
the high places . . . which were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua--The governor's house and gate were on the left of the city gate, and close by the entrance of that civic mansion house were public altars, dedicated, it might be, to the true God, but contrary to His own ordinance of worship (Isa 57:8).

 10   Topheth--so called from Toph--a "drum." It is the prevailing opinion among Jewish writers that the cries of the terrified children made to pass through the fire in that place of idolatrous horror were drowned by the sound of that instrument.

 11   took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun--Among the people who anciently worshipped the sun, horses were usually dedicated to that divinity, from the supposed idea that the sun himself was drawn in a chariot by horses. In some cases these horses were sacrificed; but more commonly they were employed either in the sacred processions to carry the images of the sun, or for the worshippers to ride in every morning to welcome his rise. It seems that the idolatrous kings, Ahaz, Manasseh, and Amon, or their great officers, proceeded on these horses early on each day from the east gate of the temple to salute and worship the sun at his appearing above the horizon.

 12   the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz--Altars were reared on the flat roofs of houses, where the worshippers of "the host of heaven" burnt incense (Zeph 1:5; Jer 19:13). Ahaz had reared altars for this purpose on the oleah, or upper chamber of his palace, and Manasseh on some portion of the roof of the temple. Josiah demolished both of these structures.

 13   the high places . . . which Solomon . . . had builded--(See on 1Kgs 11:5).
the right hand of the mount of corruption--The Mount of Olives is a hilly range on the east of Jerusalem. This range has three summits, of which the central one is the Mount of Corruption, so called from the idol temples built there, and of course the hill on the right hand denotes the southernmost peak. Josiah is said not to have destroyed, but only defiled, "the high places on the hill of corruption." It is most probable that Hezekiah had long before demolished the idolatrous temples erected there by Solomon but, as the superstitious people continued to regard the spot as consecrated ground, Josiah defiled it.

 14   filled their places with the bones of men--Every monument of idolatry in his dominion he in like manner destroyed, and the places where they stood he defiled by strewing them with dead men's bones. The presence of a dead carcass rendered both persons and places unclean in the eyes both of Jews and heathens.

 15   Moreover the altar that was at Beth-el, &c.--Not satisfied with the removal of every vestige of idolatry from his own dominion, this zealous iconoclast made a tour of inspection through the cities of Samaria and all the territory formerly occupied by the ten tribes, destroying the altars and temples of the high places, consigning the Asherim to the flames, putting to death the priests of the high places, and showing his horror at idolatry by ransacking the sepulchers of idolatrous priests, and strewing the burnt ashes of their bones upon the altars before he demolished them.

 16   according to the word of the Lord which the man of God proclaimed, &c.--In carrying on these proceedings, Josiah was prompted by his own intense hatred of idolatry. But it is remarkable that this act was predicted three hundred twenty-six years before his birth, and his name also was expressly mentioned, as well as the very place where it should be done (1Kgs 13:2). This is one of the most most remarkable prophecies in the Bible.

 17   What title is that that I see?--The king's attention probably, had been arrested by a tombstone more conspicuous than the rest around it, bearing on an inscription the name of him that lay beneath; and this prompted his curiosity to make the inquiry.
the men of the city--not the Assyrian colonists--for they could know nothing about the ancient transactions of the place--but some of the old people who had been allowed to remain, and perhaps the tomb itself might not then have been discoverable, through the effects of time and neglect, had not some "Old Mortality" garnished the sepulcher of the righteous.

 21   the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the Lord your God, &c.--It was observed with great solemnity and was attended not only by his own subjects, but by the remnant people from Israel (see on 2Ch. 35:1-19). Many of the Israelites who were at Jerusalem might have heard of, if they did not hear, the law read by Josiah. It is probable that they might even have procured a copy of the law, stimulated as they were to the better observance of Jehovah's worship by the unusual and solemn transactions at Jerusalem.

 26   Notwithstanding, the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his wrath,--&c. The national reformation which Josiah carried on was acquiesced in by the people from submission to the royal will; but they entertained a secret and strong hankering after the suppressed idolatries. Though outwardly purified, their hearts were not right towards God, as appears from many passages of the prophetic writings; their thorough reform was hopeless; and God, who saw no sign of genuine repentance, allowed His decree (2Kgs 21:12-15) for the subversion of the kingdom to take fatal effect.

 29   In his days Pharaoh-nechoh--(See 2Chr 35:20-27).