2 Chronicles 34

Here particular notice is taken of the idol mentioned ver. 7. which confirms what I have noted there. Ver. 1G. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace-offerings and thank-offerings.] For hoav he was sensible there was no other God but the Lord, who had wonderfully delivered him out of captivity, and restored him to his kingdom, when he implored his mercy. And commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.] This was a proof of his true repentance, that ho endeavoured to bring his people back to the service of God, whom lie had misled (ver. 9.) to the worship of idols. But, as Kimchi notes, he was not able to do so much good as he had done mischief, for the people continued their inclination to idolatry, and neglected the study of the law of God. For in Josiah’s reign (which presently followed) it was matter of great surprise that they found the book of the law, when they were repairing the temple: the copies of it, as the Jews think, having been destroyed in the time of Manasseh and Amon. But it is not credible, which were preserved in the hands of the ten tribes, and without which the church could not have been reformed. Ver; 17. Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.] This was an error so rooted, that very good kings could not correct it, such as Asa and Jehoshaphat, in whose days the people worshipped the true God but in an unlawful place, as they now did. 1 was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.] See 2 Kings xxii. 9. Vcr. 18. Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Jlilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

2 Chronicles 34:1

c/ OSIAH was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned in Jerusalem one-and-thirty years.

2 Chronicles 34:2

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the waijs of David his father, and de dined neither to the right hand nor to the left.* These two verses are the same with 2 Kings xxii. 1, 2. only there the name of his mother is set down, which here is omitted.

2 Chronicles 34:3

For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, be began to seek after the God of David his father. He gave very early proofs of his pious inclinations; for when he was but sixteen years old, and had newly taken on him the administration of affairs, he began to worship God publicly, and propounded David to himself for his pattern. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved zmages, and the molten images.] When he was twenty years old, he began to bring others to the true religion, by reforming, abuses in the worship of God. For now he had got more authority, and therefore destroyed idolatrous worship, which he was inclined to do before, and had it in his mind when he was a mere youth. This is not so distinctly noted in the book of the Kings, where nothing is recorded of him till what he did in the eighteenth year of his reign. And this is the more remarkable, because he began the reformation here spoken of before Jeremiah began to prophesy, which was not till the next year, in the thirteenth of king Josiah. (Sec Jer. i. 2.)'

2 Chronicles 34:4

And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence. I have elsewhere observed that Baalim were demi-gods, as Mr. Mcdc truly calls them. And the images that were on high above them he cut down.] The Hebrew word chamamim, which wo translate images, as most think, hath some relation to the sun; because it comes from a word that signifies heat. And Aben Ezra translates it houses made for the worship of the sun. The LXX. sometimes translate it uSwXa, sometimes j38tAvy/iara, but do not tell us what idols and abominations these were.* Microsoft ® CHAP, XXXIV.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. Jo. Geusius thinks it was the idol called Thammuz, by which name Osiris, Jupiter Amnion, or the sun, was understood. And, indeed, the worship of all the host of heaven is mentioned together with the worship of Baalim, in the idolatry which Manasseh committed, chap.xxxiii.3. And the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces.] Here again ascherim signifies the idols in the groves; for the groves themselves were not broken in pieces, but cut down. And made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed ttnto them.’] To declare his detestation of the smallest remainders of them.

2 Chronicles 34:5

And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. Whereby he polluted these altars, and made them abominable, and purged the nation from their idolatry, which was very great. For it is likely these were not Levitical priests, but priests made by their idolatrous kings, either of other nations, or such as they could draw in of their own nation (after the manner of Jeroboam), to officiate to their strange gods. Ver. G. And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali.] Though Shalmaneser had carried away the main body of the ten tribes from their own land, yet there remained a great many of the poor people behind, as appears from this place, and from ver. 9. 33. With their mattocks round about.] Some translate it mauls,’ others forks, or such-like instruments.

2 Chronicles 34:7

And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.] For it appears by the book of the Kings more fully, that he went himself in person through the whole country to sec this work done, which otherwise might have been performed negligently.

2 Chronicles 34:8

Noiv, in the eighteenth year of his reign. When he was twenty-six years old he proceeded further, having disposed the people to offer freely towards the reparation of the house of God, as it here follows. When he hadpurged the land, and the house.] That is, the house of God. He sent Shaphan the son ofAzaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joaltaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.] Here is a more perfect narrative of the reparation of the temple than was given in the book of the Kings, where only Shaphan is mentioned as sent to Hilkiah; but here two other men of great authority arc joined with him, and ordered to see the work set forward.

2 Chronicles 34:9

And when they came to Hilkiah the high-priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, andof all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem,] These last words import, that these Levites (having received what was given at the door of the tabernacle which they kept) travelled all the country over, to collect what money they could gather from well-disposed people, who contributed to this work. Which money the three forcnamed persons received from them when they returned to Jerusalem: and, besides this, Shaphan alone seems to have been sent to Hilkiah, to sum up the money that had been offered at the temple for this use, (2 Kings xxii. 4.)

2 Chronicles 34:10

And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the Lord. Who were appointed to take caTe of the work, and to see it done. And they gave it to the workmen that ivroitght in the house of the Lord, to repair and mend the house.] The overseers gave it to the artificers mentioned in the next verse, who were to buy materials, and employ them in the reparation.

2 Chronicles 34:11

Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to bay hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroy ed. It seems both the outside and inside, the floor and the roof, were run to ruin by long neglect, since the days of “Joash, when the temple was last repaired: which the Jews (in Seder Olam Rabba, cap. 24.) make account was two hundred and eighteen years.

2 Chronicles 34:12

And the men did the work faithfully. So that no account was taken of them. And the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons ofMerari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other oftheLevites, all that could skill of instruments of music] That is, all those who were well skilled in music, and performed their part in the service of the temple: which is here mentioned to signify that the principal Levites were set over this work to see it well done.

2 Chronicles 34:13

Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service. There being great numbers of them,’ they might well inspect every person that was employed in this work. And of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.] These overseers were deputed to several employments; for which none so’ fit as the Levites, who understood all manner of things belonging to the house of God: being to do constant service there.

2 Chronicles 34:14

And ivhen they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord. And thereupon had begun the reparation of the house. Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses.] The word given is not in the Hebrew: which must be applied not to the book, but to the law of the Lord given by Moses. For we cannot certainly from henco conclude, that this was the very authentic book which Moses laid up by the ark; (see 2 Kings xxii. 8.) because in the Hebrew it is said the book of the law of the Lord by the hand of Moses. Which doth not signify the book was written by his own hand, but that the law therein contained was delivered to the people by the ministry of Moses. So the phrase, by the hand, is used in very many places, Exod. xxxv. 29. Lev. x. 11. xxvi. 45. Numb. iv. 37. 45, &c. (See 2 Kings xviii. 8. and in this book, xxxv. 6.)

2 Chronicles 34:15

And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. Whoread it, 2 Kings xxii. 9,

2 Chronicles 34:16

And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that teas committed to thy servants, they do it. When he came to.give an account to the king, how he had executed his command, (ver. 8, 9, &c.) he delivered the book to him.

2 Chronicles 34:17

And they. have gathered together the money that 4 P 2

2 Chronicles 34:18

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the Kings of Israel.’] So Judah is now called, who with Benjamin were all that were left of the children of Jacob, who was named Israel. But these books here mentioned are not those which we now have, but others that were lost in the captivity.

2 Chronicles 34:19

His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him. He mentions his prayer again; because, I suppose, he made more than one. As if he had said, how he conthmed to pray till God was entreated of him. And all his sins, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled.] This is one of the places which plainly prove (as I have often noted) that ascherim (which we translate groves) signifies not the groves themselves, but the images or statues which were setup in them. For groves are planted, not set up or erected, as it is herp said of Manasseh, that he set up groves: that is, dedicated and consecrated, as that word signifies among Greek and Roman writers. (Sec xxxiv. 1. 2 Kings xiv. 23. Jer. xvii. 2.) Behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.] Or of Ilosai (as we translate it in the margin), who was a prophet, it is likely, in those times, by whom many memorably things in this reign were recorded: particularly his prayer, which he recorded, as Isaiah did the prayer of Hezekiah his father. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the lata, that he rent his clothes.] These two verses are word for word in 2 Kings xxii. 10, 11. where I have explained them. I shall only here add, that Jacobus Capellus thinks, the reading of the law, on every sabbath and festival (which was divided for that purpose into several sections), was as old as the time of Joshua; but was neglected in the reign of wicked kings, particularly in that of Ahaz. If it were again restored by Hczekiah (which is uncertain), it was again abolished by Manasseh; and perhaps not renewed when he repented: howsoever, discontinued again by Amon. So that both priests and people, omitting the reading of the law, both publicly and privately (for the public omission caused a private neglect), no wonder, that upon finding the book of the law, and hearing it read, they were startled at it; as if one were risen from the dead, (Histor. Sacra et Exotica, ad A. Mundi 3372.)

2 Chronicles 34:20

So Maiiasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead. See 2 Kings xxi. 18. It is likely he left it in his iast will, that he would be buried privately; as not worthy to lie by his ancestors. And the king commanded Jlilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son ofMicah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king’s, saying.] He that is called here Abdon, is in 2 Kings xxii. 12. called Achbor: otherwise there is no difference between this verse and that.

2 Chronicles 34:21

Amon was two-and-twenty years old when he began to reign; and reigned two years in Jerusalem. As the sons of Jeroboam, and of Baa^ha, and of Ahab, reigned two years and no longer. Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrathofthe Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in tJiis book.

2 Chronicles 34:22

But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.] See 2 Kings xxi. 20, 21. And Hilkiahj and they that the king had oppointed, went to Hitldah the prophetess, the wife ofShallum, the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college); and they spake to her to that effect^

2 Chronicles 34:23

And humbled not himself before the Lord, as. Manasseh his father had humbled himself. He followed him in his sin, but not in his repentance. But Amon trespassed more and more.] Some of the Jews say, that he burnt the book of the law: others, that he lay with his own mother. But the great sin which the Holy Scriptures charge him with, is his idolatry, which he more and more introduced, and never repented of it. And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,

2 Chronicles 34:24

And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:

2 Chronicles 34:25

But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon: and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead. These two verses aro the very same with those 2 Kings xxi. 23, 24. (See there.) Because they liave forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

2 Chronicles 34:26

And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, concerning the words which thou hast heard,

2 Chronicles 34:27

Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord.

2 Chronicles 34:28

Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again. There is little difference in the words between these verses and 2 Kings xxii. 14, 15, &c. and none in the sense. He. that is called there Harhas, is here called Hasrah (some pronouncing his name one way, and some another). And the Targum translates those words, (ver. 27.) TJiou didst humble thyself before >God, &c. in this manner: Thou didst humble thyself before the Word of the Lord, when thou didst hear his words against this place. Which plainly suppose the Word to be a Divine Person, who spake to Moses, and gave him the law.

2 Chronicles 34:29

Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. See 2 Kings xxiii. 1.

2 Chronicles 34:30

And tfie king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites. In 2 Kings xxiii. 2. it is said, the priests and the prophets went up. The Levites are omitted there, as the prophets are omitted here: but both make up a complete narrative of the persons that went up to the house of the Lord; For among the priests and Levites there were some prophets, such as Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and others. And all the people, great and small; and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that teas found in the house of the Lord.] One cannot think that Josiah and all the nation were wholly strangers to the words contained in this book (though perhaps they seldom had read it), who considers that Jeremiah dnd other prophets were now living, who were very conversant in this book, and instructed the people out of it. But they did not sufficiently attend to the words of it; and therefore Josiah gathered a solemn assembly on purpose, that they might hear it read, and be moved to observe that which most affected them. But it is not to be supposed that the whole book was all read at one time, but by parcels at several times, that they might consider and weigh it. Especially that passage in Deut. xxviii. 38. where Moses foretold the captivity of Samaria, and afterward of Judah and their king: which, Kimchi thinks, Hilkiah might bid Shaphan take special notice of,, and read it to the king, which (if it be true) no doubt, he remarked to the people, that, if it were possible, they might be bnwght to repentance, and prevent the great calamities which were threatened to them.

2 Chronicles 34:31

And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.] See 2 Kings xxiii. 3.

2 Chronicles 34:32

And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. He did not compel them, but they offered themselves freely, upon his persuasion, to renew their covenant with God, and promised to be firm to it: which, perhaps, at that time they really resolved; though they soon revolted.

2 Chronicles 34:33

And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel. CHAP XXXV.* THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. This is more largely related in 2 Kings xxiii. 4 — 6. and the following verses. And made all that ivere present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God.] He persuaded them to perform all acts of religious worship unto God, and unto none else. And all his days they departed not from, following the Lord, the God of their fathers.] But though he suppressed all external idolatry, yet in their hearts they strongly inclined to it, and often practised it, as appears from Jer. iii. 10. xxv. 3, 4, &c.