12 And the altars H4196 that were on the top H1406 of the upper chamber H5944 of Ahaz, H271 which the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 had made, H6213 and the altars H4196 which Manasseh H4519 had made H6213 in the two H8147 courts H2691 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 did the king H4428 beat down, H5422 and brake them down H7323 from thence, and cast H7993 the dust H6083 of them into the brook H5158 Kidron. H6939
And he built H1129 altars H4196 for all the host H6635 of heaven H8064 in the two H8147 courts H2691 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
And the houses H1004 of Jerusalem, H3389 and the houses H1004 of the kings H4428 of Judah, H3063 shall be defiled H2931 as the place H4725 of Tophet, H8612 because of all the houses H1004 upon whose roofs H1406 they have burned incense H6999 unto all the host H6635 of heaven, H8064 and have poured out H5258 drink offerings H5262 unto other H312 gods. H430
And he built H1129 altars H4196 for all the host H6635 of heaven H8064 in the two H8147 courts H2691 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
When thou buildest H1129 a new H2319 house, H1004 then thou shalt make H6213 a battlement H4624 for thy roof, H1406 that thou bring H7760 not blood H1818 upon thine house, H1004 if any man H5307 fall H5307 from thence.
And he walked H3212 in all the way H1870 that his father H1 walked in, H1980 and served H5647 the idols H1544 that his father H1 served, H5647 and worshipped H7812 them: And he forsook H5800 the LORD H3068 God H430 of his fathers, H1 and walked H1980 not in the way H1870 of the LORD. H3068
And the king H4428 commanded H6680 Hilkiah H2518 the high H1419 priest, H3548 and the priests H3548 of the second order, H4932 and the keepers H8104 of the door, H5592 to bring forth H3318 out of the temple H1964 of the LORD H3068 all the vessels H3627 that were made H6213 for Baal, H1168 and for the grove, H842 and for all the host H6635 of heaven: H8064 and he burned H8313 them without H2351 Jerusalem H3389 in the fields H7709 of Kidron, H6939 and carried H5375 the ashes H6083 of them unto Bethel. H1008
And he brought out H3318 the grove H842 from the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 without H2351 Jerusalem, H3389 unto the brook H5158 Kidron, H6939 and burned H8313 it at the brook H5158 Kidron, H6939 and stamped it small H1854 to powder, H6083 and cast H7993 the powder H6083 thereof upon the graves H6913 of the children H1121 of the people. H5971
And he took away H5493 the strange H5236 gods, H430 and the idol H5566 out of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and all the altars H4196 that he had built H1129 in the mount H2022 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and in Jerusalem, H3389 and cast H7993 them out H2351 of the city. H5892
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.