Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary2 Kings 23

Josiah Destroys IdolatryEven though Josiah knew from God’s message that Jerusalem’s ruin could not be stopped, he did not give up or stop caring for his people. Instead, he chose to do what was right and lead a national reformation. Josiah believed that if anything could delay or lessen God’s judgment, it would be turning back to the Lord

v. 2: Instead of giving a speech, Josiah had the book of the law read to the whole assembly. He may have read it himself, showing how much he respected God’s Word and wanted everyone to hear it. The people of Judah and Jerusalem listened as God’s law was read aloud, reminding them of their duty to the Lord

v. 3: Josiah stood by his pillar and made a public covenant with the Lord

Josiah’s Reforms: Cleansing the Land of Idolatry This section describes the actions King Josiah took to remove idolatry from Judah and Jerusalem after he read the Book of the Law. Josiah was determined to obey the covenant with the Lord

v. 5: He removed the idolatrous priests that the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense at the high places in the cities of Judah and around Jerusalem. These priests had offered incense to Baal, the sun, the moon, the constellations, and all the host of heaven . Josiah wanted to stop all worship of anything except the true God.

v. 6: Josiah took the Asherah pole out of the house of the Lord

v. 7: He tore down the houses of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the house of the Lord

v. 8: Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and made them stop serving at the high places where they had offered sacrifices. He even destroyed the high places, from Geba to Beersheba. He also broke down the high places at the gates, at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city .

v. 9: The priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the Lord

v. 10: Josiah destroyed Topheth, which was in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, so that no one could make his son or daughter pass through the fire to Molech . He wanted to end the evil practice of child sacrifice.

v. 11: He removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun at the entrance to the house of the Lord

v. 12: Josiah pulled down the altars that had been built on the roof by the kings of Judah, as well as the altars made by Manasseh in the two courts of the house of the Lord

v. 13: The king defiled the high places east of Jerusalem that Solomon had built for Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom. Josiah wanted to remove every trace of false worship, even things built long ago .

v. 14: He broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down Asherah poles, and filled their places with human bones (2 Kings 23:14 ). This act made the places unfit for any type of worship.

The Death of JosiahJosiah was one of Judah’s most faithful and godly kings, yet his life ended tragically, and his reforms did not prevent Judah’s eventual downfall. This passage reminds us that God’s judgments are deep and often beyond our understanding (Psalm 36:6 ). Even in the midst of faithfulness, God’s plans may include both mercy and judgment.v. 25: Josiah was one of the best kings to rule Judah. He turned to the Lord

v. 26-27: Despite Josiah’s efforts, God’s anger against Judah remained. The people had not truly turned away from their sins, even though they followed Josiah’s reforms outwardly. Their hearts were still attached to idolatry, and God would not reverse His decision to bring judgment on Judah. Just as Israel had been removed, Judah would also face destruction, and Jerusalem would be cast off (2 Kings 23:26-27 ).

v. 29-30: Josiah died in battle against Pharaoh Necho, the king of Egypt. Josiah attempted to stop Necho, who was marching to fight the king of Assyria, but he was killed in the first encounter. This was a tragic and unexpected end for such a godly king. Some believe Josiah acted rashly by entering a battle he had no clear call to fight and without seeking God’s guidance. His death was both a mercy to him, as he did not live to see the destruction of Judah, and a judgment on the people, as they lost a godly leader who had worked for their good (2 Kings 23:29-30 ).Reflection: Josiah’s death teaches us to rely on God’s wisdom and seek His guidance in all our decisions. While Josiah died in peace with God and his conscience, his loss reminds us of the importance of fully valuing the blessings and leaders God gives us. The people mourned greatly for Josiah, led by the prophet Jeremiah, who explained the significance of his death (2 Chronicles 35:25 ).

Reigns of Jehoahaz and JehoiakimAfter the death of Josiah, Jerusalem experienced one trouble after another. Within twenty-two years, the city was completely destroyed. This section gives a brief account of the reigns of two of Josiah’s sons, Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim. Both faced difficulties from the start of their reigns, as Egypt’s king, Pharaoh Necho, exerted control over Judah. Their failure to follow Josiah’s godly example brought further trouble to the nation.v. 31-32: Jehoahaz, Josiah’s younger son, was made king by the people of Judah. They likely chose him because he seemed more capable of leading them in war against Egypt. However, Jehoahaz did evil in the sight of the Lord

v. 33-34: Jehoahaz reigned for only three months before Pharaoh Necho captured him and took him to Egypt as a prisoner. There, Jehoahaz died. This fulfilled the prophecy in Jeremiah 22:10-12 , which lamented his fate. Ezekiel also described him as a young lion caught in a trap and taken away in chains (Ezekiel 19:1-4 ).

v. 34-35: Pharaoh Necho replaced Jehoahaz with his brother Eliakim, renaming him Jehoiakim. This change of name symbolized Egypt’s control over Judah. Pharaoh also imposed a heavy tribute on Judah—100 talents of silver and one talent of gold. Jehoiakim raised this money by taxing the people, further burdening the nation (2 Kings 23:34-35 ).

v. 37: Despite the hardships Judah faced, Jehoiakim did evil in the sight of the Lord