2 Kings Chapters 22-23 Commentary

Second Kings Chapters 22-23 Chapter 22 22:1 Josiah will be one of Judah’s best kings. He was only eight years old when he was crowned king and reigned over Judah 31 years (640-609 B.C.). During his reign world power passed from Assyrian to Babylonian leadership. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was destroyed in 612 B.C., and the Assyrian Empire fell in 609.

Thus, Josiah rules during years in which Assyria fades, but also those in which Babylon is not yet ready to rule as far west as Judah, and in a time when Egypt does not yet attempt to rule the smaller nations north of the border. Judah thereby gets a rest from its constant role as a political football. The name of his mother was “Jedidah” (juh DIGH duh). 22:2 “Like his great-grandfather Hezekiah, Josiah received the rare unqualified commendation of the author of Kings. The final grade on his royal report card was an A+” (Dilday p. 469).

22:3-7 In his eighteenth year (622-21), Josiah began to repair the temple (see 2 Chron. 34:8). Yet even before this, Josiah in the eighth year of his rule had begun to seek the Lord (632 B.C.) (2 Chron. 34:3). Like Joash years before (2 Kings 12:116), Josiah felt the obligation and conviction to repair God’s house which had been abused by this grandfather Manasseh and his father Amon. Like Jesus, the good kings in the O.T. had a zeal for the house of the Lord (John 2:17). In like manner, today the church is the temple or house of the Lord (1 Timothy 3:15).

And are we zealous for the reputation of Jesus’ church? Are we zealous in seeing that our worship is fervent and Scriptural, and that no human traditions or innovations are added to the church, and that nothing is neglected of which God has commanded?

22:3-4 Josiah also had some trusted advisors. Shaphan (SHAY fuhn) was a trusted scribe and may have been the equivalent to a modern secretary of state.

He and his sons, are described as being helpers of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24; 29:3). The high priest at this time is a man by the name of Hilkiah (hill KYE ah). Shaphan’s first task was to allocate the contributions of temple worshippers so that the trusted craftsmen could begin the restoration.

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“The procedure for repair was about the same as that followed by Joash (2 Kings 12); in fact the king may have simply copied the arrangements from court annals….As before, the supervisors proved trustworthy and no accounting of funds was required once they were distributed to the workmen (compare with 2 Kings 12:15)” (Vos p. 210). Are we people of such integrity and honesty that no one needs to look over our shoulder?

22:8 “But, as often happens, the construction project was halted because of an archaeological discovery” (Dilday p. 469). The expression, “Book of the Law” refers to the entire Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. Because Second Chronicles adds the words “given by Moses” (34:14), some writers believe that this was the original copy of the Law written in Moses’ own hand.

But whether it was the original or a later copy, it was still the Law had that been given through Moses (Matthew 22:31; John 5:46-47). Centuries earlier Moses had been instructed to place the book of the Law beside the ark of the covenant (Deut. 31:26), and kings were required to make a copy of it for their daily meditation and guidance (17:18-20). Apparently the Scripture scroll had lain lost or forgotten for seventy-five years---the fifty five years of Manasseh’s reign, the two years of Amon’s reign, and the 18 years between Josiah’s coronation as an eight-year-old and the discovery when he was twenty-six. Let us be reminded that contrary to the views of unbelieving scholars who want to claim some other authorship for the Law besides Moses, the text is clear, Moses was the author of the Law. The people of Jerusalem had become so steeped in idolatry and false religion and the Word of God had become so neglected that nobody could remember where they or their ancestors had placed the Bible! Since this was such an important discovery, it makes us wonder if this was the only copy of the Law left at this time. Be impressed with how God can preserve His word without necessarily working any miracles in the process. The nation has been extremely corrupt for 75 years, but the Word of God remains! (Matthew 24:35; John 12:48; 1 Peter 1:2325).

22:9-11 When Josiah heard the Law read before him, he immediately knew that Judah was in trouble. A reading of the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 27 and following, would have produced such a reaction. The Law isn’t complicated for a honest and good heart. Josiah heard one reading of the Law and immediately knew that Judah wasn’t right with God and that God’s wrath loomed on the horizon (22:13).

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22:12-14 Josiah immediately sends his advisors on a mission to inquire of God from Huldah (HUHL duh) a prophetess who lived in Jerusalem. Josiah was not only concerned about his own fate, but the fate of the entire Jewish nation as well (v. 13). “The contemporary prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah are not mentioned nor even involved in the reform; apparently they were not in Jerusalem at the time” (Vos p. 212).

The issue with Josiah was not whether the scroll found was authentic, but rather, Josiah wanted to ascertain whether or not the threats which the scroll contained were to have an immediate fulfillment. “In view of the grave threats which Moses had made against apostasy, the king perceived that the wrath of Yahweh was about to be poured out upon his nation” (Smith p. 637). Godly people take the threats pronounced in Scripture upon rebellion very seriously. “He admits the nation’s sin, fears its results, and hopes it is not too late to change” (House p.

384). Today, we need more people to read the Scriptures with such faith and conviction. Oh, that members in churches which have departed from the faith would take the Scriptures as seriously as Josiah did! Note, it doesn’t take an expert to read the Bible and figure out if they are in a congregation which is following or departing from God's will (John 7:17). “The most uneducated person who loves the Lord, and prays for understanding can…interpret the Bible better than an unbelieving scholar” (Dilday p. 475).

22:14 Huldah lived in the “second quarter” of Jerusalem which is generally accepted as the northern extension of the city. Her husband was a “keeper of the wardrobe”, whether at the palace or temple is not stated. 22:14 Concerning the pronunciation for the names in this verse: “Ahikam” (a HIGH kumm); “Achbor” (ACK bar); “Asaiah” (as EYE ah); “Tikvah” (TICK vah); “Harhas” (HAHR hass).

22:15-17 God will do exactly what He has promised or threatened. All the Divine threats in the scroll will come to pass on Judah. Such drastic punishment was justified in view of the fact that Judah had completely turned from God. Hell will be exactly like the way that it is described in the Bible. 22:18-20 Judgment will fall on the nation, but because Josiah humbled himself and took God seriously, the judgment wouldn’t fall until after Josiah was dead. Josiah would die “in peace”, that is, he would not personally see the judgment envisioned in the Law. He would be spared the agony of the nation’s destruction. Josiah would die in 609 B.C., and Babylon would come up against Judah in 605 B.C.

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What does God love? According to verse 19, God loves a humble and tender heart. And such a heart is manifested by hearing the Word of God and taking what you hear very seriously. God doesn’t appreciate people who hear His word and try to soften the message. Humility before God means hearing His word and accepting what it says at face value. “Oh, the power of godliness! Ten devout souls could have saved Sodom (Genesis 18:32); the righteousness of Josiah postponed the destiny of a nation; Christians serve as the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). As Christians, when we are discouraged by our minority status, let us remember that we exercise majority influence” (Winters p. 289). “So judgment is certain, but judgment is delayed, disaster is on the way, but disaster is not yet—thanks to the repentance of one man” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 317). In addition, Josiah already knew that his efforts would not prevent disaster, but only delay it. Yet he continued to do the right thing. “Josiah’s is a faithfulness that does not confuse obedience with pragmatism and so pushes on, not because it will change anything but simply because God demands it. Josiah knew that the judgment upon Judah was sure to come, but he wanted to press ahead with the reformation of Judah anyway. In this he showed a diligence unmatched by any king before or after him. He did not declare that there was no point in reformation since it could not save Judah anyway. He wanted to go ahead with the reformation solely for the sake of the honor and righteousness of the Lord.

The Lord has a right to be served, even if our service does not bring about our salvation” (Dale Ralph Davis pp. 322-323). We need to remain faithful even though there may be no relief in sight.

Chapter 23 23:1-3 Standing by the pillar in the temple courtyard, the king led the people in a rededication of themselves to the Lord and His word. Note, upon hearing the verdict and the compassion that God would grant to him, Josiah didn’t say, “Oh well, I’m safe”. His first reaction was to call for a national assembly, have the Scriptures read, have everyone hear the sins of which they were guilty, and determine to repent and live right. The reading of the entire Law (GenesisDeut.,), would probably have taken about 10 hours. Josiah knew that obedience to the will of God required His whole heart and not just some kind of mechanical observance. “To his credit Josiah is not content with waiting for his own peaceful death” (House p. 387). Josiah also realizes that just keeping some of the Law isn’t enough.

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23:4-6 Returning to God always means repentance, which means producing the fruits of repentance (Matthew 3:8). Josiah immediately starts on a program of ridding the nation of all false religion and its altars, priests, and symbols. He even burns the Asherah pole his grandfather Manasseh had placed in the temple.

When you realize that the wrath of God hovers over your heard, repentance is easy! People argue that we should tolerate error and false religion, but if we tolerate it, God won’t tolerate us! Shouldn’t that put everything into perspective? All of this pagan paraphernalia was burned in the “fields of the Kidron valley”, that is, the upper part of the valley to the NE of Jerusalem.

23:7 Josiah tore down the houses of the male cult prostitutes. These men were an essential element in the worship of Astarte. “The curtains which were used in the shrines where the impure fertility rites were performed were of dainty fabrics and of many colors” (Smith p. 639). Immorality always follows on the heels of doctrinal error and compromise (Romans 1:18-32).

23:8-9 Josiah destroyed all the pagan shrines from Geba on Judah’s northern frontier to Beersheba on its southern border. He also destroyed the shrines located at the gates near the residency of Joshua, the governor of Jerusalem. The Levitical priests who had offered sacrifices on the high places were not allowed to serve at the rededicated altar in the temple, but Josiah did permit them to eat the unleavened bread brought to the temple.

23:10 “Topheth” (TOE fet) was the place where the worshippers of Molech, the god of Ammon, burned their children as sacrifices. This was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom at the south side of Mount Zion. “’Topheth’ means ‘fireplace’ or ‘furnace’ and was probably the name of a pit dug in the ground for this abominable ritual” (Dilday p. 484). 23:11-12 Josiah removed the ornamental horses ‘dedicated to the sun’ from the temple’s entrance. Altars on roofs, probably set aside for worship of astral deities, were also removed.

23:13-14 Josiah’s goal is to go all the way back to the Bible. The high places which Solomon had built for his wives had existed for some 300 years. Josiah doesn’t care “who” built such shrines, if they were contrary to the will of God they must go! We need to have the same attitude. Loyalty to God must come before everything, even the opinions of popular and famous people. “The entire ridge of hills on the east of the city came to be known as the ‘mount of corruption’ because the evil rites were practiced there” (Smith p. 640).

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23:15 “Having launched a radical reform in Judah, Josiah now turned his attention to territory of the former kingdom of Israel. It was possible for him to do that because Assyria had lost all ability to control the area…First he went to Bethel, a center of apostasy from Jeroboam I on (the last 300 years), about ten miles north of Jerusalem” (Vos p. 215). There he completely destroyed this site.

This was actually the fulfillment of a prophecy given in 1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 23:16. 23:17-18. The grave of the unnamed prophet who had predicted Josiah’s rise and destruction of this site, was marked by a monument. It is amazing that after 300 years, the local inhabitants still knew what this monument represented.

Compare with 1 Kings 13:31-32. “If Yahweh’s word from 930 B.C. has come to pass, then surely His word through Huldah in 622 will as well. And if Yahweh’s centuries’ old prophecies come so clearly to pass, should we not count every syllable from God’s mouth as unquestionably reliable?” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 324).

Even though Bethel was 10 miles N of Jerusalem and in territory that had belonged to the northern kingdom, Josiah still realized that this shrine could have a corrupting influence upon the nation which he governed. At times congregations who tolerate or teach error will try to hide behind “congregational autonomy”. Yet we do have a vested interest in what other congregations teach, for if they are teaching error, such error can come our way and corrupt our members or children.

23:19-20 Josiah purged as much of the false religion as he could out of what had been the northern kingdom. Part of this purging is the slaying of the priests who facilitate worship in those places. Here we see how seriously God takes those who lead others astray (Deuteronomy 13:6-11; 18:20). Leading people astray brings upon one, severe condemnation (Matthew 23; 2 Peter 2, Jude; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Passover Observed 23:21-23 This Passover celebration took place in the eighteenth year of his reign (621 B.C.). Not since the days of the Judges (2 Chronicles 35:18) had any Passover been kept so strictly by everyone. God is pleased when we really want to follow His word. Josiah was a stickler for Scripture, and God liked that. An elaborate description of Josiah’s keeping of the Passover appears in 2 Chronicles 35:1-19. This festival was attended not only by the citizens of Judah, but by many Israelites from among the ten tribes who still remained intermixed with the Assyrian colonists in the area of Samaria (2 Chron. 35:16-19).

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It makes sense that while Josiah is reading the book of the Law that he reads Exodus 12:1-11 and Deuteronomy 16:1-8, both of which command Israel to keep the Passover on an annual basis. Unfortunately, for years this festival had not been observed in the manner intended. It appears that Josiah believes that the nation has a chance to survive if the people will return to the basics like an emphasis on God’s word and keeping the covenant. Next time somebody complains about members of the church being such sticklers for the little things like the day of the week on which the Lord’s Supper is observed (Acts 20:7), have them read how God felt about Josiah (23:25) seeing that everything was done according to the Word of God. God is pleased when we restore a practice that He has commanded, and do it exactly like He instructed.

23:24 “Not only did Josiah go after formal and official practices repugnant to Yahweh, but he also moved against informal religious practitioners (mediums, and wizards) and against ‘teraphim’ (household gods used in divination and in imitative magic to promote fertility)” (Vos p. 216). That is, Josiah also insisted that people’s private lives were right with God. Some serious self-examination is needed here. What is your current attitude? And with that attitude, if you have lived during Josiah’s reforms, would you have resented Josiah or loved him? One of the tests of a sound preacher, a faithful member, or a sound congregation, is that during Josiah’s time would they have supported or tried to undermine Josiah’s efforts?

23:25 People often talk about loving God, but so many people want to keep the definition of that love vague. Josiah loved God and such love was manifested in seeing that all error was removed, and that God’s word was respected and obeyed. Loving God with all your heart means seeing that His will is respected in every area, seeing to it that every command is being given its proper obedience, seeing to it that everything that God has instituted is being performed in the manner which He specified, and seeing to it that every human addition is being opposed.

23:26 Yet, in spite of all that Josiah accomplished, the nation would still be eventually punished. “Josiah might postpone exile, but not avoid it. As is clear from contemporary preaching of Jeremiah and the persecution he suffered, and from subsequent conduct of the kings and their subjects, Josiah had not been able to effect a thorough conversion of the people. The first ten chapters of Jeremiah especially contain a summary of the prophet’s labors in the reign of Josiah, and demonstrate a deep inward apostasy of the people during and after Josiah’s reform” (Vos p. 216).

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What I do and believe as an individual really does matter. Josiah did many great things, but because the people basically remained unbelieving, the nation would suffer God’s judgment. Each one of us seriously needs to ask ourselves, “Am I holding this congregation back from being all it can be?” “Am I undermining all the good that others are trying to accomplish?” “Am I bringing God’s judgment upon this nation or congregation?” Compare with Revelation 3:1ff.

23:29-30 “Palestine as a land bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa periodically suffered as armies of neighboring states charged across her landscape. The small state of Judah now found herself in the path of one of those interminable struggles. Nineveh had fallen in 612 and Assyrian forces held out precariously in the western part of the country. Pharaoh Necho, moved north along the coastal plane to link up with the remnants of the Assyrian army in 609 B.C. Evidently Josiah wanted to stop any aid from reaching Judah’s old enemy Assyria” (Vos p. 217).

God allows good people to die young; Josiah was 39 when he died on the field of battle. In seeing the total picture, Josiah dying at this time was probably an act of mercy, because in four more years Babylon would come up against Judah and remove the first group of captives. After killing Josiah, Necho’s combined army of Egyptians and Assyrians marched to Carchemish, where in 605 B.C. they engaged the Babylonians and were annihilated, bringing an end to the Egyptian bid for world power.

Jehoahaz 23:30-33 Jehoahaz, king at twenty-three was the second son of Josiah; his brother who succeeded him was two years older (36). Unfortunately, these sons were wicked men and hadn’t been impressed with the godliness of their father. “After Necho’s abortive attempt to aid Assyria, he concentrated on greater control of Syria and Palestine for Egypt. Evidently he believed Jehoahaz to be too unsupportive of Egyptian policies, and summoned him to his headquarters at Riblah, about twenty miles south of Hama, and made him a captive there.

Jehoahaz was eventually taken to Egypt, where he died (34).

Jehoiakim 23:34-37 It fell to Jehoiakim to scrape together the Egyptian tribute imposed during the short reign of his brother. This would be the same Judean king who cut up the Word of God (Jeremiah 36:22-26). Jeremiah further describes this king

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as, “Your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, and practicing oppression and violence” (Jeremiah 22:17). Jehoiakim began his ineffective reign in 608 B.C. and ruled until 598 B.C. Josiah isn’t blamed for the behavior of his sons. If Josiah was alive today some people would say, “He was too strict and therefore he turned his kids off from the truth”, yet that isn’t God’s perspective. God says that Josiah loved Him with all his heart and that his sons were no good. Children who have been raised by godly parents and rebel are kids who do what is evil in the sight of the Lord.

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