2 Chronicles 34

Josia is pious, vers.1, etc. destroyeth all idolatry, 4. Repaireth the Temple, 8. Hilkia the high Priests findeth the book of the law in the Temple, 14. The King sendeth to inquire of the LORD, by Hulda the prophetess about it, 20. She prophesieth that the Kingdom of Juda should be ruined, 23. But not in the lifetime of Josiah, 26. Who causeth the congregation to meet together about it, and the book of the law to be read, renewing the covenant with God, 29.

1. Josia was eight years old, [Hebr. a son of eight years. See Gen.5.on vers.32.] when he became king, and reigned one and thirty years at Jerusalem. [See a further exposition of this Chapter, 2 Kings chap.22. and 23. Where this history is first recorded.]

2. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his Father, [see 1 Kings 15.on vers.26.] and departed not to the right hand, not to the left. [That is, he forsook not the right way in any kind of manner. See Deut.5.on vers.32.]

3. For in the eight year of his reign, when he was yet a youth, [To wit, of the age of sixteen years] he began to seek the God of David his father: [See above chap.15.on vers.2.] and in the twelfth year [to wit, of his reign, when he was twenty years old] he began to purge Juda, and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved, and molten images.

4. And they brake down the altars of Baalim; [See Judges 2.on vers.11.] before his face, [that is, by his command, in his presence, he looking on] and the images of the Sun, [see of these Lev.26.on vers.30.] that were on high above them, [to wit, the altars, over the which they were set on high] he cut down also the groves, [that is, images of the groves. So vers.7.] and the carved, and molten images he brake in pieces, and stamped (them) small to dust, and strewed (it) upon the graves of them that had offered unto them. [See 2 Kings 23.on v.6.]

5. And he burnt the bones of the Priests [Compare this with 2 Kings 23:20. and the Annotations thereon] upon their altars, [that is, upon the altars of the images, and that to the greater detestation, and defilement of their altars, those things being deemed unclean and defiled, which were touched by dead bodies, or bones. Compare 2 Kings 23:20.]

6. Moreover, in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, yea unto Naphtali, in their desolate places [That is, in the land of Israel, which was laid waste and desolate, by the carrying away of the ten Tribes into Assyria. Others, with their axes, or, mattocks, or, hammers, or, spades, or, shovels, to wit, wherewith they destroyed, and demolished the idolatrous groves, images, altars, houses, high places, etc. The Hebrew word, that is here used, is found in Ezech.26.9. for instruments, whereby a thing is broken down, abolished, and destroyed] round about.

7. He also brake down the altars, and the groves, and stamped the carved Images, grinding (them) small into powder, [That is, he beat and bruised them so small, as if they had been beaten to dust in mortae, or ground to powder in a mill. Comp. Deut.9.21.] and he cut down all the images of the Sun in all the land of Israel; after that he returned to Jerusalem.

8. Now in the eighteeneth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, [To wit, of God; that is, the Temple. To wit, from the filthiness, and pollutions of idolatry] he sent Saphan the son of Azalia, and Maaseia the Governor of the city, [compare 1 Kings 22:26. and 2 Kings 23:8.] and Joha the son of JOahaz the Chancellor, to repair the house of the LORD. [Understand, that he sent these men to Hilkia the high Priests, that he might take up, and deliver out the collections, and cause them to be laid out and bestowed for the repairing and mending of the Temple. See 2 Kings 22:4. and a like example in Joas, above chap.24.4, etc.]

9. And they came to Hilkia [To wit, to acquaint him with Kings command, touching the forementioned repairing of the temple, and the levying of the money, thereunto appertaining] the high Priest, [Hebr. the great Priest] and they [to wit, Hilkia and his companions] delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, [they delivered it into the hand of the over-seers, or those that were set over the workmen, below vers.17.] which the Levites, that kept the threshold, [namely, of the Temple. Others, the vessels] had gathered of the hand of Manasseh, and Ephraim, [that is, of the Manassites, and Ephraimites] and of all the remnant of Israel, [to wit, which were under the dominion of the King of Juda, or were addicted unto him. See above chap.21.on vers.2.] and all of Juda, and Benjamin, and were returned [namely, the Levites, that had gathered the money] to Jerusalem.

10. l Now they [Namely, Hilkia, and his companions, as well shewed I the Annotations upon the beginning of the former verse. Compare likewise the end of the following sixteenth verse, and vers.17.] delivered it into the hand of the Surveyours of the work, [Meaning, the Disposers, Manager, Over-seers, Setters forward, that took care to see the work well done, being distinct from those that did the work themselves with their own hand See 2 Kings 22.on vers.5.] that were appointed over the house of the LORD: and (these) gave it to those, that did the work, that labored in the LORD, to repair, and mend the house. [Others, to search and examine, or, to view: to wit, to look, where it wanted mending, or repairing.]

11. For they gave it to the artificers, and builders, to buy hewen stones, [see 2 Kings 22.on vers.6.] and wood for couplings: [meaning, the beams and rafters, whereby the walls and ceiling are coupled and fastened together] and to floor the houses, [Meaning, the chambers, that were in the Temple for the priests and Levites] which the Kings of Juda [to wit, the idolatrous Kings, as Achaz, Manasseh, and Amon] had destroyed.

12. And those men dealt faithfully: [Hebr.in truth, or, faithfulness. So 2 Kings 12:15. and 2.7.] in this work: and those that were appointed over them [to wit, the Orderers or Disposers of the work, of whom is spoken vers.10.] were Jahath, and Obadja, the Levites, of the children of Merari, together with Zacharia, and Mesullam, of the children of the Kohathites, to set the work forward: and those Levites were all skilful (to play) upon instruments of music. [Or, together with every one of the Levites, that was skilful (to play) upon musical instruments.]

13. They were also over the bearers of burdens, and the setters forward of all those that labored in any work: [Hebr. in service, and service: that is, in every service, or, work. See Genes.7.on vers.2.] for of the Levites (there) were Scribes, and Officers, [called above vers.10. surveyors, or, Over-seers. See the Annotations there.] and porters.

14. And when they took out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkia the priest found the book of the law of the LORD, (given) by the hand of Moseh. [To wit, the original book of the Law, written, and left behind by Moseh himself. See 2 Kings 22.on vers.8.]

15. And Hizkia answered, [That is, began to speak. See Judges 18.on vers.14.] and said to Saphan the Scribe: I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord: and Hilkia gave that book to Saphan.

16. And Saphan carried that book to the king: moreover, he brought the King yet intelligence back again, [Hebr. word: that is, intelligence, news, report, answer of what the King had given in charge, above vers.8.] saying; All that was given into the hand of thy servants, [that is, all that was given in charge to the Levites, and commmited to their care and trust] that they do:

17. And they have poured together [Hebr. cast, or, melted. See 2 Kings 2.on vers.9.] the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of them that were appointed, and into the hand of them that made [or, did] the work. [That is, to the labourers or workmen.]

18. Furthermore, Saphan the Scribe told the King, saying; Hilkia the Priests hath given me a book: and Saphan read therein before the face of the King.

19. Now it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the law, that he rent his cloaths. [See 2 Kings 22. The Annotations on vers.11.]

20. And the King commanded Hilkia, and Ahikam the son of Saphan, and Abdon [Who is also called Achbor, 2 Kings 22:12.] the son of Micha, and Saphan the Scribe, and Hasia the kings servant, saying;

21. Go your ways, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the remnant in Israel, and in Juda, [To wit, which had not been murdered by the enemies, carried away captive] concerning the words of this book, that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD, that is poured out upon us, [and that with vehement burning, and kindling; for 2 Kings 22:13. for poured out, is put the word kindled] because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in that book.

22. Then Hilkia went, and those that were the Kings, [To wit, ministers, whose names see above vers.20.] to Hulda the Prophetess the wife of Sallum, the son of Tokhar, the son of Hasia, [called also Tikva, the son of Harhas, 2 Kings 22. Vers.14.] the keeper of the wardrobe; [understand this of the cloaths, or, vestments of the Sanctuary, which were commited to the keeping of this same Sallum] now she dwelt at Jerusalem in the second part: [to wit, of the city. See 2 Kings 20.on vers.4. Others understand this place of a College of Prophets. See 2 Kings 22. The Annotat.on vers.14.] and they spake that [according to that: that is, according to that, which the King had commanded them] to her.

23. And she said unto them; Thus saith the LORD the Good of Israel; Tell the man, that sent you unto me.

24. Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof: [Meaning, the invasion of the Babylonians into the land of Juda, the besieging of the city of Jerusalem, the famine, the murdering of the inhabitants, the destruction of the temple, the captivity, and carrying away of the people to Babel, and lastly the ruine of the city, and destruction of the whole land] all the curses, that are written in this book, which hath been read before the face of the King of Juda. [Hebr. which they have read before the face of the King, etc. See Job 4.on v.19.]

25. Because they have forsaken me, [See above chap.12.on vers.1.] and burnt incense unto other Gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; [that is, idols and images. See 2 Kings 22.on vers.17.] therefore my wrath shall be poured out against this place, and (shall) not be quenched.

26. But until the King of Juda, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, ye shall say thus unto him; Thus saith the LORD the God of Israel; Concerning the words, which thou hast heard: [By or from the reading of the Book of the Law, containing most grievous threatening against the transgressors of the Law. See 2 Kings 22.on vers.18.]

27. Because thine heart is grown tender, [The Hebrew word being soft, or, weak; used of the heart of man, signifieth for most part a weakness, feebleness, faintless, and decaying of the heart, which ariseth from fear, as may be gathered from Deut.20.3,8. 2 Kings ch.22.19. 2 Chron.13.7. Isai 7.4. Jer.51.46.] and thou didst humbled thy self before the face of God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and didst humbled thy self before my face, and rend thy cloaths, and weep before my face; Therefore I have also heard thee, speaketh the LORD.

28. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave [Hebr. in thy graves: that is, I one of thy graves. See Gen.19.on vers.29. and compare below chap.35. vers.24.] in peace, [to wit, so, as that the evil, which shall come upon this city, and upon this land, shall not come to pass in thy lifetime; but in the lifetime of thy children. See Hereof further, 2 Kings 22.on vers.20. Moreover, he was also buried within the city of Jerusalem, and laid peaceably in his grave, accompanied with all funeral pomp and solemnity. Compare Jer.34.5.] neither shall thine eyes see all that evil, which I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof: and thy brought the King this answer back again.

29. Then the King sent, and gathered all the eldest of Juda, [See 2 Kings 23.on v.1.] and Jerusalem.

30. And the King went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, together with the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, from the gate to the small: and they read [Or, he read, namely, the King; but the meaning is, that he caused some body to read, as some one of the Priests, or Levites] before their ears all the words of the book of the covenant, that was found in the house of the LORD.

31. And the King stood in his standing place, [That is, by the pillar, where the King had his seat, 2 Kings 23:3. See of this place further in the same book cha.11.on v.14.] and made a covenant before the face of the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandements, and his testimonies, [see 1 Kings 2.on vers.3.] and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, [See 1 kings 2. On vers.4.] doing the words of the covenant, that are written in that book.

32. And caused all that were found at Jerusalem, and in Benjamin, to stand: [To wit, that so standing upright, they should promise with solemn oath, that they would keep and maintain the pure worship of God, which he had now set up. Or, he caused them to stand; that is, he established and confirmed them in the covenant made. Others, he established (it) ( To wit, the covenant) with all, etc.] and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. [To wit, in respect of the outward worship.]

33. Josia then put away all the abominations [That is, all idols, images, high places, altars, and idolatrous instruments] out of all the lands, that were the children of Israels, and made all, that were found in Israel, to serve the LORD their God; [the Hebrew word importeth, that he in a manner compelled them to the pure worship and service of God; as a servant is forced and compelled to his work. The meaning is, that he by his royal power and authority kept them in order, forbidding idolatry, and commanding them to serve God no otherwise, than according to his Word] all his days they departed not [to wit, from the outward pure worship of God. Never the less, that the heart of the greatest part of the people was not upright, both appeareth by the manifold reproofs of the Prophets, and by the heavy Judgements, and plagues of God, which after the death of Josia came upon the Jews] from following the LORD [Hebr. from after the LORD. See 1 Kings.9on vers.6.] the God of their fathers. [Compare Jos.24.31. Judges 2:7.]