2 Kings 23

Josia causeth the book of the law to be read,a nd reneweth the covenant with the Lord. V.1. Purgeth the temple and destroyeth all idolatry, 4. breaketh down the altar at Bethel and burneth therein the bones of men,15. he keepeth the Passover, 21. A relation of certain other evidences of this piety, 24, although God’s wrath against Pharoah Necho, is wounded and dieth, 29 Joahaz his son becometh king, 31 Whom Pharoa Necho deposeth and maketh Eliakim king in his room, whom he callet Jojoakim, 33 his government, 35.

1. Ten the king sent [to wit, messengers, to whom he gave charge to summon the eldest together] and to him were gathered all the eldest of Juda and Jerusalem. [Understand those who in government both of church and common-wealth were seated above others. See Exod.3. on v.16 and Lev.4 on v.15.]

2. And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and with all the men’s of Juda, [Understand the chiefest] and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests, and the prophets, [some understand by these, Jeremy. Zephania and Uria, who lived at this time. Others, the disciples or scholars of the prophets or the scribes, and such as well skilled and in the law of God] and all the people, from the least, to the greatest; and he read before their ears all the words of the book of the covenant, which was found in the house of the Lord. [see above chapter 22.8.]

3. Now the king stood by the pillar, [see above chapter 11 on v.14.] and made a covenant before the face of the Lord, [i.e. in the people’s court, which was before the court of the priests, in the fore-part of the temple of the Lord, wherein the ark of the covenant was, upon which the Lord manifested himself, see Lev.1. on v.3.] to walk after the Lord, [that is, to walk in th wayes of the Lord. What this is, see 1 kings 11 on v.33. and the words here following] and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes with all (their0 hear, and with all their soul, [see Deut.6. on v.5.] confirming the words of this covenant, which are writte in this boo: [see Deut. 27. on v.26.] and all the people stood in this covenant. [i.e. stood close to it, and were contented with it. So we are forbidden to stand in an evil thing, Eccles.8.3. That is, to stick close to it, and to yield unto it.]

4. And the king commanded Hilkia the high priest, and the priests of the second order, [these priests were the chiefest under the high priest] and the keepers of the threshold, [to wit, of the temple of the Lord. So above chapter 22.4. see the annotate.] to bring forth out of the temple all the furniture that were made for Baal, and for the (image) the grove and for all the host of heaven; and he burnt them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kiron, [see 1 Kings 2 on v.37.] and caused the dust thereof to be carries to bethel. [one of the cities where Jerobeam had raised up a golden calf, 1 kings. 12 v.29 and consequently a sink of idolatry; for which cause t is called Bethaven, that is an house of wickedness, hos.4.15 and 18.5 and is most shamefully disgraced by Josia in casting out the ashes of the burnt idolatrous vessels there.]

5. Besides, be put down the Chemarims, [A kind of idolatrous priests of Baal; of whom see also Hosea 10:5. and Zeph.1.4. The name Chemarims is derived from a word signifying to be warn, to burn, also to grow black, also pulled together, rumpled and rolled together, which is caused by burning, whence there is also with the Chaldeans the signification of shutting in. Hence there he divers opinions of the learned concerning this appellation. Many conceive that these priests of baal were so called, because their order was to wear black apparel; some think they were so called, because they were of a blackish or swarty and smoaky countenance being always busied in burning of incense ad offering of sacrifices.] whom the kings of Juda had ordained to burn incense on the high places, in the cities of Juda and round about Jerusalem, together with those that burnt incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon and to (the rest of) the places and to all the host of heaven.

6. He also brought away the (image of the) grove out of the house of the LORD, [which image was set up in the temple by king Manasseh, above chap.21.7] without Jerusalem unto the brook Kidron, [oth. Unto the valley of kidron, v.12. so below in the same verse] and burnt it all at the brook Kidron, and stampt it small to powder and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people. [i.e. of the inhabitants of the land that had idolaters. Compare 2 Chron. 2 Chron.34.4 or of the common people. This he did in detestation of all deceased idolaters, and for an example and admonition to those idolaters that were alive.]

7. moreover, he brake down the houses of the buggers, [see Deut. 23. on v.17.] which were by the house of the Lord; [to wit, in the people’s court, where the idol-ministers (as is conceived) had their abode] were the women wove shrines for the (image of the) grove. [Understand by these shrines, little Chappels, or Cabbimets, and cases made of woven or needle and embroidered work, in which the images of the idols stood. Others understand such kind of tents, wherein idolaters did jointly and with one accord commit their filthy abomination to the honor of their Idols

8. And he brought all the priests, [Namely the idolatrous’ priests] out of the cities of Juda and defiledthe high places, [to wit, by making them unfit and incense from Geba [A city in Benjamin, the North-border of the kingdome of Juda. See 1 kings 15 on verse 22.] to Berseba: [laying in Juda and the south-border of the whole land of Canaan. See Gen.21 on verse 31.] and he brake down the high places of the gate, [i.e. which were at the gates] (also) that which was at the door of the gate of Josua the governor of the city, [i.e. he hindred as well as the idolatry of the great and mighty men, as of the poorer and meaner sort of people] which was at a man’s left hand, (entering) into the gate of the city. [Heb the left hand of a man: namely, of him that came into the gate of the city.]

9. Howbeit the priests of the high places offered not upon the altar of the Lord at Jerusalem: but they did eat unleavened bread in the midst of their brethren. [Or came not up to the altar.] The meaning is that these priests, because they had offered unto idols, were with their posterity deposed from the priesthood, as being unworthy of it, Ezek.44.13. although notwithstanding, because they repented, they had livelihood and maintenance allowed them out of the unleavened cakes, of which none might eat, save the priests onely, Lev.2.4,10 being therein equalized with the blemished posterity of Aaron, Lev.21.17,22.]

10. He also defiled Topheth. [By causing Dung excrements, dead putrified bodies and all manner of filthy to be cast forth there. Topheth was a place near unto the city of Jerusalem, lying in a fair and pleasant field so called from the word Toph, signifying a drum where the idolaters offered up their children to the idol Molech, causing them to pass thorow th fire, or also quite be to burnt and consuming, for which end & purpose they were put into the arms of an image that was made red-hot which was hallow within and full of fire. Now because the children feeling the pain and smart of fire made a doleful and lamentable cry, therefore they made a huge noise with drums and tabret to drown the skreckings and roaring of the children that the same might not be heard by the parents and friends thereof. Compare Lev.1821. Jerem.7.31.] which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom; [the name of a man to whose children this place did formerly belong, so that from thence it was called Ge-Bene-Hinnom; Jos.15.8 that is, the valley of the children hinnom; or Gebinnom, that is, the valley of Hinnom, Neh.11.30. from the most terrible pain of fire, which the children of idolaters there suffered, hell (the place for the damned) hath its denomination being called Gebenna, Matth.5.22. which is an unquenchably fire, Mark 9:43.] that no man might make his son, o his daughter to pass thorow the fire to molech. [Below v.13 caused Milcom. See Lev8.on v21.]

11. And he put down the horse, which the king of Juda had appointed [Or, given] to the sun from entering into the house of the lord,unto the chamber [i.e. to the house] of Nathan-Melith the Courtier, which was parvarim: [or in the suburbs, to wit, of the city of David, not far distant from the temple. Some take the Hebrew word parvarim to be the name of a place near to the temple: but what place it was is uncertain. Concerning the horses mentioned in this verse, some understand it of living horses, which were kept and used to the honor of the sun: for certain men (as some conceive) were appointed every morning with these horses to ride to meet the sun rising from the house of the Lord to the house of Nathan Melech, and to salute and worship it and to perform divine honor unto it. Others understand it onely of the images and pictures of these horses & charets] he burnt the charets of the sun with fire. [i.e. those charets which were made to the honor of the sun after the manner and custome of the heathen.]

12. moreover the altars which were on the roof of the upper chamber of Achaz [Being made there to the honor of the host of heaven. See jer.19.13. Zeph.1.5.] Which Manasseh had made in two courts of the house of the Lord [see above chapter 21.5.] did the king break down: and he ground them from dust thence and cast the dust of them into the brook kidron, [which was done partly to manifest publick detesting of these idolatrous reliques and partly to root them out utterly that nothing thereof at all might be left.]

13. Alsothe high places, that was before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of mashith, [Oth. Of the corrupted. Understand the mount of Olives lying near Jerusalem here called the mount of Mashith, that is, of him that corrupteth, or of the corrupter, because the Jews did there corrupt themselves by idolatry. Oth. It was called the mount ofMischab, that is, of anointing because many olives grew on it, of which the anointing oil was made: so that between both the names there is but small difference in regard of the letters but there is a great difference in regard of their significations. See 1 kings 11.7.] which Salomon the king of Israel had builded for Asthoreth, [this name, with the two following, Camos and Milcom, are names of idolatrous images. See of Asthoreth, judges 2.13.] The abomination of the Zidonians and for Camos. [See I kings 11.on v.7.] The abomination of the Moabites and for Milcom [see lev.18 on verse 21.] the abomination of the children of Ammon did the king defile

14. he likewise broke (in pieces) the reared images, and destroyed the groves: he filled their place with the bones of men. [which he caused to be taken out of the graves of idolaters, to defile therewith the idolaterous places and to make them to be abhorred. Compare below v. 16 and 20. Itera Ezra 6:5]

15. moreover also the altar that was at Bathel, and the high place, which Jerobeam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sinne, had made both that altar and that high place he brake down: ye burnt the high place, he stamp it small to powder and burnt the grove.

16. And as Josia turned himself, he spied that were on the mount and sent, and took the bones out of the Sepuchres and burnt them upon the altar, [to wit, which was reared up at Bethel by Jerobeam, verse 15.] and polluted it, according to the word of the Lord, which the man of god had proclaimed who proclaimed [i.e. foretold: to wit, more then three hundred years before: see 1 kings 13.2 and compare therewith, that which is here related and below v.20] these words. [see 1 kings 13.2.]

17. Moreover he said, what monument is that which I see? And the men of the city said unto him; it is the Sepulchreof the man of god that came from Juda and proclaimed those things, which thou hast done against this altar of Bethel.

18. And he said; let him lie (still) let no man meddle with his bones: s they delivered his bones, [Namely that they were not burnt upon the altar at Bethel, with the other bones] with the bones of the prophet, [who had desired to be buried close by the prophet of Juda, 1 King.13.31.] that was come out of Samari. [Understand not the city but land of Samaria, wherein the city of Bethel lay and this prophet dwelt hen he came to the prophet of Juda, 1 Kings 13:11. so the name Samaria is also taken for the countrey of Samaria in the following verse.]

19. Besides, josia took away all the house of the high places which were in the cities of Samaria, [namely, which were brought under the dominion of the kingdome of Juda] which the Kings of Israel had had to provoke (the Lord) to anger and he did to them according to all the acts which he had done at Bethel.

20. And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altar and burnt men’s bones upon them, [oth offered, &c. that is, put them to death upon the altars, to shew that he not onely hated idolatry in the highest degree, but even the very places where it was practiced, polluting the by shedding men’s blood, and burning their bones upon them. [understand this of the priests, who (according to Jerobeams institution) were made of the lowest of the people, and did obstinately first in their idolatry, see 1 kings 12.31.] after that he returned to Jerusalem.

21. And the king commanded all the people, saying; keep the Passover unto the Lord thy God: [see 2 Chron.35.1.] as it is written in this book of the covenant. [namely, the book of the law: of which see above chapter 22.8 &c. see also Exodus 12:3. Deuteronomy 16:2]

22. for like unto this Passover there was none kept [oth. Surely like unto, &c.] Here a reason is given, shewing that the king command was very well observed] from the dayes of the judges, that had judged Israel, [meaning those that are not counted there. For 2 Chron. 35.18. it’s said, from the dayes’ of Samuel who was the last of the judges] nor in all the dayes of the kings of Israel, nor of the Kings of Juda. [the meaning is, that from the beginning of the government of Kings, who did immediately succeed the Judges, no Passover was ever kept with so great preparation, assembly, purity, reverence, attention and devotion, as this was kept.]

23. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was kept unto the Lord at Jerusalem.

24. And Josia did put away the soothsayer, and Necromancers, [see of both these, Lev.19. on verse 31.] and the Teraphim, [see Gen. 31. on v.19.] and the dung-Gods, [see Lev. 26. on ver.30] and all the abominations that were set in the land of Juda, and in Jerusalem: that he might confirm the words of the law that were written in the book, which Hilkia the priest had found in the house of the Lord.

25. And before him there was no king like unto him, [understand this properly in respect of the fervency of his zeal in rooting out all abominations, that bare a great sway in his time; and in respect of the innocence and integrity of his life, in diligent heeding the law of the Lord, as the following words of this verse import. Compare above chapter 18 on v5.] that had turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, [see 1 Kings 2 on v.4.] and with all his might, according to the law of Moseh: and after him there arose not (any) like unto him.

26. Notwithstanding, the Lord turned from the fierce of his great wrath, [Not because the king did not please his God, but because the people did not follow their King, neither in the unfeigned acceptation of his pure worship, nor in the right conversion and amendment of life, as it did soon appear after the kings decease] wherewith his anger burned against Juda, because of all the provocations wherewith Manasseh had provoked him. [to wit. Because they did commit the same, after the example of King Manasseh, following him in his abomination but not in his repentance and conversion.]

27. And the Lord said; I will also remove Juda from my face; [See above chap.17 on v. 18] according as I have removed Israel, [to wit, by carrying them away out of their land, although the same should not be forever as the carrying away of the Israelites was. See above chapter 17.v.18,20 and 18.11 and 21.13. with the annotate.] and I will cast off this city Jerusalem, which I have chosen, and the house, of which I said, my anme shall be there. [see 1 kings 8, on.v.29. and 9.3 item, above chap.21.4.]

28. now the rest of the acts of Josia, and all that he did; are they not written in the books of the chronicles of the kings of Juda?

29. In the dayes [to wit, when Josia had finished the reparation of the house of the lord. See 2 chron.35.20.] pharaoh Necho [see of him also below v.33.] king of Egypt marched against the king of Assyria to the river Phrath: [to the city of Charchemis, lying by the Euphrates, which the king of Assyria had taken away the Syrians; of which he boasteth, Isa.10.9.] and king Josia marched forth to meet him. [viz. to turn him away, and to hinder him from passing with his camp thorow his land, fearing left damage should befall his own kingdome or desiring thereby to gratifie and pleasure the king of Assyria] and he shew him at Megisso, [that is the archers of King Necho wounded him mortally: so that he being carried to Jerusalem, died by the way or in Jerusalem, having received his deaths wound at Megiddo, 2 chron. Chap.35.23,24. Megiddoa was a city in the land of Manasseh. See 1 Kings 9 on v. 15.] when he had seen him. [i.e. when Josia was come to look him in the face and sought against him. See above chap.14.8 and the annotate.]

30. And his servants carried him in a charet dead, [that is, mortally wounded and accounted as dead. So we say of a man that is dying or must suddenly die, he is a dead man. So the word death is almost taken, Gen.20.3] from Megiddo and brought him to Jerusalem, and hurted him in his (own) Sepulchre, and the people of the land took Joahaz [otherwise called also (as some conceive) Johanan, 1 chron.3.15 ad Sallum, Jer.22.11] the son of Josia and anointed him and made him king in his father’s stead. [thus (according to the opinion of some) openly declaring, that I his general calamity, they required him to be their king with all speed to be protected by him against king necho, and to prefer the land and kingdome.]

31. Joahaz was three and twenty years old when he became king and reigned thre moneth at Jerusalem, and his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of jeramia of Libna. [this Jeremia is to be distinguished from Jeremia the prophets for the prophet was of Anathoth in Benjamin, jerem.1.1 but this man was of Libna in Juda.]

32. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all his father’s had done. [Namely his grandfather Amon and his great grandfathers Manasseh, Achaz, 7c.]

33. but Pharao Necho caused to be bound [i.e. put him in prison. This was done while he was busie imployed in war against the city of Carchemis, of which see 2 chron.35.20. jer.46.2] at Ribla [city lying in Syria by some held to be Apamia, by others Antiochia] in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign at Jerusalem: [oth, when he reigned at Jerusalem] and he laid a tax upon the land of an hundred talents of Silver, [see Exod.25 on v.39.] and a talent of gold.

34. Pharao Necho made also Eliakim the son of Lofia king in the room of Josia his father, and changed his name Jojakim, [Heb. Turned about, 7c. he would thereby shew, that he had power and command over him. See the like example below chap.24.17. Dan.1.7.] but he took Joahaz with him, and he came into Egypt and died there. [to wit, as Jeremie had foretold, chap.22.12. where v.11. (According to the opinion of many) he is called Sallum.]

35. And Jojakim gave that silver and that gold to Pharao, but he taxed the land [that is, Jojakim taxed or valued the estates and means of all the inhabitants of the land and made them accordingly to bring in their taxes and tributes] to give that money according to the command [Heb. Mouth] of Pharao; he required of every one of the people of the land, according to his taxation [i.e. according as he was taxed by the king] the silver, and the gold, to give it unto Pharao Necho.

36. Jojakim was five and twenty years old when he became king, [to wit, alone and in full power after the death of Joahaz his brother, who while he was a prisoner was yet held to be king, although he namely Jojakim governed the kingdom. Others think that Jojahim was five and twenty years old, when Joahaz his brother was deposed and carried away captive unto Egypt and consequently that he was the eldest of Josia’s sons expounding the place. 1 Chron.3.15. not of natural procreation, but of kindly reign or government and that Joahaz was therefore anointed at his coronation or his installment that his choice or election might be the better secured against the gain saying of Jojakim his eldest brother as Salomon was anointed for such like cause, 1 kings 1.34,39.] and reigned eleven years at Jerusalem: [to wit, if we count up his reign from the time that he kept his brother’s place: which was presently after that his brother was carried captive into Egypt] and his mother’s name was Zebadda, a daughter of Pedaja, of Ruma.

37. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father had done, [see above on v.32.]