2 Kings 23 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] The king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. ^[2] The king went up to Yahweh’s house, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him—with the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in Yahweh’s house. ^[3] The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before Yahweh to walk after Yahweh and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people agreed to the covenant. ^[4] The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring out of Yahweh’s temple all the vessels that were made for Baal, for the Asherah, and for all the army of the sky; and he burned them outside of Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. ^[5] He got rid of the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places around Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the planets, and to all the army of the sky. ^[6] He brought out the Asherah from Yahweh’s house, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust, and cast its dust on the graves of the common people. ^[7] He broke down the houses of the male shrine prostitutes that were in Yahweh’s house, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah. ^[8] He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; and he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man’s left hand at the gate of the city. ^[9] Nevertheless the priests of the high places didn’t come up to Yahweh’s altar in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers. ^[10] He defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. ^[11] He took away the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance of Yahweh’s house, by the room of Nathan Melech the officer who was in the court; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire. ^[12] The king broke down the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of Yahweh’s house, and beat them down from there, and cast their dust into the brook Kidron. ^[13] The king defiled the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mountain of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon. ^[14] He broke in pieces the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and filled their places with men’s bones. ^[15] Moreover the altar that was at Bethel and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down; and he burned the high place and beat it to dust, and burned the Asherah. ^[16] As Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain; and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to Yahweh’s word which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. ^[17] Then he said, “What monument is that which I see?”The men of the city told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Bethel.” ^[18] He said, “Let him be! Let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria. ^[19] All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Yahweh to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel. ^[20] He killed all the priests of the high places that were there, on the altars, and burned men’s bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem. ^[21] The king commanded all the people, saying, “Keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant.” ^[22] Surely there was not kept such a Passover from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah; ^[23] but in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was kept to Yahweh in Jerusalem. ^[24] Moreover, Josiah removed those who had familiar spirits, the wizards, and the teraphim,^ⓘ and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in Yahweh’s house. ^[25] There was no king like him before him, who turned to Yahweh with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; and there was none like him who arose after him. ^[26] Notwithstanding, Yahweh didn’t turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocation with which Manasseh had provoked him. ^[27] Yahweh said, “I will also remove Judah out of my sight, as I have removed Israel; and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’ ” ^[28] Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? ^[29] In his days Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him, but Pharaoh Necoh killed him at Megiddo when he saw him. ^[30] His servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place. ^[31] Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. ^[32] He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, according to all that his fathers had done. ^[33] Pharaoh Necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent^ⓘ of gold. ^[34] Pharaoh Necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim; but he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there. ^[35] Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Necoh. ^[36] Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. ^[37] He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, according to all that his fathers had done.

Footnotes

teraphim were household idols.
A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces

King James Version

^[1] And the kingH4428 sent,H7971(QalImpf) and they gatheredH622(QalImpf) unto him all the eldersH2205 of JudahH3063 and of Jerusalem.H3389 ^[2] And the kingH4428 went upH5927(QalImpf) into the houseH1004 of the Lord,H3068 and all the menH376 of JudahH3063 and all the inhabitantsH3427(QalActPtc) of JerusalemH3389 with him, and the priests,H3548 and the prophets,H5030 and all the people,H5971 both smallH6996 and great:H1419 and he readH7121(QalImpf) in their earsH241 all the wordsH1697 of the bookH5612 of the covenantH1285 which was foundH4672(NiphPtc) in the houseH1004 of the Lord.H3068 ^[3] And the kingH4428 stoodH5975(QalImpf) by a pillar,H5982 and madeH3772(QalImpf) a covenantH1285 beforeH6440 the Lord,H3068 to walkH3212(QalInf) afterH310 the Lord,H3068 and to keepH8104(QalInf) his commandmentsH4687 and his testimoniesH5715 and his statutesH2708 with all [their] heartH3820 and all [their] soul,H5315 to performH6965(HiphInf) the wordsH1697 of this covenantH1285 that were writtenH3789(QalPasPtc) in this book.H5612 And all the peopleH5971 stoodH5975(QalImpf) to the covenant.H1285 ^[4] And the kingH4428 commandedH6680(PielImpf) HilkiahH2518 the highH1419 priest,H3548 and the priestsH3548 of the second order,H4932 and the keepersH8104(QalActPtc) of the door,H5592 to bring forthH3318(HiphInf) out of the templeH1964 of the LordH3068 all the vesselsH3627 that were madeH6213(QalPasPtc) for Baal,H1168 and for the grove,H842 and for all the hostH6635 of heaven:H8064 and he burnedH8313(QalImpf) them withoutH2351 JerusalemH3389 in the fieldsH7709 of Kidron,H6939 and carriedH5375(QalPerf) the ashesH6083 of them unto Bethel.H1008 ^[5] And he put downH7673(HiphPerf) the idolatrous priests,H3649 whom the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063 had ordainedH5414(QalPerf) to burn incenseH6999(PielImpf) in the high placesH1116 in the citiesH5892 of Judah,H3063 and in the places round aboutH4524 Jerusalem;H3389 them also that burned incenseH6999(PielPtc) unto Baal,H1168 to the sun,H8121 and to the moon,H3394 and to the planets,H4208 and to all the hostH6635 of heaven.H8064 ^[6] And he brought outH3318(HiphImpf) the groveH842 from the houseH1004 of the Lord,H3068 withoutH2351 Jerusalem,H3389 unto the brookH5158 Kidron,H6939 and burnedH8313(QalImpf) it at the brookH5158 Kidron,H6939 and stamped [it] smallH1854(HiphImpf) to powder,H6083 and castH7993(HiphImpf) the powderH6083 thereof upon the gravesH6913 of the childrenH1121 of the people.H5971 ^[7] And he brake downH5422(QalImpf) the housesH1004 of the sodomites,H6945 that [were] by the houseH1004 of the Lord,H3068 where the womenH802 woveH707(QalActPtc) hangingsH1004 for the grove.H842 ^[8] And he broughtH935(HiphImpf) all the priestsH3548 out of the citiesH5892 of Judah,H3063 and defiledH2930(PielImpf) the high placesH1116 where the priestsH3548 had burned incense,H6999(PielPerf) from GebaH1387 to Beersheba,H884 and brake downH5422(QalPerf) the high placesH1116 of the gatesH8179 that [were] in the entering inH6607 of the gateH8179 of JoshuaH3091 the governorH8269 of the city,H5892 which [were] on a man’sH376 left handH8040 at the gateH8179 of the city.H5892 ^[9] Nevertheless the priestsH3548 of the high placesH1116 came not upH5927(QalImpf) to the altarH4196 of the LordH3068 in Jerusalem,H3389 but they did eatH398(QalPerf) of the unleavened breadH4682 amongH8432 their brethren.H251 ^[10] And he defiledH2930(PielPerf) Topheth,H8612 which [is] in the valleyH1516 of the childrenH1121(Qere) of Hinnom,H2011 that no manH376 might make his sonH1121 or his daughterH1323 to pass throughH5674(HiphInf) the fireH784 to Molech.H4432 ^[11] And he took awayH7673(HiphImpf) the horsesH5483 that the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063 had givenH5414(QalPerf) to the sun,H8121 at the entering inH935(QalInf) of the houseH1004 of the Lord,H3068 by the chamberH3957 of NathanmelechH5419 the chamberlain,H5631 which [was] in the suburbs,H6503 and burnedH8313(QalPerf) the chariotsH4818 of the sunH8121 with fire.H784 ^[12] And the altarsH4196 that [were] on the topH1406 of the upper chamberH5944 of Ahaz,H271 which the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063 had made,H6213(QalPerf) and the altarsH4196 which ManassehH4519 had madeH6213(QalPerf) in the twoH8147 courtsH2691 of the houseH1004 of the Lord,H3068 did the kingH4428 beat down,H5422(QalPerf) and brake [them] downH7323(QalImpf) from thence, and castH7993(HiphPerf) the dustH6083 of them into the brookH5158 Kidron.H6939 ^[13] And the high placesH1116 that [were] beforeH6440 Jerusalem,H3389 which [were] on the right handH3225 of the mountH2022 of corruption,H4889 which SolomonH8010 the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 had buildedH1129(QalPerf) for AshtorethH6253 the abominationH8251 of the Zidonians,H6722 and for ChemoshH3645 the abominationH8251 of the Moabites,H4124 and for MilcomH4445 the abominationH8441 of the childrenH1121 of Ammon,H5983 did the kingH4428 defile.H2930(PielPerf) ^[14] And he brake in piecesH7665(PielPerf) the images,H4676 and cut downH3772(QalImpf) the groves,H842 and filledH4390(PielImpf) their placesH4725 with the bonesH6106 of men.H120 ^[15] Moreover the altarH4196 that [was] at Bethel,H1008 [and] the high placeH1116 which JeroboamH3379 the sonH1121 of Nebat,H5028 who made IsraelH3478 to sin,H2398(HiphPerf) had made,H6213(QalPerf) both that altarH4196 and the high placeH1116 he brake down,H5422(QalPerf) and burnedH8313(QalImpf) the high place,H1116 [and] stampedH1854(HiphPerf) [it] small to powder,H6083 and burnedH8313(QalPerf) the grove.H842 ^[16] And as JosiahH2977 turnedH6437(QalImpf) himself, he spiedH7200(QalImpf) the sepulchresH6913 that [were] there in the mount,H2022 and sent,H7971(QalImpf) and tookH3947(QalImpf) the bonesH6106 out of the sepulchres,H6913 and burnedH8313(QalImpf) [them] upon the altar,H4196 and pollutedH2930(PielImpf) it, according to the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 which the manH376 of GodH430 proclaimed,H7121(QalPerf) who proclaimedH7121(QalPerf) these words.H1697 ^[17] Then he said,H559(QalImpf) What titleH6725 [is] thatH1975 that I see?H7200(QalActPtc) And the menH582 of the cityH5892 toldH559(QalImpf) him, [It is] the sepulchreH6913 of the manH376 of God,H430 which cameH935(QalPerf) from Judah,H3063 and proclaimedH7121(QalImpf) these thingsH1697 that thou hast doneH6213(QalPerf) against the altarH4196 of Bethel.H1008 ^[18] And he said,H559(QalImpf) Let him alone;H3240(HiphImpv) let no manH376 moveH5128(HiphImpf) his bones.H6106 So they let his bonesH6106 alone,H4422(PielImpf) with the bonesH6106 of the prophetH5030 that came outH935(QalPerf) of Samaria.H8111 ^[19] And all the housesH1004 also of the high placesH1116 that [were] in the citiesH5892 of Samaria,H8111 which the kingsH4428 of IsraelH3478 had madeH6213(QalPerf) to provoke [the Lord] to anger,H3707(HiphInf) JosiahH2977 took away,H5493(HiphPerf) and didH6213(QalImpf) to them according to all the actsH4639 that he had doneH6213(QalPerf) in Bethel.H1008 ^[20] And he slewH2076(QalImpf) all the priestsH3548 of the high placesH1116 that [were] there upon the altars,H4196 and burnedH8313(QalImpf) men’sH120 bonesH6106 upon them, and returnedH7725(QalImpf) to Jerusalem.H3389 ^[21] And the kingH4428 commandedH6680(PielImpf) all the people,H5971 saying,H559(QalInf) KeepH6213(QalImpv) the passoverH6453 unto the LordH3068 your God,H430 as [it is] writtenH3789(QalPasPtc) in the bookH5612 of this covenant.H1285 ^[22] Surely there was not holdenH6213(NiphPerf) such a passoverH6453 from the daysH3117 of the judgesH8199(QalActPtc) that judgedH8199(QalPerf) Israel,H3478 nor in all the daysH3117 of the kingsH4428 of Israel,H3478 nor of the kingsH4428 of Judah;H3063 ^[23] But in the eighteenthH8083 yearH8141 of kingH4428 Josiah,H2977 [wherein] this passoverH6453 was holdenH6213(NiphPerf) to the LordH3068 in Jerusalem.H3389 ^[24] Moreover the [workers with] familiar spirits,H178 and the wizards,H3049 and the images,H8655 and the idols,H1544 and all the abominationsH8251 that were spiedH7200(NiphPerf) in the landH776 of JudahH3063 and in Jerusalem,H3389 did JosiahH2977 put away,H1197(PielPerf) that he might performH6965(HiphInf) the wordsH1697 of the lawH8451 which were writtenH3789(QalPasPtc) in the bookH5612 that HilkiahH2518 the priestH3548 foundH4672(QalPerf) in the houseH1004 of the Lord.H3068 ^[25] And like unto him was there no kingH4428 beforeH6440 him, that turnedH7725(QalPerf) to the LordH3068 with all his heart,H3824 and with all his soul,H5315 and with all his might,H3966 according to all the lawH8451 of Moses;H4872 neither afterH310 him aroseH6965(QalPerf) there [any] like him. ^[26] Notwithstanding the LordH3068 turnedH7725(QalPerf) not from the fiercenessH2740 of his greatH1419 wrath,H639 wherewith his angerH639 was kindledH2734(QalPerf) against Judah,H3063 because of all the provocationsH3708 that ManassehH4519 had provokedH3707(HiphPerf) him withal. ^[27] And the LordH3068 said,H559(QalImpf) I will removeH5493(HiphImpf) JudahH3063 also out of my sight,H6440 as I have removedH5493(HiphPerf) Israel,H3478 and will cast offH3988(QalPerf) this cityH5892 JerusalemH3389 which I have chosen,H977(QalPerf) and the houseH1004 of which I said,H559(QalPerf) My nameH8034 shall be there. ^[28] Now the restH3499 of the actsH1697 of Josiah,H2977 and all that he did,H6213(QalPerf) [are] they not writtenH3789(QalPasPtc) in the bookH5612 of the chroniclesH1697 of the kingsH4428 of Judah?H3063 ^[29] In his daysH3117 PharaohnechohH6549 kingH4428 of EgyptH4714 went upH5927(QalPerf) against the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 to the riverH5104 Euphrates:H6578 and kingH4428 JosiahH2977 wentH3212(QalImpf) againstH7125(QalInf) him; and he slewH4191(HiphImpf) him at Megiddo,H4023 when he had seenH7200(QalInf) him. ^[30] And his servantsH5650 carried him in a chariotH7392(HiphImpf) deadH4191(QalPtc) from Megiddo,H4023 and broughtH935(HiphImpf) him to Jerusalem,H3389 and buriedH6912(QalImpf) him in his own sepulchre.H6900 And the peopleH5971 of the landH776 tookH3947(QalImpf) JehoahazH3059 the sonH1121 of Josiah,H2977 and anointedH4886(QalImpf) him, and made him kingH4427(HiphImpf) in his father’sH1 stead. ^[31] JehoahazH3059 [was] twentyH6242 and threeH7969 yearsH8141 oldH1121 when he began to reign;H4427(QalInf) and he reignedH4427(QalPerf) threeH7969 monthsH2320 in Jerusalem.H3389 And his mother’sH517 nameH8034 [was] Hamutal,H2537 the daughterH1323 of JeremiahH3414 of Libnah.H3841 ^[32] And he didH6213(QalImpf) [that which was] evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the Lord,H3068 according to all that his fathersH1 had done.H6213(QalPerf) ^[33] And PharaohnechohH6549 put him in bandsH631(QalImpf) at RiblahH7247 in the landH776 of Hamath,H2574 that he might not reignH4427(QalInf) in Jerusalem;H3389 and putH5414(QalImpf) the landH776 to a tributeH6066 of an hundredH3967 talentsH3603 of silver,H3701 and a talentH3603 of gold.H2091 ^[34] And PharaohnechohH6549 made EliakimH471 the sonH1121 of JosiahH2977 kingH4427(HiphImpf) in the room of JosiahH2977 his father,H1 and turnedH5437(HiphImpf) his nameH8034 to Jehoiakim,H3079 and tookH3947 JehoahazH3059 away:H3947(QalPerf) and he cameH935(QalImpf) to Egypt,H4714 and diedH4191(QalImpf) there. ^[35] And JehoiakimH3079 gaveH5414(QalPerf) the silverH3701 and the goldH2091 to Pharaoh;H6547 but he taxedH6186(HiphPerf) the landH776 to giveH5414(QalInf) the moneyH3701 according to the commandmentH6310 of Pharaoh:H6547 he exactedH5065(QalPerf) the silverH3701 and the goldH2091 of the peopleH5971 of the land,H776 of every oneH376 according to his taxation,H6187 to giveH5414(QalInf) [it] unto Pharaohnechoh.H6549 ^[36] JehoiakimH3079 [was] twentyH6242 and fiveH2568 yearsH8141 oldH1121 when he began to reign;H4427(QalInf) and he reignedH4427(QalPerf) elevenH259 yearsH8141 in Jerusalem.H3389 And his mother’sH517 nameH8034 [was] Zebudah,H2080 the daughterH1323 of PedaiahH6305 of Rumah.H7316 ^[37] And he didH6213(QalImpf) [that which was] evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the Lord,H3068 according to all that his fathersH1 had done.H6213(QalPerf)

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