← Back to 2 Kings

2 Kings 23

37 verses

TL;DR

King Josiah renewed Judah’s covenant with God, eradicated idolatry, reinstated the Passover, and set a precedent for wholehearted devotion, though the chapter ends with a warning of impending judgment.

Summary

In chapter 23, Josiah, urged by the prophet Hilkiah, gathers the elders of Judah and reads the covenant law aloud to all citizens, making a renewed covenant to walk faithfully. He then orders the removal and destruction of every idolatrous object and high‑place worship site, burning Baal and Asherah images, burning the grove, defiling Topheth, and dismantling altars built by former kings. Josiah also restores the proper Passover celebration in Jerusalem for the first time since the judges. He purges the land of foreign worship practices and, after the reforms, is praised as unparalleled among Judah’s kings. Yet the chapter concludes with a prophetic declaration that God’s wrath will be poured on Judah for the transgressions of Manasseh, and a brief account of the political turmoil following Josiah’s death, including his son Jehoahaz’s brief reign and Jehoiakim’s succession under Egyptian influence.

Outline
  1. Josiah’s covenant renewal and public reading
  2. Systematic eradication of idolatry and restoration of proper worship
  3. Reinstatement of the Passover and political aftermath
Themes
Covenant fidelityPurification and reformProphetic judgmentRoyal legacy
Keywords
Josiahcovenanthigh placesidolatryBaalAsherahPassoverJudgmentReformProphecyEgyptIsrael
People
JosiahHilkiahKing of Egypt (Pharaohnechoh)JehoahazJehoiakimJerusalem priestProphetJeroboamJoshua the governor
Places
JerusalemKidronBethelMount of HinnomGebaBeershebaRiver EuphratesMegiddoRiblahHamathIsraelSamariaCanaanEgypt
Things
covenant bookhigh placesidols of Baal, Asherah, Ashtoreth, Chemosh, Milcomaltarsgrovetophethhorses of the sunchariotsbones of menpassoversecrets of prophets
Key Verses
  • 2 Kings 23:3: Josiah’s public covenant renewal
  • 2 Kings 23:4: Order to destroy idolatrous objects
  • 2 Kings 23:21: Restoration of the Passover
  • 2 Kings 23:27: Prophetic declaration of impending judgment
  • 2 Kings 23:29: Political aftermath and the reign of Jehoahaz
Questions
  • What motivated Josiah to publicly read the covenant?
  • How did the eradication of idolatry affect Judah’s identity?
  • In what ways does the chapter link reform to impending judgment?
  • What does the brief account of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim reveal about post‑Josiah politics?
  • How can modern faith communities learn from Josiah's commitment?
Sentiment

mixed
Reform and devotion are presented positively, but the text ends with warnings of God’s wrath.