REIGN OF JOSIAH
The chapter narrates how Josiah suppressed idolatry and repaired the
Temple; how a book of the Law, found in the Temple, was read to the
king and the people; and how the nation's covenant with the Lord was
renewed.
This chapter and the following are, in general, parallel to 2 Kings... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE TWELFTH YEAR] In 2 Ki the abolition of the 'high places' is
described as subsequent to the repair of the Temple, and the latter is
assigned to Josiah's 'eighteenth' year: 2 Kings 22:3; 2 Kings 23:5; 2
Kings 23:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
BURNT THE BONES] This was believed to afflict the souls of the dead
priests, as well as to desecrate the shrines at which they had
ministered. The condition of the spirit after death depended in a
large measure upon the treatment sustained by the body.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THEIR MATTOCKS] A slight alteration gives 'in their ruins' (so
RV), i.e. the desolate sites of the cities destroyed by the Assyrians.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY RETURNED TO JERUSALEM] Another reading is 'and of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUSES] i.e. the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies: cp. 1
Chronicles 28:11; 1 Chronicles 29:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE COLLEGE] RV 'in the second quarter' (of the city). It has been
suggested that this may have occupied the upper end of the Tyropoean
valley, W. of the Temple.... [ Continue Reading ]