2 Kings 23:2
2 Kings 23:2 in Multiple Translations
And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.
And the king went up to the house of Jehovah, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Jehovah.
And the king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and all the people of Jerusalem, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, small and great; and they were present at his reading of the book of the law which had come to light in the house of the Lord.
He went to the Lord's Temple with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, together with the priests and the Levites, all the people from the least to the greatest, and he read to them the whole Book of the Agreement that had been discovered in the Lord's Temple.
And the King went vp into the house of the Lord, with all the men of Iudah and all the inhabitants of Ierusalem with him, and the Priests and Prophets, and all the people both small and great: and he reade in their eares all the wordes of the booke of the couenant, which was found in the house of the Lord.
and the king goeth up to the house of Jehovah, and every man of Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, from small unto great, and he readeth in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that is found in the house of Jehovah.
The 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.
And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.
And the king went up to the temple of the Lord, and all the men of Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, the priests and the prophets, and all the people both little and great: and in the hearing of them all he read all the words of the book of the covenant, which was found in the house of the Lord.
They went together to the temple, along with the priests and the prophets, and many other [HYP] people, from the most important people to the least important people. And while they listened, the king read to them all of the laws that Moses had written. He read from the scroll that had been found in the temple.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Kings 23:2
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2 Kings 23:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Kings 23:2
Study Notes — 2 Kings 23:2
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Kings 23:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 23:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 23:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 23:2
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Kings 23:2
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
- Sermons on 2 Kings 23:2
Context — Josiah Renews the Covenant
2And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
3So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant. 4Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Kings 22:8 | Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 31:10–13 | Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel. Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law. Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” |
| 3 | Revelation 20:12 | And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. |
| 4 | Nehemiah 9:3 | While they stood in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and they spent another quarter of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God. |
| 5 | Esther 1:5 | At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest. |
| 6 | Nehemiah 8:1–8 | At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places. So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read. |
| 7 | 2 Chronicles 17:9 | They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people. |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 5:9 | But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. |
| 9 | 1 Kings 8:9 | There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of the land of Egypt. |
| 10 | Psalms 115:13 | He will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike. |
2 Kings 23:2 Summary
[In 2 Kings 23:2, King Josiah gathers all the people, including priests and prophets, to read the Book of the Covenant, which is a book that contains God's laws and promises, similar to what is found in Deuteronomy 29:1. This act shows the importance of obeying God's commands, as emphasized in Psalm 119:105. By reading the Book of the Covenant, King Josiah is reminding the people of their covenant with God and calling them to repentance, as seen in 2 Kings 23:3. This event teaches us the value of seeking and following God's Word, and the need for spiritual leaders to guide us in this pursuit.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Book of the Covenant mentioned in 2 Kings 23:2?
The Book of the Covenant is likely a reference to the book of the law, possibly Deuteronomy or a significant portion of it, as seen in Deuteronomy 29:1 and Exodus 24:7, which contained the terms of the covenant between God and His people.
Why did King Josiah read the Book of the Covenant to all the people?
King Josiah read the Book of the Covenant to all the people to remind them of their covenant obligations and to call them to repentance, as seen in 2 Kings 23:3, and to restore their faithfulness to God, similar to what is encouraged in Psalm 119:105.
Who were the prophets mentioned in 2 Kings 23:2?
The prophets mentioned in 2 Kings 23:2 were likely those who had been called by God to speak His words to the people, similar to those mentioned in 1 Samuel 10:5-13 and 1 Kings 18:4, and were present to hear the reading of the Book of the Covenant.
What is the significance of 'all the people small and great' being present?
The presence of 'all the people small and great' signifies the inclusive nature of the covenant community, as seen in Exodus 12:38 and Numbers 9:10, where everyone, regardless of social status, was invited to participate in the covenant renewal ceremony.
Reflection Questions
- What role do spiritual leaders play in guiding us back to God's Word, and how can we support them in this task?
- How can we, like King Josiah, take initiative to seek out and obey God's commands, even if it means challenging the status quo?
- In what ways can we prioritize the reading and teaching of Scripture in our own lives and communities, as modeled in 2 Kings 23:2?
- What are some ways we can ensure that everyone, 'small and great,' feels included and valued in our faith communities?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 23:2
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 23:2
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 23:2
Barnes' Notes on 2 Kings 23:2
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:2
Sermons on 2 Kings 23:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Josiah's Reform by Glenn Meldrum | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of King Josiah and his role in bringing about a revival in Israel. The preacher emphasizes the importance of the Word of God and h |
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Of Public Hearings of the Word. by John Gill | John Gill emphasizes the significance of public hearing of the Word as a vital ordinance in the Christian faith, tracing its roots from the synagogue worship to the early church. H |
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Hell - Part 2 by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not neglecting salvation. He highlights how people often neglect prayer and the word of God, instead spending their time o |
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True Success by George W. Truett | In this sermon, the preacher reassures the audience that God will be with them throughout their lives, even in the face of death. He promises to make their path beautiful and fill |
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Why Christ Died and Rose Again by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the concept of our memories being recorded and played back on a "videotape" in the day of judgment. He explains that every single thing we ha |
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Men Like Noah by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker begins by discussing the negative impact of television on families, referring to it as the "life support" of most homes. He shares a story of a woman at |
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Do You Have the Real Thing? (Compilation) by Compilations | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of repentance and the need to turn away from self-centeredness and please God instead. He urges the audience to run from fals |







