2Ch 34:1-33 - Commentary

Commentary

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Text -- 2 Chronicles 34:1-33 (NET)

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Context

Josiah Institutes Religious Reforms

34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 34:2 He did what the Lord approved and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left. 34:3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year he began ridding Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, idols, and images. 34:4 He ordered the altars of the Baals to be torn down, and broke the incense altars that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, idols and images, crushed them up and sprinkled the dust over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them. 34:5 He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their altars; he purified Judah and Jerusalem. 34:6 In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, 34:7 he tore down the altars and Asherah poles, demolished the idols, and smashed all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem. 34:8 In the eighteenth year of his reign, he continued his policy of purifying the land and the temple. He sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city official, and Joah son of Joahaz the secretary to repair the temple of the Lord his God. 34:9 They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the silver that had been brought to God’s temple. The Levites who guarded the door had collected it from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim and from all who were left in Israel, as well as from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the residents of Jerusalem. 34:10 They handed it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord’s temple. They in turn paid the temple workers to restore and repair it. 34:11 They gave money to the craftsmen and builders to buy chiseled stone and wood for the braces and rafters of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into disrepair. 34:12 The men worked faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah (Levites descended from Merari), as well as Zechariah and Meshullam (descendants of Kohath). The Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians, 34:13 supervised the laborers and all the foremen on their various jobs. Some of the Levites were scribes, officials, and guards. 34:14 When they took out the silver that had been brought to the Lord’s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the Lord had given to Moses. 34:15 Hilkiah informed Shaphan the scribe, “I found the law scroll in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan. 34:16 Shaphan brought the scroll to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing everything assigned to them. 34:17 They melted down the silver in the Lord’s temple and handed it over to the supervisors of the construction foremen.” 34:18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king. 34:19 When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes. 34:20 The king ordered Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, 34:21 “Go, seek an oracle from the Lord for me and those who remain in Israel and Judah. Find out about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the Lord’s fury has been ignited against us, because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the Lord by doing all that this scroll instructs!” 34:22 So Hilkiah and the others sent by the king went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the supervisor of the wardrobe. (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh district.) They stated their business, 34:23 and she said to them: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Say this to the man who sent you to me: 34:24 “This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in the scroll which they read before the king of Judah. 34:25 This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’” 34:26 Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the Lord: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard: 34:27 ‘You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words concerning this place and its residents. You humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the Lord. 34:28 ‘Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place and its residents.’”’” Then they reported back to the king. 34:29 The king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. 34:30 The king went up to the Lord’s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the Levites. All the people were there, from the oldest to the youngest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the Lord’s temple. 34:31 The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant before the Lord, agreeing to follow the Lord and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being, by carrying out the terms of this covenant recorded on this scroll. 34:32 He made all who were in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to it. The residents of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 34:33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged all who were in Israel to worship the Lord their God. Throughout the rest of his reign they did not turn aside from following the Lord God of their ancestors.

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Cross Reference (TSK)

ITL

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:

· Abdon a town of Asher east. of Achzib, given to the Gershonite Levites,a man who was the eleventh judge of Israel,the son of Shashak of Benjamin,son of Je-Iel of Gibeon in Benjamin; great uncle to King Saul,son (descendent) of Micah/Micaiah in King Josiah's time

· Ahikam son of Shaphan; an official under King Josiah

· Asaiah King Josiah's servant,head of a large influential family of Simeon in Hezekiah's time,son of Haggiah the Levite,a man (Shelah Judah) who returned from exile with his family,chief of the sons of Merari the Levite under David

· Azaliah son of Meshullam; father of Shaphan, secretary to King Josiah

· Baal a pagan god,a title of a pagan god,a town in the Negeb on the border of Simeon and Judah,son of Reaiah son of Micah; a descendant of Reuben,the forth son of Jeiel, the Benjamite

· Benjamin the tribe of Benjamin of Israel

· David a son of Jesse of Judah; king of Israel,son of Jesse of Judah; king of Israel

· Ephraim the tribe of Ephraim as a whole,the northern kingdom of Israel

· Hasrah grandfather of Shallum the husband of Huldah the prophetess

· Hilkiah father of Eliakim who was head of King Hezekiah's household,a high priest; son of Shalum /Meshulam,son of Amzi of Levi; forefather of returned exiles,son of Hosah; a Levite gatekeeper,priest leader of some who returned from exile with Zerubbabel,a man of Anathoth; father of the prophet Jeremiah

· Huldah wife of Shallum; a prophetess

· Israel a citizen of Israel.,a member of the nation of Israel

· Jahath son of Reaiah of Judah,son of Libni of Gershom son of Levi,firstborn son of Shimei son of Gershon son of Levi,chief of Shelomoth and Izhar clans (Kohath Levi) under David,a Merari Levite overseer of temple repairs under Josiah

· Jerusalem the capital city of Israel,a town; the capital of Israel near the southern border of Benjamin

· Joah son of Asaph; record keeper of King Hezekiah,son of Zimmah one of the Levites of Gershon whom, along with his son Eden, King Hezekiah assigned to supervise the cleansing of the temple,son of Obed-Edom; a Levite gatekeeper whose descendants returned from exile,son of Joahaz; record keeper of King Josiah

· Joahaz son and successor of Jehu, King of Israel

· Josiah the son who succeeded King Amon of Judah; the father of Jeconiah; an ancestor of Jesus,son and successor of Amon, King of Judah,son of Zephaniah; custodian of the temple treasures that were returned from Babylon

· Judah the son of Jacob and Leah; founder of the tribe of Judah,a tribe, the land/country,a son of Joseph; the father of Simeon; an ancestor of Jesus,son of Jacob/Israel and Leah; founder of the tribe of Judah,the tribe of Judah,citizens of the southern kingdom of Judah,citizens of the Persian Province of Judah; the Jews who had returned from Babylonian exile,"house of Judah", a phrase which highlights the political leadership of the tribe of Judah,"king of Judah", a phrase which relates to the southern kingdom of Judah,"kings of Judah", a phrase relating to the southern kingdom of Judah,"princes of Judah", a phrase relating to the kingdom of Judah,the territory allocated to the tribe of Judah, and also the extended territory of the southern kingdom of Judah,the Province of Judah under Persian rule,"hill country of Judah", the relatively cool and green central highlands of the territory of Judah,"the cities of Judah",the language of the Jews; Hebrew,head of a family of Levites who returned from Exile,a Levite who put away his heathen wife,a man who was second in command of Jerusalem; son of Hassenuah of Benjamin,a Levite in charge of the songs of thanksgiving in Nehemiah's time,a leader who helped dedicate Nehemiah's wall,a Levite musician who helped Zechariah of Asaph dedicate Nehemiah's wall

· Kohathites members of the clan of Kohath of Levi

· Levites relating to Levi and the priesthood given to him,a tribal name describing people and ceremonies as sacred

· Ma-Aseiah a Levite worship leader in David's time,son of Adaiah; a commander who helped enthrone King Joash,a man who was a recruiting officer for King Uzziah's army,son of King Ahaz,a man who was governor of Jerusalem under King Josiah,a priest descended from Jeshua who put away his heathen wife,a priest descended from Harim who put away his heathen wife,a priest descended from Pashhur who put away his heathen wife,a layman of Pahath-Moab clan who put away his heathen wife,son of Ananiah; father of Azariah who helped repair the wall,a man who stood with Ezra when he read the law to the assembly,a Levite who helped Ezra explain the reading of the law,an chief who signed the covenant to keep the law of Moses,son of Baruch of Judah; a returned exile in Jerusalem,son of Ithiel of Benjamin,a priest who helped celebrate the completion of the wall,father of Zephaniah the priest in the time of Jeremiah,a false prophet in the time of King Zedekiah of Judah,son of Shallum, a gate keeper under King Jehoiakim

· Manasseh the tribe of Manasseh.

· Merari the clan of Merari of the tribe of Levi

· Meshullam grandfather of Shaphan, King Josiah's secretary,son of Zerubbabel,son of Abihail; a founding father of one of the clans of Gad,son of Elpaal of Benjamin,son of Hodaviah of Benjamin,son of Shephatiah of Benjamin,a high priest; son of Zadok II,son of Meshillemith; a priest,a Kohath Levite overseer of temple restoration for King Josiah,one of the leaders Ezra sent to Iddo to ask for recruits,a man who opposed the Jews putting away their heathen wives,a layman of the Bani Clan who put away his heathen wife,son of Berechiah son of Meshezabel; a repairer of the wall,son of Besodeiah; a man who helped repair a gate in the wall,a man who stood with Ezra when he publicly read the law to the assembly,a priest who signed the covenant to keep God's law,an Israelite chief who signed the covenant to obey God's law,son of Joed of Benjamin; father of Sallu, a returned exile,a priest and head of the house of Ezra under High Priest Joiakim in the time of Nehemiah,a priest, head of the house of Ginnethon in Nehemiah's time,a man who was a gate keeper in the time of Nehemiah

· Micah a man of Ephraim who made an ephod,son of Shime-i of Reuben,son of Merib-Baal of Benjamin,first born son of Uzziel son of Kohath,father of Abdon/Achbor whom King Josiah used as a messenger,the prophet of Moresheth under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah

· Moses a son of Amram; the Levite who led Israel out of Egypt and gave them The Law of Moses,a Levite who led Israel out of Egypt and gave them the law

· Naphtali region/territority and the tribe of Israel,the son of Jacob and Bilhah,the tribe of people descended from Naphtali,the territory of the people of Naphtali

· Obadiah a man who was in charge of king Ahab's household,son of Arnan, a descendant of Hananiah, Zerubbabel and David,son of Izrahiah of Issachar,son of Azel of Benjamin,son of Shemaiah; a Levite leader of a group of returned exiles,a Gadite officer who defected to David in the wilderness,a man of Zebulun in Saul and David's time,a prince King Jehoshaphat sent to teach the law around Judah,son of Jehiel; head of the Joab Clan group of returnees,a priest who signed the covenant to keep God's law,a gatekeeper in the time of Nehemiah

· Shallum son of Jabesh; the assassin and successor of king Jeroboam,son of Tikvah; husband of Huldah the prophetess under Josiah,son of Sismai of Judah,son of King Josiah,son of Shaul son of Simeon,a high priest; son of Zadok II,son of Naphtali,son of Kore the Levite; a chief temple Porter under Nehemiah,father of Jehizkiah, chief minister of King Pekah,a Levite gatekeeper who put away his heathen wife,a layman of the Binnui Clan who put away his heathen wife,son of Hallohesh, ruler of part of Jerusalem under Nehemiah; helped repair the walls of Jerusalem,son of Col-Hozeh; ruler of the Mizpah district under Nehemiah and helped Nehemiah repair Jerusalem's gates,father of Hanamel; uncle of the prophet Jeremiah,father of Ma-Aseiah, temple gate keeper in Jeremiah's time

· Shaphan son of Azaliah; father of Gemariah;, a prince of Judah in the time of Jehoiakim,son of Azaliah son of Meshullam (OS); secretary to King Josiah,father of Jaazaniah, an idolatrous elder under Zedekiah

· Simeon a son of Jonas and brother of Andrew; an apostle of Jesus Christ,a man who was one of the apostles of Christ and also called 'the Zealot',a brother of Jesus,a man who was a well-know victim of leprosy who had been healed by Jesus (NIV note),a man from Cyrene who was forced to carry the cross of Jesus,a Pharisee man in whose house Jesus' feet were washed with tears and anointed,the father of Judas Iscariot,a man who was a sorcerer in Samaria and who wanted to buy the gifts of the Spirit,a man who was a tanner at Joppa and with whom Peter was staying when Cornelius sent for him

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Table of Contents

Verse Notes / Footnotes NET Notes

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:1 For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:2 Heb “and walked in the ways of David his father.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:3 Heb “purifying.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:4 Heb “and they tore down before him the altars of the Baals.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:5 Heb “the priests”; the qualifying adjective “pagan” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:6 “In their ruins” is the marginal reading (Qere) of the Hebrew text.

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:8 Heb “to purify the land and the house.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:9 The Hebrew consonantal text (Kethib) assumes the reading, “and the residents of.” The marginal reading (Qere) is “and they returned....

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:10 Heb “and they gave it to the doers of the work who were working in the house of the Lord to restore and to repair the house.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:11 Heb “of the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:13 Heb “[were] over the laborers and were directing every doer of work for work assignment and work assignment.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:16 Heb “returned still the king a word, saying.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:17 Heb “that was found in the house of the Lord.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:20 The parallel account in 2 Kgs 22:12 has the variant spelling “Acbor son of Micaiah.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:21 Heb “by doing according to all that is written on this scroll.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:22 Heb “and they spoke to her like this.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:25 Heb “angering me with all the work of their hands.” The present translation assumes this refers to idols they have manufactured (note the ...

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:27 Heb “Because your heart was tender.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:28 Heb “Therefore, behold, I am gathering you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your tomb in peace.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:29 Heb “and the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:31 Heb “words.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:32 Heb “and he caused to stand everyone who was found in Jerusalem and Benjamin.”

NET Notes: 2Ch 34:33 Heb “all his days.”

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