2 Kings 23:24-34

24 Moreover the workers with familiar spirits and the wizards, and the images and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem did Josiah put away, 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.
25 And like unto him was there no king before him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.
26 Notwithstanding, the LORD turned not from the fierceness of His great wrath, wherewith His anger was kindled against Judah because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.
27 And the LORD said, "I will remove Judah also out of My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen and the house of which I said, `My name shall be there.'"
28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
29 In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up together with the king of Assyria to the River Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him. And Pharaohnechoh slew Josiah at Megiddo when he had seen him.
30 And his servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his own sepulcher. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.
31 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
32 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.
33 And Pharaohnechoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and put the land under a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
34 And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the stead of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away; and he came to Egypt and died there.

2 Kings 23:24-34 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.

Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.