Compare the parallel history of 2 Kings 22 notes; 23:1-30 notes; the writer here being more full on the celebration of the Passover. The only approach to a discrepancy between the two narratives is with respect to the time of the religions reformation, which the writer of Chronicles distinctly place... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BEGAN TO PURGE JUDAH - Jeremiah’s first prophecies Jer. 2–3 appear to have been coincident with Josiah’s earlier efforts to uproot idolatry, and must have greatly strengthened his hands.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMAGES - Margin, sun-images. See Leviticus 26:30 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
The power of Assyria being now (629-624 B.C.) greatly weakened, if not completely broken, Josiah aimed not merely at a religious reformation, but at a restoration of the kingdom to its ancient limits (see the 2 Kings 23:19 note). WITH THEIR MATTOCKS ... - Or “in their desolate places” (comparePsalm... [ Continue Reading ]
The “houses” intended are either the “chambers” which surrounded the temple on three sides 1 Kings 6:5, or out-buildings attached to the courts. The “kings of Judah” intended are, no doubt, Manasseh and Amon.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE LEVITES THERE WERE SCRIBES - Hereto the word “scribe” has never been used to designate a class (compare 1 Kings 4:3). But here an order of scribes, forming a distinct division of the Levitical body, has been instituted. The class itself probably originated in the reign of Hezekiah (compare Pr... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEM, THAT ARE LEFT IN ISRAEL AND IN JUDAH - Compare the words in Kings 2 Kings 22:13. in both records the intention is to show that the king regarded the ten tribes as being under his care, no less than the two.... [ Continue Reading ]
The writer has characteristically substituted “Levites” for the “prophets” of 2 Kings 23:2. No doubt Josiah was accompanied by priests, prophets, and Levites, but the writer of Kings thought it enough to mention the two former, and merged the Levites in the mass of the people. The writer of Chronicl... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BENJAMIN - It is scarcely possible that the text here can be sound. “Benjamin” is never put in contrast with “Jerusalem,” but always with Judah. The reading may be corrected from the parallel passage 2 Kings 23:3; “And he caused all those that were present in Jerusalem to stand to the covenant.”... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL HIS DAYS THEY DEPARTED NOT - This must be understood in the letter rather than in the spirit. There was no open idolatry in the reign of Josiah, but the reformation was seeming rather than real, superficial rather than searching and complete (compare the marginal reference).... [ Continue Reading ]