2 Kings 23:24

Further Zeal for the Lord

24 In addition, Josiah removed the mediums, the spiritists,^[a] household idols, images, and all the detestable things that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this in order to carry out the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the Lord's temple.

2 Kings 23:24 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 23:24

Moreover, the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards,
&c.] Who were not to be allowed among the Israelites, ( Deuteronomy 18:10 Deuteronomy 18:11 )

and the images; or teraphim: and the idols, and all the abominations;
which were worshipped by the Heathens, and introduced among the Jews, and forbidden by the word of God:

that were spied in the land of Judah, and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put
away;
for which, it seems, diligent search was made, and wherever they were discovered were removed:

that he might perform the words of the law, which were written in the
book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord;
both with respect to witchcraft and idolatry, see ( Leviticus 20:27 ) ( Exodus 20:4 Exodus 20:5 ) ( 23:24 ) .

2 Kings 23:24 In-Context

22 No such Passover had ever been kept from the time of the judges who judged Israel through the entire time of the kings of Israel and Judah.

23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was observed to the Lord in Jerusalem.

24 In addition, Josiah removed the mediums, the spiritists, household idols, images, and all the detestable things that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this in order to carry out the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the Lord's temple.

25 Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his mind and with all his heart and with all his strength according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him.

26 In spite of all that, the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath and anger, which burned against Judah because of all the provocations Manasseh had provoked Him with.

Footnotes

• [a]. 2 Kg 21:6; Lv 19:31