2 Kings 23:16-18

16 And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mount. And he sent and took the bones out of the tombs and burned them on the altar and defiled it, ¹according to the word of the LORD that the man of God proclaimed, who had predicted these things.

17 Then he said, "What is that monument that I see?" And the men of the city told him, ²"It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and predicted^[a] these things that you have done against the altar at Bethel."

18 And he said, "Let him be; let no man move his bones." So they let his bones alone, with the bones ³of the prophet who came out of Samaria.

2 Kings 23:16-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 23

This chapter treats of Josiah's reading the book of the law, and of him and the people renewing the covenant with God, 2Ki 23:1-3, and of his removing idols and idolatry in every shape, and witchcraft, out of the land, which he did in the sincerity of his heart, 2Ki 23:4-25, yet the wrath of God was still determined upon the land, 2Ki 23:26-28 and Josiah was taken away by an untimely death, 2Ki 23:29,30 and was succeeded by two sons of his, one after another, whose reigns were wicked, 2Ki 23:31-37.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 13:2
• 2. 1 Kings 13:1, 30
• 3. 1 Kings 13:11, 31

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew called