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2 Chronicles Chapter Thirty-four

 

2 Chronicles 34 Outline of Contents

Josiah Reigns in Judah (v.1~7)

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law (v.8~28)

Josiah Restores True Worship (v.29~33)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 34

This chapter begins with the good reign of Josiah the reformation he made in the land purging it from idolatry 2 Chronicles 34:1 relates the orders he gave to repair the house of the Lord which was accordingly done 2 Chronicles 34:8 when the book of the law was found and brought to him which greatly affected him 2 Chronicles 34:12 upon which he deputed some persons to inquire of the Lord who did of Huldah the prophetess to whom she gave an answer which they returned to the king 2 Chronicles 34:20 and the chapter is concluded with an account of reading the book in the ears of all the people and of the king and then making a covenant with the Lord to serve him 2 Chronicles 34:27.

 

2 Chronicles 34:1  Josiah was eight years old when he became king and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

   YLT  1A son of eight years [is] Josiah in his reigning and thirty and one years he hath reigned in Jerusalem

Verse 1-2

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign .... Of these two verses; see Gill on 2 Kings 22:1; see Gill on 2 Kings 22:2.

 

2 Chronicles 34:2  2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

   YLT  2and he doth that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah and walketh in the ways of David his father and hath not turned aside -- right or left.

 

2 Chronicles 34:3  3 For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still young he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places the wooden images the carved images and the molded images.

   YLT  3And in the eighth year of his reign (and he yet a youth) he hath begun to seek to the God of David his father and in the twelfth year he hath begun to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem from the high places and the shrines and the graven images and the molten images.

For in the eighth year of his reign while he was yet young .... Being in the sixteenth year of his age; though Kimchi thinks it was the very year he began to reign which was the eighth of his age; and Jarchi observes it may be interpreted "though he was young he began to seek after the God of David his father"; to pray unto him to seek after the knowledge of him and the true manner of worshipping him what were his will commands and ordinances; the Targum is "to seek instruction or doctrine of the Lord God of David his father 'to be taught his ways such as David his great ancestor walked in and whom he chose to follow:

and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places and the groves and the carved images and the molten images; which were made in the times of Manasseh; and though removed by him when humbled were restored in the reign of Amon. Now Josiah purged the land from these by putting them down and destroying them; and this he did when he was twenty years of age having now more authority being out of his minority and from under guardians and one year before Jeremiah began to prophesy Jeremiah 1:1.

 

2 Chronicles 34:4  4 They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence and the incense altars which were above them he cut down; and the wooden images the carved images and the molded images he broke in pieces and made dust of them and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

   YLT  4And they break down before him the altars of the Baalim and the images that [are] on high above them he hath cut down and the shrines and the graven images and the molten images he hath broken and beaten small and streweth on the surface of the graves of those sacrificing to them

And they broke down the altars of Baalim in his presence .... He not only ordered them to be broke down but he went in person and saw it done; these were the altars Manasseh had reared up to the idols; and though upon his humiliation he cast them out they were rebuilt by Amon his son see 2 Chronicles 33:3

and the images that were above them he cut down; sun images as the word signifies; these Chamanim might be representatives of Cham or Ham the son of Noah the same with Jupiter Ammon; and there was another Heathen deity Amanus StraboF23Geograph l. 11. p. 352. speaks of supposed to be the sun; see Gill on Leviticus 26:30 these as Jarchi says were in the form of the sun and were set above the altars over against the sun to whom worship was paid; though some think this respects not place but time and that these were images in times past; in the preceding age as the Tigurine version:

and the groves and the carved images and the molten images he brake in pieces; ordered them to be broken; the groves were statues or images in groves and thereby distinguished from those made of wood and were carved and from those that were of molten metal and were placed elsewhere:

and made dust of them and strewed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them see 2 Kings 23:6.

 

2 Chronicles 34:5  5 He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

   YLT  5and the bones of the priests he hath burnt on their altars and cleanseth Judah and Jerusalem

And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars .... On which they sacrificed in detestation of their idolatry and to deter from it; and this he did according to the prophecy of him above three hundred and fifty years before:

and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem; from idolatry and all the monuments of it.

 

2 Chronicles 34:6  6 And so he did in the cities of Manasseh Ephraim and Simeon as far as Naphtali and all around with axes.[a]

   YLT  6and in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon even unto Naphtali with their tools round about.

And so did he in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon even unto Naphtali .... Which though they belonged to the ten tribes yet these being carried captive by the king of Assyria they that were left became subject to the kings of Judah; see Gill on 2 Kings 23:19

with their mattocks round about; or hammers or mauls as Kimchi or pick axes such sort of instruments as were used in demolishing altars and images: the Targum is "in the house of their desolation;'

and so other versions "in their desolate places"F24בתרבתיהם "in desolatis locis suis vel eorum" Montanus Tigurine version Rambachius. which were become such the inhabitants being carried captive and few left behind.

 

2 Chronicles 34:7  7 When he had broken down the altars and the wooden images had beaten the carved images into powder and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel he returned to Jerusalem.

   YLT  7And he breaketh down the altars and the shrines and the graven images he hath beaten down very small and all the images he hath cut down in all the land of Israel and turneth back to Jerusalem.

And when he had broken down the altars and the groves .... The statues or images in them:

and had beaten the graven images into powder; and strewed it on the graves of the idolaters:

and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel; the sun images as in 2 Chronicles 34:4

he returned to Jerusalem; this tour of his throughout the whole land and the things done by him which are represented as done before the repairs of the temple were made and the book of the law found and read and the covenant he and his people made with the Lord are spoken of in 2 Kings 23:4 as if done after.

 

2 Chronicles 34:8  8 In the eighteenth year of his reign when he had purged the land and the temple [b] he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah Maaseiah the governor of the city and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of the Lord his God.

   YLT  8And in the eighteenth year of his reign to purify the land and the house he hath sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah head of the city and Joah son of Johaz the remembrancer to strengthen the house of Jehovah his God.

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign when he had purged the land and the house .... The temple; this was in the twenty sixth year of his age six years this work had been doing before it was finished:

he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah: who only is mentioned in 2 Kings 22:3 two more are added here as follow:

and Maaseiah the governor of the city; the city of Jerusalem a deputy governor under the king a sort of mayor or provost:

and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder; who was over the book of memorials as the Targum; the word may be rendered "the remembrances"; and according to Jarchi as every king of Judah had a scribe to write down the memorable things that happened in his reign good or bad so the scribe had one by him to put him in mind of every transaction from whom he wrote it down:

to repair the house of the Lord his God; that is to give orders for the doing of it to prepare for it provide workmen and appoint overseers of them: it had not been repaired since the times of Joash which according to the Jewish chronologyF25Seder Olam Rabba c. 24. was a space of two hundred and eighteen years.

 

2 Chronicles 34:9  9 When they came to Hilkiah the high priest they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God which the Levites who kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim from all the remnant of Israel from all Judah and Benjamin and which they had brought back to Jerusalem.

   YLT  9And they come in unto Hilkiah the high priest and they give the money that is brought in to the house of God that the Levites keeping the threshold have gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem

And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest .... To whom they were sent to advise with about the repair of the temple:

they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God; that is the high priest and the Levites the doorkeepers gave it to the king's ministers; which money was either brought to the temple voluntarily as the free gifts of the people for the repairs; or rather what was collected by the Levites sent throughout the land for that purpose or it may be both:

which the Levites that kept the doors; of the temple; and received the money as the people brought it:

and also had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim and of all the remnant of Israel and of all Judah and Benjamin; they went throughout all the land of Israel and Judah and collected money for the above purpose:

and they returned to Jerusalem; with it which the high priest took the sum of see 2 Kings 22:4 of whom the king's ministers now received it.

 

2 Chronicles 34:10  10 Then they put it in the hand of the foremen who had the oversight of the house of the Lord; and they gave it to the workmen who worked in the house of the Lord to repair and restore the house.

   YLT  10and they give [it] into the hand of the workmen those appointed over the house of Jehovah and they give it [to] the workmen who are working in the house of Jehovah to repair and to strengthen the house;

And they put it .... The king's ministers did:

in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the Lord; whose business it was to inspect the temple and see what repairs were necessary and to overlook the workmen in making those repairs; the names of these overseers are in 2 Chronicles 34:12

and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the Lord to repair and mend the house; that is the overseers gave the money they received to the labourers as the hire of their labour and the reward of their work and to buy materials with as follows.

 

2 Chronicles 34:11  11 They gave it to the craftsmen and builders to buy hewn stone and timber for beams and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

   YLT  11and they give [it] to artificers and to builders to buy hewn stones and wood for couplings and for beams to the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed.

Even to the artificers and builders gave they it .... To the masons and carpenters:

to buy hewn stone; to put in the room of that which was decayed or fallen down:

and timber for couplings; of boards beams and rafters:

and to floor the houses; the chambers the apartments in the temple which belonged to the priests and Levites:

which the kings of Judah had destroyed; the idolatrous ones who had let them go to decay and ruin taking no care of them.

 

2 Chronicles 34:12  12 And the men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites of the sons of Merari and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites to supervise. Others of the Levites all of whom were skillful with instruments of music

   YLT  12And the men are working faithfully in the business and over them are appointed Jahath and Obadiah the Levites of the sons of Merari and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathite to overlook; and of the Levites every one understanding about instruments of song

And the men did that work faithfully .... The labouring men as also their inspectors see 2 Kings 22:7.

and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites of the sons of Merari; the third son of Levi:

and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites; who had their name from Kohath the second son of Levi:

to set it forward; to urge and animate the men to their work to keep them constant to it and see that they did it well:

and other of the Levites all that could skill of instruments of music; these when they were not employed in singing in the temple attended this service to look after the workmen at the repairs of it; and perhaps they might play as some think on their instruments of music while the men were at work that they might go on in it the more pleasantly and cheerfully.

 

2 Chronicles 34:13  13 were over the burden bearers and were overseers of all who did work in any kind of service. And some of the Levites were scribes officers and gatekeepers.

   YLT  13and over the burden-bearers and overseers of every one doing work for service and service; and of the Levites [are] scribes and officers and gatekeepers.

Also they were over the bearers of burdens .... Who carried the timber and stones to the workmen to look after them that they were not dilatory and that the workmen might not stand still for want of materials being brought to them to work with:

and were overseers over all that wrought in any manner of service; whether in the way of masonry or in that of carpenters or of such that served them or in whatsoever way:

and of the Levites there were scribes and officers and porters; some to take the account of the money carried in and paid who were the

scribes according to Jarchi; and others who looked after the men and kept them to work who were the

officers; and others that let them in and out called

porters.

 

2 Chronicles 34:14  14 Now when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses.

   YLT  14And in their bringing out the money that is brought in to the house of Jehovah hath Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Jehovah by the hand of Moses

Verses 14-28

And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord .... The Levites who brought it out of the country into the temple and from thence brought it to the high priest who delivering it to the king's ministers and they to the overseers the repairs were begun:

and then Hilkiah the high priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses house of the Lord .... The Levites who brought it out of the country into the temple and from thence brought it to the high priest who delivering it to the king's ministers and they to the overseers the repairs were begun: See Gill on 2 Kings 22:8. From hence to the end of 2 Chronicles 34:28 is the same as 2 Kings 22:8.

 

2 Chronicles 34:15  15 Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

   YLT  15and Hilkiah answereth and saith unto Shaphan the scribe `A book of the law I have found in the house of Jehovah;' and Hilkiah giveth the book unto Shaphan

 

2 Chronicles 34:16  16 So Shaphan carried the book to the king bringing the king word saying “All that was committed to your servants they are doing.

   YLT  16and Shaphan bringeth in the book unto the king and bringeth the king back word again saying `All that hath been given into the hand of thy servants they are doing

 

2 Chronicles 34:17  17 And they have gathered the money that was found in the house of the Lord and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen.”

   YLT  17and they pour out the money that is found in the house of Jehovah and give it into the hand of those appointed and into the hands of those doing the work.'

 

2 Chronicles 34:18  18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king saying “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

   YLT  18And Shaphan the scribe declareth to the king saying `A book hath Hilkiah the priest given to me;' and Shaphan readeth in it before the king.

 

2 Chronicles 34:19  19 Thus it happened when the king heard the words of the Law that he tore his clothes.

   YLT  19And it cometh to pass at the king's hearing the words of the law that he rendeth his garments

 

2 Chronicles 34:20  20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah Ahikam the son of Shaphan Abdon[c] the son of Micah Shaphan the scribe and Asaiah a servant of the king saying

   YLT  20and the king commandeth Hilkiah and Ahikam son of Shaphan and Abdon son of Micah and Shaphan the scribe and Asaiah servant of the king saying

 

2 Chronicles 34:21  21 “Go inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and Judah concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord to do according to all that is written in this book.”

   YLT  21`Go seek Jehovah for me and for him who is left in Israel and in Judah concerning the words of the book that is found for great [is] the fury of Jehovah that is poured on us because that our fathers kept not the word of Jehovah to do according to all that is written on this book.'

 

2 Chronicles 34:22  22 So Hilkiah and those the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath [d] the son of Hasrah [e] keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke to her to that effect.

   YLT  22And Hilkiah goeth and they of the king unto Huldah the prophetess wife of Shallum son of Tikvath son of Hasrah keeper of the garments and she is dwelling in Jerusalem in the Second and they speak unto her thus.

 

2 Chronicles 34:23  23 Then she answered them “Thus says the Lord God of Israel ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me

   YLT  23And she saith to them `Thus said Jehovah God of Israel Say to the man who hath sent you unto me

 

2 Chronicles 34:24  24 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah

   YLT  24Thus said Jehovah Lo I am bringing in evil on this place and on its inhabitants all the execrations that are written on the book that they read before the king of Judah;

 

2 Chronicles 34:25  25 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and not be quenched.’”’

   YLT  25because that they have forsaken Me and make perfume to other gods so as to provoke Me with all the works of their hands and poured out is My fury upon this place and it is not quenched.

 

2 Chronicles 34:26  26 But as for the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord in this manner you shall speak to him ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard—

   YLT  26`And unto the king of Judah who is sending you to inquire of Jehovah thus do ye say unto him: Thus said Jehovah God of Israel whose words thou hast heard:

 

2 Chronicles 34:27  27 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants and you humbled yourself before Me and you tore your clothes and wept before Me I also have heard you ” says the Lord.

   YLT  27Because thy heart [is] tender and thou art humbled before God in thy hearing His words concerning this place and concerning its inhabitants and art humbled before Me and dost rend thy garments and weep before Me: even I also have heard -- the affirmation of Jehovah.

 

2 Chronicles 34:28  28 “Surely I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.”’” So they brought back word to the king.

   YLT  28Lo I am gathering thee unto thy fathers and thou hast been gathered unto thy graves in peace and thine eyes do not look on all the evil that I am bringing upon this place and upon its inhabitants;' and they bring the king back word.

 

2 Chronicles 34:29  29 Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

   YLT  29And the king sendeth and gathereth all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem

Verses 29-32

Then the king sent and gathered .... From hence to the end of 2 Chronicles 34:32 the same account is given of the reading of the law to the people and of the covenant the king and they made to serve the Lord as in 2 Kings 23:1.

 

2 Chronicles 34:30  30 The king went up to the house of the Lord with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests and the Levites and all the people great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the Lord.

   YLT  30and the king goeth up to the house of Jehovah and every man of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites even all the people from great even unto small and he readeth in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that is found in the house of Jehovah.

 

2 Chronicles 34:31  31 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord to follow the Lord and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

   YLT  31And the king standeth on his station and maketh the covenant before Jehovah to walk after Jehovah and to keep His commands and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul to do the words of the covenant that are written on this book.

 

2 Chronicles 34:32  32 And he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God the God of their fathers.

   YLT  32And he presenteth every one who is found in Jerusalem and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem do according to the covenant of God the God of their fathers.

 

2 Chronicles 34:33  33 Thus Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel and made all who were present in Israel diligently serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not depart from following the Lord God of their fathers.

   YLT  33And Josiah turneth aside all the abominations out of all the lands that the sons of Israel have and causeth every one who is found in Israel to serve to serve Jehovah their God; all his days they turned not aside from after Jehovah God of their fathers.

And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel .... All their idols as related in 2 Kings 23:4 &c.

and made all that were present in Israel to serve even to serve the Lord their God; by his edicts and by his example:

and all his days they departed not from following the Lord God of their fathers; not publicly and universally; otherwise there were great declensions and corruptions among them as the prophecies of Jeremiah and Zephaniah show.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 34:6 Literally swords
  2. 2 Chronicles 34:8 Literally house
  3. 2 Chronicles 34:20 Achbor the son of Michaiah in 2 Kings 22:12
  4. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Spelled Tikvah in 2 Kings 22:14
  5. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Spelled Harhas in 2 Kings 22:14