2 Kings 23

Josiah’s Covenant

11Then the kingH4428 sentH7971, and they gatheredH622 to him allH3605 the eldersH2205 of JudahH3063 and of JerusalemH3389. 2The kingH4428 wentH5927 up to the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 and allH3605 the menH376 of JudahH3063 and allH3605 the inhabitantsH3427 of JerusalemH3389 with him, and the priestsH3548 and the prophetsH5030 and allH3605 the peopleH5971, bothH4480 smallH6996 and greatH1419; and 2he readH7121 in their hearingH241 allH3605 the wordsH1697 of the bookH5612 of the covenantH1285 3which was foundH4672 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068. 34The kingH4428 stoodH5975 by the pillarH5982 and madeH3772 a covenantH1285 beforeH6440 the LordH3068, 5to walkH1980 afterH310 the LordH3068, and to keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687 and His testimoniesH5715 and His statutesH2708 with allH3605 his heartH3820 and allH3605 his soulH5315, to carryH6965 out the wordsH1697 of thisH2088 covenantH1285 that were writtenH3789 in thisH2088 bookH5612. And allH3605 the peopleH5971 6enteredH5975 into the covenantH1285.

Reforms under Josiah

4Then the kingH4428 commandedH6680 HilkiahH2518 the highH1419 priestH3548 and 7the priestsH3548 of the secondH4932 order and the 8doorkeepersH8104H5592, 9to bringH3318 out of the templeH1964 of the LordH3068 allH3605 the vesselsH3627 that were madeH6213 for BaalH1168, for 10AsherahH842, and for allH3605 the hostH6635 of heavenH8064; and 11he burnedH8313 them outsideH4480H2351 JerusalemH3389 in the fieldsH7709 of the KidronH6939, and carriedH5375 their ashesH6083 to BethelH1008. 5He didH7673 awayH7673 with the idolatrousH3649 priestsH3649 whomH834 the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063 had appointedH5414 to burnH6999 incenseH6999 in the highH1116 placesH1116 in the citiesH5892 of JudahH3063 and in the surroundingH4524 areaH4524 of JerusalemH3389, also those who burnedH6999 incenseH6999 to BaalH1168, to the sunH8121 and to the moonH3394 and to the constellationsH4208 and to allH3605 the 12hostH6635 of heavenH8064. 6He broughtH3318 out the AsherahH842 from the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 outsideH4480H2351 JerusalemH3389 to the brookH5158 KidronH6939, and burnedH8313 it at the brookH5158 KidronH6939, and 13groundH1854 it to dustH6083, and 14threwH7993 its dustH6083 on the gravesH6913 of the 15commonH1121 peopleH5971. 7He also brokeH5422 downH5422 the housesH1004 of the 16male cultH6945 prostitutesH6945 whichH834 were in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, whereH834H8033 17the womenH802 were weavingH707 18hangingsH1004 for the AsherahH842. 8Then he broughtH935 allH3605 the priestsH3548 from the citiesH5892 of JudahH3063, and defiledH2930 the highH1116 placesH1116 whereH834H8033 the priestsH3548 had burnedH6999 incenseH6999, from 19GebaH1387 to BeershebaH884; and he brokeH5422 downH5422 the highH1116 placesH1116 of the gatesH8179 whichH834 were at the entranceH6607 of the gateH8179 of JoshuaH3091 the governorH8269 of the cityH5892, whichH834 were on one’sH376 leftH8040 at the cityH5892 gateH8179. 9NeverthelessH389 20the priestsH3548 of the highH1116 placesH1116 did not goH5927 up to the altarH4196 of the LordH3068 in JerusalemH3389, but they ateH398 unleavenedH4682 breadH4682 amongH8432 their brothersH251. 1021He also defiledH2930 22TophethH8612, whichH834 is in the valleyH1516 of the sonH1121 of HinnomH2011, 23that noH1115 manH376 might make his sonH1121 or his daughterH1323 passH5674 through the fireH784 for 24MolechH4432. 11He didH7673 awayH7673 with the horsesH5483 whichH834 the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063 had givenH5414 to the 25sunH8121, at the entranceH935 of the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, by the chamberH3957 of Nathan-melechH5419 the officialH5631, whichH834 was in the precinctsH6503; and he burnedH8313 the chariotsH4818 of the sunH8121 with fireH784. 1226The altarsH4196 whichH834 were on the roofH1406, the upperH5944 chamberH5944 of AhazH271, whichH834 the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063 had madeH6213, and 27the altarsH4196 whichH834 ManassehH4519 had madeH6213 in the twoH8147 courtsH2691 of the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, the kingH4428 brokeH5422 downH5422; and he 28smashedH7323 them thereH8033 and 29threwH7993 their dustH6083 into the brookH5158 KidronH6939. 13The highH1116 placesH1116 whichH834 were beforeH5921H6440 JerusalemH3389, whichH834 were on the rightH3225 of 30the mountH2022 of destructionH4889 whichH834 SolomonH8010 the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 had builtH1129 for 31AshtorethH6252 the abominationH8251 of the SidoniansH6722, and for 32ChemoshH3645 the abominationH8251 of MoabH4124, and for MilcomH4445 the abominationH8441 of the sonsH1121 of AmmonH5983, the kingH4428 defiledH2930. 1433He brokeH7665 in piecesH7665 the sacred pillarsH4676 and cutH3772 downH3772 the AsherimH842 and 34filledH4390 their placesH4725 with humanH120 bonesH6106.

15FurthermoreH1571, 35the altarH4196 that was at BethelH1008 and the 36highH1116 placeH1116 whichH834 JeroboamH3379 the sonH1121 of NebatH5028, whoH834 made IsraelH3478 sinH2398, had madeH6213, evenH1571 that altarH4196 and the highH1116 placeH1116 he brokeH5422 downH5422. Then he 3738demolishedH7665 its stones, groundH1854 them to dustH6083, and burnedH8313 the AsherahH842. 16Now when JosiahH2977 turnedH6437, he sawH7200 the gravesH6913 that were thereH8033 on the mountainH2022, and he sentH7971 and tookH3947 the bonesH6106 from the gravesH6913 and burnedH8313 them on the altarH4196 and defiledH2930 it 39according to the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 whichH834 the manH376 of GodH430 proclaimedH7121, whoH834 proclaimedH7121 theseH428 thingsH1697. 17Then he saidH559, “WhatH4100 is thisH1975 monumentH6725 that I seeH7200?” And the menH376 of the cityH5892 toldH559 him, “40It is the graveH6913 of the manH376 of GodH430 whoH834 cameH935 from JudahH3063 and proclaimedH7121 theseH428 thingsH1697 whichH834 you have doneH6213 againstH5921 the altarH4196 of BethelH1008.” 18He saidH559, “LetH5117 him aloneH5117; let noH408 oneH376 disturbH5128 his bonesH6106.” So they 41leftH4422 his bonesH6106 undisturbedH4422 42with the bonesH6106 of the prophetH5030 whoH834 cameH935 from SamariaH8111. 19JosiahH2977 alsoH1571 removedH5493 allH3605 the housesH1004 of the highH1116 placesH1116 whichH834 were 43in the citiesH5892 of SamariaH8111, whichH834 the kingsH4428 of IsraelH3478 had madeH6213 provokingH3707 44the LordH3068; and he didH6213 to them 45justH3605H4639 as he had doneH6213 in BethelH1008. 20AllH3605 the priestsH3548 of the highH1116 placesH1116 whoH834 were thereH8033 46he slaughteredH2076 on the altarsH4196 and burnedH8313 humanH120 bonesH6106 on them; then he returnedH7725 to JerusalemH3389.

Passover Reinstituted

21Then the kingH4428 commandedH6680 allH3605 the peopleH5971 sayingH559, “47CelebrateH6213 the PassoverH6453 to the LordH3068 your GodH430 48as it is writtenH3789 in thisH2088 bookH5612 of the covenantH1285.” 2249SurelyH3588 suchH2088 a PassoverH6453 had not been celebratedH6213 from the daysH3117 of the judgesH8199 whoH834 judgedH8199 IsraelH3478, norH3808 in allH3605 the daysH3117 of the kingsH4428 of IsraelH3478 and of the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063. 23But in the eighteenthH8083H6240 yearH8141 of KingH4428 JosiahH2977, thisH2088 PassoverH6453 was observedH6213 to the LordH3068 in JerusalemH3389.

24MoreoverH1571, JosiahH2977 50removedH1197 51the mediumsH178 and the spiritistsH3049 and the 52teraphimH8655 and 53the idolsH1544 and allH3605 the abominationsH8251 that were seenH7200 in the landH776 of JudahH3063 and in JerusalemH3389, 54that he might 55confirmH6965 the wordsH1697 of the lawH8451 which were writtenH3789 56in the bookH5612 that HilkiahH2518 the priestH3548 foundH4672 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068. 25BeforeH6440 him there was noH3808 kingH4428 57likeH3644 him whoH834 turnedH7725 to the LordH3068 with allH3605 his heartH3824 and with allH3605 his soulH5315 and with allH3605 his mightH3966, according to allH3605 the lawH8451 of MosesH4872; norH3808 did any likeH3644 him ariseH6965 afterH310 him.

26HoweverH389, the LordH3068 did not turnH7725 from the fiercenessH2740 of His greatH1419 wrathH639 with whichH834 His angerH639 burnedH2734 against JudahH3063, 58becauseH5921 of allH3605 the provocationsH3708 with whichH834 ManassehH4519 had provokedH3707 Him. 27The LordH3068 saidH559, “I will removeH5493 JudahH3063 alsoH1571 from My sightH6440, 59as I have removedH5493 IsraelH3478. And 60I will castH3988 offH3988 JerusalemH3389, thisH2088 cityH5892 whichH834 I have chosenH977, and the 61templeH1004 of whichH834 I saidH559, ‘My nameH8034 shall be thereH8033.’”

Jehoahaz Succeeds Josiah

28Now the restH3499 of the actsH1697 of JosiahH2977 and allH3605 that he didH6213, are they not writtenH3789 in the BookH5612 of the ChroniclesH1697H3117 of the KingsH4428 of JudahH3063? 2962In his daysH3117 63PharaohH6549 NecoH6549 kingH4428 of EgyptH4714 wentH5927 up to the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 to the riverH5104 EuphratesH6578. And KingH4428 JosiahH2977 wentH1980 to meetH7122 him, and when Pharaoh Neco sawH7200 him he killedH4191 him at 64MegiddoH4023. 3065His servantsH5650 droveH7392 66his bodyH4191 in a chariotH7392 from MegiddoH4023, and broughtH935 him to JerusalemH3389 and buriedH6912 him in his own tombH6900. 67Then the peopleH5971 of the landH776 tookH3947 JehoahazH3059 the sonH1121 of JosiahH2977 and anointedH4886 him and madeH4427 him kingH4427 in placeH8478 of his fatherH1.

3168JehoahazH3059 was twenty-threeH6242H7969 yearsH8141 oldH1121 when he becameH4427 kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 threeH7969 monthsH2320 in JerusalemH3389; and his mother’sH517 nameH8034 was 69HamutalH2537 the daughterH1323 of JeremiahH3414 of LibnahH3841. 32He didH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LordH3068, 70according to allH3605 that his fathersH1 had doneH6213. 3371PharaohH6549 NecoH6549 imprisonedH631 him at 72RiblahH7247 in the landH776 of 73HamathH2574, that he might not reignH4427 in JerusalemH3389; and he imposedH5414 on the landH776 a fineH6066 of one hundredH3967 talentsH3603 of silverH3701 and a talentH3603 of goldH2091.

Jehoiakim Made King by Pharaoh

34PharaohH6549 NecoH6549 madeH4427 74EliakimH471 the sonH1121 of JosiahH2977 kingH4427 in the placeH8478 of JosiahH2977 his fatherH1, and 75changedH5437 his nameH8034 to JehoiakimH3079. But he tookH3947 JehoahazH3059 away and 7677broughtH935 him to EgyptH4714, and he diedH4191 thereH8033. 35So JehoiakimH3079 78gaveH5414 the silverH3701 and goldH2091 to PharaohH6547, but he taxedH6186 the landH776 in order to giveH5414 the moneyH3701 at the 79commandH6310 of PharaohH6547. He exactedH5065 the silverH3701 and goldH2091 from the peopleH5971 of the landH776, eachH376 according to his valuationH6187, to giveH5414 it to PharaohH6549 NecoH6549.

3680JehoiakimH3079 was twenty-fiveH6242H2568 yearsH8141 oldH1121 when he becameH4427 kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 elevenH259H6240 yearsH8141 in JerusalemH3389; and his mother’sH517 nameH8034 was ZebidahH2080 the daughterH1323 of PedaiahH6305 of RumahH7316. 37He didH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LordH3068, 81according to allH3605 that his fathersH1 had doneH6213.