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2 Chronicles 34 The Reign of Josiah

1 Josiah’s Reforms
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.

2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images.

4 Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles, the idols and the images. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

5 He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem.

6 In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them,

7 he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

8 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.

9 They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the doorkeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

10 Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple.

11 They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.

12 The men did the work faithfully. Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments—

13 had charge of the laborers and supervised all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, scribes and doorkeepers.

14 The Book of the Law Found
While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses.

15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan.

16 Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them.

17 They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.”

18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.

20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant:

21 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”

22 Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him went to speak to the prophetess Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.

23 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,

24 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah.

25 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’

26 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard:

27 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord.

28 Now I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”
So they took her answer back to the king.

29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

30 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord.

31 The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.

32 Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their fathers.

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Analysis of 2 Chronicles Chapter 34

2 Chronicles 34 is a pivotal chapter that chronicles the reign of King Josiah, one of Judah’s most righteous and effective monarchs. His story is one of rejuvenation and reform, infusing the nation with renewed spiritual vigor and dedication to their covenant with God. This chapter meticulously documents Josiah’s dedication to purging idolatry from Judah and his monumental effort in restoring the Temple, culminating in the rediscovery of the Book of the Law, which catalyzed further religious reforms.

Verses 1-3: Josiah’s Early Reign and Devotion to God

The chapter begins with an introductory note regarding Josiah’s ascension to the throne. Starting from a very young age, Josiah is noted to have begun his reign at eight years old:

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.”

Despite his young age, Josiah demonstrates a remarkable zeal for seeking the Lord. By age 16, he begins to actively pursue the ways of David, his forefather:

“In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.”

Josiah’s formative years indicate a guided period of spiritual education and growth. Even more notably, in the twelfth year of his reign (circa age 20), he initiates a sweeping campaign to rid Judah and Jerusalem of idolatrous practices:

“In the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols.”

This passage underscores Josiah’s urgency and fervor to return Judah to monotheistic worship, rejecting any forms of idolatry that had pervaded the land during previous reigns. This early phase of his reign reveals his commitment to aligning Judah with the worship of Yahweh.

Verses 4-7: The Purge of Idolatry

Josiah’s reforms were not merely superficial; they were thorough and extensive. He personally oversees the destruction of altars and idols:

“Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols.”

His efforts extend beyond Jerusalem, reaching the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and as far as Naphtali. This comprehensive approach signifies Josiah’s mission to cleanse the entirety of Judah and the northern territories that had been under Assyrian control:

“Then in the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder.”

By emphasizing the extent and thoroughness of Josiah’s purging actions, the narrative showcases his dedication not just to removing visible structures of idolatry, but symbolically crushing and obliterating any remnants of those practices.

Verses 8-13: Restoration of the Temple

In Josiah’s eighteenth regnal year, he shifts focus to the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem, underscoring his desire to centralize worship in the holy place sanctified for God:

“In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the ruler of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.”

The Temple restoration project is a collaborative effort. The king mobilizes not just the priests and Levites, but also skilled laborers and craftsmen, emphasizing communal participation and shared responsibility in the temple’s rejuvenation:

“The men did the work faithfully. Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah… Levites who were skilled in playing musical instruments had charge of the laborers… other Levites, all who were skilled in playing musical instruments.”

This passage indicates not only a physical restoration of the Temple but serves as a metaphor for the restoration of spiritual order and collective worship among the people of Judah.

Verses 14-21: Discovery of the Book of the Law

The most significant event during the restoration emerges when Hilkiah the high priest discovers the Book of the Law. This pivotal moment propels the narrative forward:

“Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses.”

The Book of the Law had evidently been neglected or forgotten over generations. Its rediscovery highlights the profound spiritual amnesia that had befallen Judah. When the book is read to Josiah, his reaction is visceral and immediate:

“When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.”

Tearing of the robes is a traditional expression of mourning and repentance, indicating Josiah’s acute awareness of Judah’s deviation from the covenant requirements. His immediate response is to seek divine counsel and understanding of the implications for his kingdom:

“Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found.”

This inquiry underscores Josiah’s alignment with prophetic guidance. It indicates his earnest desire to understand and rectify the breaches in the covenant to avert divine judgment.

Verses 22-28: Huldah’s Prophecy

Josiah’s delegation seeks out Huldah, a prophetess, to understand the ramifications of the rediscovered text. Huldah’s prophecy reaffirms the impending judgment due to Judah’s persistent idolatry:

“I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people – all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah.”

However, she also delivers a personal message to Josiah, acknowledging his contrite heart and sincere reform efforts:

“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God… your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.”

Her prophecy guarantees Josiah a measure of divine grace; his righteousness would delay the impending destruction until after his reign. This shows a direct correlation between Josiah’s personal faithfulness and the temporal extension of divine patience towards the nation.

Verses 29-33: Renewed Covenant and National Reform

Josiah’s response to the prophecy and the rediscovered Book of the Law is immediate and comprehensive. He gathers all the elders and the people of Judah, from the least to the greatest, for a public reading of the Book of the Law:

“Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites – all the people from the least to the greatest.”

This public proclamation serves dual purposes: to educate the populace on the forgotten precepts and to formally renew the national covenant with God:

“He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord.”

Josiah stands as a catalyst, making a covenant to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, and the people confirm their commitment:

“The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord – to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes, and decrees with all his heart and all his soul… Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.”

This public demonstration represents a collective return to the foundational principles of their faith. Josiah’s leadership and commitment inspire a nationwide revival, reinstating worship practices in alignment with the Mosaic law:

“Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.”

Conclusion: The Legacy of Josiah’s Reform

Josiah’s reign is a testament to the impact of righteous leadership and the power of diligent reform. His actions exhibit a proactive and discerning response to spiritual decline, underscoring the necessity of both personal and communal commitment to God’s precepts.

Throughout 2 Chronicles 34, themes of renewal, covenant faithfulness, and divine grace emerge. Josiah’s responses to the Book of the Law’s rediscovery serve as critical lessons in humility, repentive action, and communal rededication towards God. The narrative affirms the biblical principle that devout leadership and a collective return to spiritual foundations can usher periods of divine favor and staved judgment.