Josiah's discovery of the law book triggers the only recorded instance where a king tears his clothes in repentance and immediately enacts comprehensive religious reforms.
2 Kings 23
1The king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.
2The king went up to the LORD’s house, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him—with the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the LORD’s house.
3The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people agreed to the covenant.
4The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring out of the LORD’s temple all the vessels that were made for Baal, for the Asherah, and for all the army of the sky; and he burned them outside of Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.
5He got rid of the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places around Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the planets, and to all the army of the sky.
6He brought out the Asherah from the LORD’s house, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust, and cast its dust on the graves of the common people.
7He broke down the houses of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the LORD’s house, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.
8He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; and he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man’s left hand at the gate of the city.
9Nevertheless the priests of the high places didn’t come up to the LORD’s altar in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.
10He defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.
11He took away the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance of the LORD’s house, by the room of Nathan Melech the officer who was in the court; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
12The king broke down the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the LORD’s house, and beat them down from there, and cast their dust into the brook Kidron.
13The king defiled the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mountain of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon.
14He broke in pieces the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and filled their places with men’s bones.
15Moreover the altar that was at Bethel and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down; and he burned the high place and beat it to dust, and burned the Asherah.
16As Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain; and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the LORD’s word which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things.
17Then he said, “What monument is that which I see?” The men of the city told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Bethel.”
18He said, “Let him be! Let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.
19All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
20He killed all the priests of the high places that were there, on the altars, and burned men’s bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem.
21The king commanded all the people, saying, “Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant.”
22Surely there was not kept such a Passover from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
23but in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.
24Moreover, Josiah removed those who had familiar spirits, the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the LORD’s house.
25There was no king like him before him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; and there was none like him who arose after him.
26Notwithstanding, the LORD didn’t turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocation with which Manasseh had provoked him.
27The LORD said, “I will also remove Judah out of my sight, as I have removed Israel; and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’”
28Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
29In his days Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him, but Pharaoh Necoh killed him at Megiddo when he saw him.
30His servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place.
Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim
31Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
32He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, according to all that his fathers had done.
33Pharaoh Necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
34Pharaoh Necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim; but he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there.
35Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Necoh.
36Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
37He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, according to all that his fathers had done.
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Theme
King Josiah leads the most comprehensive religious reform in Judah's history, publicly renewing the covenant and systematically destroying all traces of idolatry throughout the kingdom. His reforms extend from Jerusalem to the former northern territories, eliminating pagan altars, idolatrous priests, and cult objects that had accumulated over generations of unfaithful kings. However, after Josiah's death at Megiddo, his successors Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim quickly abandon his reforms, leading Judah back into disobedience and ultimately toward Babylonian exile.
Context
This chapter represents the climax of the Deuteronomistic reform movement that began with the discovery of the Law book in chapter 22, but sets up the final decline toward exile described in the remaining chapters.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3 Covenant Renewal Ceremony Josiah publicly reads the Law and leads all the people in renewing their covenant with the LORD.
- 4-14 Temple Purification The king systematically removes all idolatrous objects, altars, and practices from the Jerusalem temple.
- 15-20 Regional Reform Campaign Josiah extends his reforms to Bethel and the former northern kingdom, fulfilling ancient prophecy.
- 21-23 Passover Celebration The king reinstates proper Passover observance on an unprecedented scale.
- 24-27 Assessment of Josiah's Reign Despite Josiah's unparalleled faithfulness, God's judgment on Judah remains due to Manasseh's sins.
- 28-30 Josiah's Death The righteous king dies in battle against Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo.
- 31-37 Decline Under Successors Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim both do evil, leading Judah back into disobedience and foreign subjugation.
Josiah's Reign and Reforms
22:1–23:30 narrative narration hopeful
King Josiah begins his righteous reign at age eight, following David's example, and initiates temple repairs during which the book of the law is discovered.
person_contrast
Josiah's discovery of the law book triggers the only recorded instance where a king tears his clothes in repentance and immediately enacts comprehensive religious reforms.
Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim
23:31–23:37 narrative narration solemn
Jehoahaz's brief evil reign ends when Pharaoh Necoh deposes him and installs Jehoiakim as king, who also does evil and taxes the people to pay tribute to Egypt.
person_contrast
Jeremiah of Libnah, mentioned as Jehoahaz's grandfather, represents the only biblical Jeremiah connected to royal lineage rather than prophetic ministry.
Insights
Jeremiah of Libnah, mentioned as Jehoahaz's grandfather, represents the only biblical Jeremiah connected to royal lineage rather than prophetic ministry.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
2 Kings 23:2 2 references
Lexicals 2
2 Kings 23:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 34:31 Lexical
The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, h…
1 Kings 2:3 Lexical
and keep the instruction of the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinanc…
Deuteronomy 30:10 Lexical
if you will obey the LORD your God’s voice, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of…
2 Kings 17:15 Lexical
They rejected his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to t…
Leviticus 26:15 Lexical
and if you shall reject my statutes, and if your soul abhors my ordinances, so that you will not do all my commandments,…
2 Kings 23:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 15:13 Lexical
He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut dow…
2 Chronicles 15:16 Lexical
Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image fo…
2 Chronicles 29:16 Lexical
The priests went into the inner part of the LORD’s house to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they fo…
2 Chronicles 33:3 Lexical
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, mad…
2 Kings 21:3 Lexical
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he raised up altars for Baal, and made a…
2 Kings 23:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 48:35 Lexical
Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab,” says the LORD, “him who offers in the high place, and him who burns incense to…
Isaiah 13:10 Lexical
For the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be darkened in its going out, an…
Deuteronomy 4:19 Lexical
and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the…
Joel 2:10 Lexical
The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shini…
Jeremiah 8:2 Lexical
They will spread them before the sun, the moon, and all the army of the sky, which they have loved, which they have serv…
2 Kings 23:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 15:16 Lexical
Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image fo…
Deuteronomy 9:21 Lexical
I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it…
1 Kings 15:13 Lexical
He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut dow…
2 Chronicles 34:4 Lexical
They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them…
2 Chronicles 30:14 Lexical
They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense and threw them…
2 Kings 23:8 1 reference
2 Kings 23:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 7:31 Lexical
They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their da…
Jeremiah 7:32 Lexical
Therefore behold, the days come”, says the LORD, “that it will no more be called ‘Topheth’ or ‘The valley of the son of…
Jeremiah 32:35 Lexical
They built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughter…
Jeremiah 19:6 Lexical
Therefore, behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that this place will no more be called ‘Topheth’, nor ‘The Valley of…
2 Chronicles 28:3 Lexical
Moreover he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abo…
2 Kings 23:11 3 references
Lexicals 3
Joshua 11:9 Lexical
Joshua did to them as the LORD told him. He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
Joshua 11:6 Lexical
The LORD said to Joshua, “Don’t be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time, I will deliver them up all slain b…
Ezekiel 16:41 Lexical
They will burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women. I will cause you to cease…
2 Kings 23:12 4 references
Lexicals 4
2 Chronicles 30:14 Lexical
They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense and threw them…
2 Chronicles 29:16 Lexical
The priests went into the inner part of the LORD’s house to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they fo…
Deuteronomy 9:21 Lexical
I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it…
2 Chronicles 31:1 Lexical
Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the pillars in pie…
2 Kings 23:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 11:33 Lexical
because they have forsaken me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and M…
1 Kings 11:7 Lexical
Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for M…
1 Kings 11:5 Lexical
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
2 Chronicles 20:23 Lexical
For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When…
Ezekiel 5:11 Lexical
Therefore as I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things,…
2 Kings 23:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Kings 18:4 Lexical
He removed the high places, broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that…
Exodus 34:13 Lexical
but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherah poles;
Deuteronomy 12:3 Lexical
You shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, and burn their Asherah poles with fire. You shall cut d…
Deuteronomy 7:5 Lexical
But you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, cut down their…
2 Chronicles 31:1 Lexical
Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the pillars in pie…
2 Kings 23:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 34:7 Lexical
He broke down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altar…
2 Chronicles 34:4 Lexical
They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them…
2 Kings 10:29 Lexical
However, Jehu didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin—the golden calv…
2 Chronicles 31:1 Lexical
Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the pillars in pie…
2 Chronicles 33:3 Lexical
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, mad…
2 Kings 23:16 2 references
2 Kings 23:19 2 references
Lexicals 2
2 Kings 23:20 3 references
Lexicals 3
1 Kings 13:2 Lexical
He cried against the altar by the LORD’s word, and said, “Altar! Altar! The LORD says: ‘Behold, a son will be born to Da…
1 Kings 3:4 Lexical
The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offering…
1 Kings 12:32 Lexical
Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and h…
2 Kings 23:23 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Chronicles 35:19 Lexical
This Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.
2 Chronicles 35:1 Lexical
Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem. They killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2 Kings 22:3 Lexical
In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to th…
2 Kings 23:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 34:15 Lexical
Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the LORD’s house.” So Hilkiah delivered the bo…
2 Chronicles 34:14 Lexical
When they brought out the money that was brought into the LORD’s house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the LORD’s…
2 Kings 22:8 Lexical
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the LORD’s house.” Hilkiah deli…
Joshua 1:8 Lexical
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe…
Jeremiah 45:1 Lexical
The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mout…
2 Kings 23:26 2 references
2 Kings 23:28 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 35:26 Lexical
Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his good deeds, according to that which is written in the LORD’s law,
Jeremiah 45:1 Lexical
The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mout…
Jeremiah 36:2 Lexical
“Take a scroll of a book, and write in it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and aga…
1 Kings 15:23 Lexical
Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren’t they…
1 Kings 15:31 Lexical
Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings o…
2 Kings 23:29 4 references
Lexicals 4
Jeremiah 46:2 Lexical
Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebu…
2 Chronicles 35:20 Lexical
After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphr…
2 Chronicles 35:22 Lexical
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t li…
Genesis 2:14 Lexical
The name of the third river is Hiddekel. This is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphra…
2 Kings 23:30 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Kings 21:26 Lexical
He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his place.
2 Kings 9:28 Lexical
His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in David’s city.
2 Chronicles 36:1 Lexical
Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 35:24 Lexical
So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem…
2 Chronicles 26:23 Lexical
So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the king…
2 Kings 23:31 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Kings 24:18 Lexical
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wa…
Jeremiah 52:1 Lexical
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign. He reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Ha…
2 Kings 13:1 Lexical
In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel…
2 Kings 24:8 Lexical
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name wa…
2 Chronicles 36:2 Lexical
Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
2 Kings 23:33 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Chronicles 29:7 Lexical
and they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousa…
Ezra 8:26 Lexical
I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, one hundred talents of silver vessels, one hundred talent…
1 Chronicles 22:14 Lexical
Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the LORD’s house one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million tal…
2 Kings 18:14 Lexical
Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have offended you. Withdraw from me. That whic…
2 Chronicles 36:3 Lexical
The king of Egypt removed him from office at Jerusalem, and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of…
2 Kings 23:34 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 36:4 Lexical
The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Neco took J…
Jeremiah 46:2 Lexical
Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebu…
2 Chronicles 35:22 Lexical
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t li…
2 Chronicles 36:1 Lexical
Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 37:1 Lexical
Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon m…
2 Kings 23:35 2 references
2 Kings 23:36 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 36:5 Lexical
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did that which…
2 Chronicles 27:1 Lexical
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wa…
2 Kings 15:33 Lexical
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Je…
2 Chronicles 29:1 Lexical
Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s n…
2 Kings 14:2 Lexical
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wa…
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