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2 Kings 23

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 23 of 25

1 And the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

2 And the king went up to the house of Jehovah, and every man of Judah, and all the ones living in Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, from small to great; and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of Jehovah.

3 And the king stood by the pillar, and made the covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to lift up the words of this covenant that were written in this Book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

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Chapter Summary

Josiah causes the Book of the Law to be read in a solemn assembly. He renews the covenant of Jehovah. He destroys idolatry. He keeps a most solemn passover. Josiah is killed at Megiddo.

Key Hebrew Words

מִזְבַּ֥ח altar H4196 · TWOT 525b
עֲפָרָ֖ dry earth H6083 · TWOT 1664a
הֶעֱרִ֣יךְ value H6186 · TWOT 1694b
מִצְרַ֛יִם Egypt H4714 · TWOT 1235
מַרְכְּב֥וֹת chariot H4818 · TWOT 2163f

People & Context

Josiah Renews the Covenant

Josiah gathers the people at the temple, reads the book, and makes a covenant to follow Jehovah. All the people agree to the covenant.

Josiah Cleanses the Temple and Judah

Josiah aggressively purges idolatry, burning vessels of Baal, destroying the Asherah, tearing down the houses of male prostitutes, and defiling Tophet…

Josiah Destroys the Altar at Beth-el

Josiah breaks down Jeroboam's altar at Beth-el and burns human bones on it to defile it, fulfilling prophecy, but spares the bones of the man of God.

Timeline

Josiah Renews the Covenant

Josiah gathers the people at the temple, reads the book, and makes a covenant to follow Jehovah. All the people agree to the covenant.

2 Kings 23:1-3
Josiah Cleanses the Temple and Judah

Josiah aggressively purges idolatry, burning vessels of Baal, destroying the Asherah, tearing down the houses of male prostitutes, and defiling Topheth.

2 Kings 23:4-14
Josiah Destroys the Altar at Beth-el

Josiah breaks down Jeroboam's altar at Beth-el and burns human bones on it to defile it, fulfilling prophecy, but spares the bones of the man of God.

2 Kings 23:15-18

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