2 Kings 23

2 Kings 23:2

THe Prophets] see upon Ier. 26. 7 [he read] caused it to be read by some Priest.

2 Kings 23:3

By a Pillar] the Italian, upon a Pillar, wherof see 2 Kings 11:14 [stood to the] consented to it, & did openly protest that they would stand to it without varying.

2 Kings 23:4

Of the second order,] these were two Priests which were in the next degree to the high Priest, who were also his deputies, see 2 Samuel 8:17 2 Kin. 2. 518 [ethel] where Iereboamhad setup one of the Calves, 1 Kings 12:29. Now Iosias caused this dust to be carried hither, as an abominable uncleanness, to profane the place, & take away all opinion of holiness from it.

2 Kings 23:5

The Idolatrous Priests] the Italian, Camaries, they were certain ministers of Idolatry different from the Priests which belonged to the Idols, Zephaniah 1:4. The Iewes believe that it was a kinde of Monks, so called, either by reason that they lived cloistered up, or because they used to wear smokie clothing & of a darke colour: [Planets] or the 12. signs of Zodiack.

2 Kings 23:6

And cast] the sign of detestation of Idols and Idolaters, for these graves were the graves of them which had worshipped Idols, 2 Chron. 34 4. [of the children] of the basst and lowest degree amongst the people, who being most sensuall, are likely most enclined to Idolatrie and superstition.

2 Kings 23:7

The houses] they were little booths which served for brothell houses, where they committed the abominable sin of lust against nature; Idolatry being alwaies followed with these abominations, fruits of the unclean spirit of lying, Ro. 1. 23. 24. 27. see 1 Kin. 14. 24. & 15 12. & 22. 46 [hangings] the Italian hath it, houses, they might be some tents which were set up in that grove, wherein those wickednesses were committed.

2 Kings 23:8

All the Priests] which worshipped the true God, yet they do it in the high places, and not in Ierusalem, which was the only place approved by God: [defiled] hee did by authority proclaim them to be unclean, took away all signs of holinesse from them, and brought them to ordid uses, and defiled them with unclean things according to Law, as with dead bodies, bones, and the like, v. 4. 14 16. 20 [from Geba] which wee the two bounds of the Land of Iudah in length: [of the gate] set up near to the gates of the City, according to the ancient custome of Idolaters, for to have some Tutelar and Guarding God-head: [of Ioshua] neither the man nor the gate are mentioned any where else, it might be some Captain of that city, or of some part of it, who dwelling neare one of these gates, had built some Chappel, or place of devotion there.

2 Kings 23:9

The Priests] though they were of the Priestly race, yet were they deposed from their Office, but were notwithstanding suffered to feed upon the holy meas, as of meat offerings wherein all manner of leaven was forbidden, Lev. 2. 4. 5. 11.

2 Kings 23:10

Topleth] it was a place on the East side of Jerusalem, in the pleasant Valley of the children of Hinnon so called from To, that is to say, a Drum, either by reason of the musick, dances, and other pastimes, which were used there; or by reason of the noise of drummes which was used there in the abominable Sacrifices of their children; to deaffen the eares, and dull the sences of the Spoctators, see Ier. 7. 31. & 19. 6. 11.

2 Kings 23:11

The horses] they ere certain statues of horses & chariots dedicated to the Sun, as he was accustomed to be figured by the heathen, mounted upō a charet drawn with foure horses:[at the entring in] it is thought to be either one or more gates of the first precinct of the Temple on the west side, through which they went in to the court of the Gentiles [in the suburbs]the Italian hath it, Paririm, it seemeth to be the same place as is called Parbar, 1 Chronicles 26:18. & it is uncertain what place it was, & why it was so called; the Hebrewes hold they were certain suburbs belonging to the temple towards the west, see Ize. 45. 2

2 Kings 23:12

That were on] see of this custome, of those that worshipped the Stars, Zephaniah 1:5.

2 Kings 23:13

Of corruption] it is thought it was the mount of Olives, or some other near unto it on the east side of Ierusalem, & that it is so called by allusion or equivocation of two Hebrew words, whereof one signifieth annointing, by reason of the Olives, & the other, spoile or corruption, by reason of these abominations.

2 Kings 23:15

The high place] that is to say, the Temple which was built there.

2 Kings 23:16

Turned himselfe] namely, when hee was in Bethel, which place though it was no part of the Kingdom of Iudah, he did these things, either as by right as being lawful Lord, as he wasDavidsighfull successor; or, in meer zeale in an abandoned country, which in a manner had no Lord at all, 2 Chronicles 34:6

2 Kings 23:18

No man move] the Italian, preserve, and doe not burn them as you have done the rest.

2 Kings 23:21

In this book] which was found in the Temple, 2 Kings, 22. 8.

2 Kings 23:22

Surely there was not] this Passeover is here made mention of, because it was celebrated with more concourse of people, and greater purity then over it was since the time of the Iudges, 2 Chronicles 35:18

2 Kings 23:24

And the Idols] the Hebrew word signifieth porperly, little domessicall or houshold Idols, Genesis 31:19.

2 Kings 23:26

Turned not] because that the people followed not the example of their King in converting themselves sincerely to the Lord, as it appeared presently after the death of Iosias, see Ier.3. 10.

2 Kings 23:29

Of Assyria] by this name, seemeth to be understood Nabopolassar King of Babylon, who had taken Assyria from the Meades, who had subdued the Assyrians; so oftentimes by the name of Assyrians, by reason of the noblenesse of the Title, are understood the Caldeans, and afterwards the Persians, who had conquered Assyria: [against him] the cause might be to hinder him from going to provoke the King of Babylon, for fear left his countrey which lay between the countrey of these Monarchs, should be left to the Conquerors mercy, and should be the place, or field for their war: [ew him] that is to say, wounded him mortally, for it seemeth he died in Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 35 24. [when he had] at the first encounter.

2 Kings 23:30

And the people] some believe that this Ieaz was installed by popular faction, and not according to birth-right, seeing that he was but three and twenty years of age when he began to reign, and reigned but three months; whereas his brother Ie〈…〉im who succeeded him, was five and twenty years of age when he began to reign, v. 36. unlesse there were some vacancy or interregnum: Iehoaaz] called also Shallum, Ier. 22. 11.

2 Kings 23:34

Turned] for to shew his soveraignty, [there] according to Ieremiah his prophecy, Ier. 22. 11.