11 And he took away H7673 the horses H5483 that the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 had given H5414 to the sun, H8121 at the entering in H935 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 by the chamber H3957 of Nathanmelech H5419 the chamberlain, H5631 which was in the suburbs, H6503 and burned H8313 the chariots H4818 of the sun H8121 with fire. H784
And he brought H935 me into the inner H6442 court H2691 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 and, behold, at the door H6607 of the temple H1964 of the LORD, H3068 between the porch H197 and the altar, H4196 were about five H2568 and twenty H6242 men, H376 with their backs H268 toward the temple H1964 of the LORD, H3068 and their faces H6440 toward the east; H6924 and they worshipped H7812 the sun H8121 toward the east. H6924
And lest thou lift up H5375 thine eyes H5869 unto heaven, H8064 and when thou seest H7200 the sun, H8121 and the moon, H3394 and the stars, H3556 even all the host H6635 of heaven, H8064 shouldest be driven H5080 to worship H7812 them, and serve H5647 them, which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath divided H2505 unto all nations H5971 under the whole heaven. H8064
And he put down H7673 the idolatrous priests, H3649 whom the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 had ordained H5414 to burn incense H6999 in the high places H1116 in the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and in the places round about H4524 Jerusalem; H3389 them also that burned incense H6999 unto Baal, H1168 to the sun, H8121 and to the moon, H3394 and to the planets, H4208 and to all the host H6635 of heaven. H8064
Also he took away H5493 out of all the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 the high places H1116 and the images: H2553 and the kingdom H4467 was quiet H8252 before H6440 him.
And they brake down H5422 the altars H4196 of Baalim H1168 in his presence; H6440 and the images, H2553 that were on high above them, H4605 he cut down; H1438 and the groves, H842 and the carved images, H6456 and the molten images, H4541 he brake in pieces, H7665 and made dust H1854 of them, and strowed H2236 it upon H6440 the graves H6913 of them that had sacrificed H2076 unto them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Kings 23
Commentary on 2 Kings 23 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 23
We have here,
2Ki 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.
2Ki 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:-
2Ki 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?
2Ki 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 should seem, he bent all his force against his family and kingdom. If Josiah's sons had trodden in his steps, they would have fared the better for his piety; but, deviating from them, they fared the worse for his rashness.