Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. The king went up to Yahweh’s house, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in Yahweh’s house. The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. All his days they didn’t depart from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
Parallel Translations
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Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
The king went up to Yahweh’s house, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in Yahweh’s house.
The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. All his days they didn’t depart from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
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Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.
And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.
And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.
Show all 3 translations
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Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, both great and small; and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.
And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
And he caused all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were found in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. All his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.
Cross-references (58)
- 2 Kings 23:1-3 (v29) The king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. The king went up to Yahweh’s house, and all the men of…
- 2 Chronicles 23:16 (v31) Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king, that they should be Yahweh’s people.
- 2 Chronicles 34:3-7 (v33) For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he…
- Exodus 24:7 (v30) He took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, “We will do all that Yahweh has said, and be…
- Joshua 24:31 (v33) Israel served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Yahweh, that…
Show all 57 cross-references
- 2 Kings 11:14 (v31) and she looked, and behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the tradition was, with the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the…
- 2 Kings 23:2 (v30) 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,…
- 2 Kings 23:3 (v31) The king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and…
- 2 Chronicles 6:13 (v31) (for Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the middle of the…
- 2 Chronicles 15:12 (v31) They entered into the covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;
- 2 Chronicles 29:10 (v31) Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Yahweh, the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us.
- Jeremiah 3:10 (vv32–33) Yet for all this her treacherous sister, Judah, has not returned to me with her whole heart, but only in pretense,” says Yahweh.
- Genesis 18:19 (v32) For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do…
- Exodus 24:6-8 (v31) Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. He took the book of the covenant and…
- Deuteronomy 1:17 (v30) You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for…
- Deuteronomy 6:5 (v31) You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
- Deuteronomy 17:18-20 (v30) It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is…
- Deuteronomy 29:10-15 (v31) All of you stand today in the presence of Yahweh your God: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of…
- Joshua 24:25 (v31) So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
- 1 Samuel 12:23 (v29) Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and…
- 1 Kings 11:5-7 (v33) For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did that which…
- 2 Kings 11:4 (v31) In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into…
- 2 Kings 23:4-20 (v33) 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…
- 2 Kings 23:21 (v30) The king commanded all the people, saying, “Keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:2-9 (v29) Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the…
- 2 Chronicles 6:1-11 (v30) Then Solomon said, “Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. But I have built you a house and home, a place for you to…
- 2 Chronicles 14:4 (v32) and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.
- 2 Chronicles 15:12-13 (v30) They entered into the covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul; and that whoever…
- 2 Chronicles 15:15 (v31) All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them.…
- 2 Chronicles 17:7-9 (v30) Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities…
- 2 Chronicles 18:30 (v30) Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with the king of…
- 2 Chronicles 29:29 (v32) When they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.
- 2 Chronicles 30:2 (v29) For the king had taken counsel with his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem to keep the Passover in the second month.
- 2 Chronicles 30:12 (v32) Also the hand of God came on Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by Yahweh’s word.
- 2 Chronicles 30:16 (v31) They stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood which they…
- 2 Chronicles 31:21 (v31) In every work that he began in the service of God’s house, in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his…
- 2 Chronicles 33:16 (v32) He built up Yahweh’s altar, and offered sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving on it, and commanded Judah to serve Yahweh, the…
- 2 Chronicles 34:15 (v30) Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in Yahweh’s house.” So Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
- 2 Chronicles 34:18-19 (v30) Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book.” Shaphan read from it to the king. When the king had…
- 2 Chronicles 34:24 (v30) “Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they…
- Nehemiah 8:1-5 (v30) All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the…
- Nehemiah 9:38 (v31) Yet for all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal it.”
- Nehemiah 10:29 (v31) joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the…
- Psalms 119:106 (v31) I have sworn, and have confirmed it, that I will obey your righteous ordinances.
- Psalms 119:111-112 (v31) I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I have set my heart to perform your statutes…
- Ecclesiastes 8:2 (v32) I say, “Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God.
- Jeremiah 31:31-32 (v30) “Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according…
- Jeremiah 50:5 (v31) They will inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, and join yourselves to Yahweh in an everlasting…
- Ezekiel 46:2 (v31) The prince shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate outside, and shall stand by the post of the gate; and the priests shall prepare…
- Hosea 6:4 (v33) “Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears…
- Mark 14:8 (v29) She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying.
- Luke 10:27-29 (v31) He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and…
- Hebrews 8:6-13 (v31) But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has…
- Deuteronomy 29:1 (v31) These are the words of the covenant which Yahweh commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to…
- Job 3:19 (v30) The small and the great are there. The servant is free from his master.
- Ecclesiastes 1:12 (v30) I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
- Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 (v30) Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.…
57 distinct cross-references across this passage (58 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv30, 33 Forasmuch as neither young nor old could be exempted…
Forasmuch as neither young nor old could be exempted from the curses contained therein, if they did transgress, he knew it pertained to all, and was his duty to see it read to all sorts, that everyone might learn to avoid those punishments by serving God aright.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv29, 33 2Ch 34:29 Then the king sent and gathered together…
2Ch 34:29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
Ver. 29-33. See 2Ki 23:1-3, &c.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v32 To stand to it; to own or maintain it,…
To stand to it; to own or maintain it, or persist in it, as this phrase is used, Deu 25:1. He caused them to engage themselves by an oath or covenant, that they would observe and obey the laws of God, as his godly predecessors had formerly done, and which indeed they were before obliged to do. They complied with God’s and the king’s command, as to the outward acts of God’s worship, though not with an upright heart, as appears by the history.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v29 We have here an account of the further advances…
We have here an account of the further advances which Josiah made towards the reformation of his kingdom upon the hearing of the law read and the receipt of the message God sent him by the prophetess. Happy the people that had such a king; for here we find that, 1. They were well taught. He did not go about to force them to do their duty, till he had first instructed them in it. He called all the people together, great and small, young and old, rich and poor, high and low. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear the words of the book of the covenant; for they are all concerned in those words. To put an honour upon the service, and to engage attention the more, though there were priests and Levites present, the king himself read the book to the people (Ch2 34:30), and he read it, no doubt, in such a manner as to show that he was himself affected with it, which would be a means of affecting the hearers. 2. They were well fixed. The articles of agreement between God and Israel being read, that they might intelligently covenant with God, both king and people with great solemnity did as it were subscribe the articles. The king in his place covenanted to keep God's commandments with all his heart and soul, according to what was written in the book (Ch2 34:31), and urged the people to declare their consent likewise to this covenant, and solemnly to promise that they would faithfully perform, fulfil, and keep, all and every thing that was on their part to be done, according to this covenant: this they did; they could not for shame do otherwise. He caused all that were present to stand to it (Ch2 34:32), and made them all to serve, even to serve the Lord their God (Ch2 34:33), to do it and to make a business of it. he did all he could to bring them to it - to serve, even to serve; the repetition denotes that this was the only thing his heart was set on; he aimed at nothing else in what he did but to engage them to God and their duty. 3. They were well tended, were honest with good looking to. All his days they departed not from following the Lord; he kept them, with much ado, from running into idolatry again. All his days were days of restraint upon them; but this intimated that there was in them a bent to backslide, a strong inclination to idolatry. Many of them wanted nothing but to have him out of the way, and then they would have their high places and their images up again. And therefore we find that in the days of Josiah (Jer 3:6) God charged it upon treacherous Judah that she had not returned to him with all her heart, but feignedly (Ch2 34:10), nay, had played the harlot (Ch2 34:8) and thereby had even justified backsliding Israel, Ch2 34:11. In the twenty-third year of this reign, four or five years after this, they had gone on to provoke God to anger with the works of their hands (Jer 25:3-7); and, which is very observable, it is from the beginning of Josiah's reformation, his twelfth or thirteenth year, that the iniquity of the house of Judah, which brought ruin upon them, and which the prophet was to bear lying on his right side, was dated (Eze 4:6), for thence to the destruction of Jerusalem was just forty years. Josiah was sincere in what he did, but the generality of the people were averse to it and hankered after their idols still; so that the reformation, though well designed and well prosecuted by the prince, had little or no effect upon the people. It was with reluctancy that they parted with their idols; still they were in heart joined to them, and wished for them again. This God saw, and therefore from that time, when one would have thought the foundations had been laid for a perpetual security and peace, from that very time did the decree go forth for their destruction. Nothing hastens the ruin of a people nor ripens them for it more than the baffling of hopeful attempts for reformation and a hypocritical return to God. Be not deceived, God is not mocked.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv32–33 To stand to it - He caused them to…
To stand to it - He caused them to engage by an oath or covenant, that they would observe the laws of God, as his predecessors had formerly done, and which indeed they were before obliged to do.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv30–32 Verse 30. The king went] See on 2Kg 23:1.
Verse 30. The king went] See on 2Kg 23:1.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v32 2Ch 34:32-33. He caused all present to stand to…
2Ch 34:32-33. He caused all present to stand to it — He caused them to engage by an oath or covenant, that they would observe the laws of God, as his predecessors had formerly done, and which indeed they were before obliged to do. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant, &c. — They complied with God’s and the king’s command, as to the outward acts of God’s worship, though not with an upright and renewed heart, as appears by the history. To serve, even to serve the Lord their God — The repetition shows, that this was the only thing his heart was set upon. He aimed at nothing, in all he did, but to engage them to God and their duty.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv30, 32, 33 The writer has characteristically substituted “Levites” for the “prophets”…
The writer has characteristically substituted “Levites” for the “prophets” of 2Ki 23:2. No doubt Josiah was accompanied by priests, prophets, and Levites, but the writer of Kings thought it enough to mention the two former, and merged the Levites in the mass of the people. The writer of Chronicles, on the other hand, thinks the presence of Levites too important to he omitted, and as the prophets could be but few in number, passes them over.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v33 In Israel, who had fled into his dominions. See…
In Israel, who had fled into his dominions. See v. 6. C. --- They. Sept. "he," &c. Josias worshipped God with all his heart: but all Israel paid him, at least, an external adoration. H.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v33 33. All his days they departed not from… the…
33. All his days they departed not from… the Lord — He succeeded in keeping down all open idolatry, but he did not root its evil leaven out of the hearts of all the people. See the note at 2Ki_23:25.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv29–33 29–33 (cp. 2Ki_23:1-3). The Renewal of the Covenant with…
29–33 (cp. 2Ki_23:1-3). The Renewal of the Covenant with Jehovah
This renewal of the covenant should be compared with Hezekiah’s great service of atonement for the breach of the covenant (2Ch_29:20 ff.). See also Exo_24:3-8.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv29–33 (29-33) The king reads the Book to the assembly,…
(29-33) The king reads the Book to the assembly, and renews the covenant. (Comp. 2Ki_23:1)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv29–33 The wise, religious, and unselfish conduct of the king…
The wise, religious, and unselfish conduct of the king is clearly betokened in the course he took, as narrated here and in the succeeding three verses.
Vers. 29-33.
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Communication and continuance.
Josiah"s wise and devout concern, when he discovered the Word and knew more fully the will of God, was to communicate his own earnestness to others, and to secure for future years this new and good departure. He took the most natural and wise measures to attain his object.
1. He summoned all the elders in particular and all the people who couldmeet together, and made known to them in its fulness the truth that had been revealed to himself (vers. 29, 30).
2. He pledged all those who were with him, and who represented thenation, to continuance in the service of Jehovah (vers. 31, 32).
3. He took away the standing temptation from the path of the people. Hethus made obedience easier while he made the sense of obligation firmer.
I OUR DUTY TO COMMUNICATE DIVINE TRUTH. When we consider:
1. How essential to life and all that life includes is the familiar knowledgeof the will of God.
2. How possible and how practicable it is for all who know the will of Godin Jesus Christ to pass it on to others.
3. How willingly men will listen if we give them the simplest and bestguarantee of our sincerity consistency of conduct and excellency of spirit; we shall see how right and how urgent it is upon us that we should all "hold forth the Word of life," make known the goodness and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
II OUR DUTY TO SECURE IT SO FAR AS LIES IN OUR POWER. The text suggests three ways of doing this.
1. Pledge ourselves to abide in its light. Josiah covenanted for himself to "keep his commandments with all his heart to perform the words written in this book." That was his first, plain duty. And that is ours also; to undertake, solemnly and openly before God and his people, to walk in righteousness and in holy service; to" take the vows of the Lord" upon us. By so doing we give the strongest possible and the greatest practical encouragement to all others to come and "do likewise.
2. Induce others to enter into the same solemn undertaking. As the kingwith his countrymen (ver. 32), so we with our kindred and friends, with our fellow-worshippers and neighbours, should do all in our power to pledge them to the service of God. "Join us," we should say, "in taking a solemn and sacred pledge to live consciously in the presence and continuously in the service of the Divine Saviour." In every considerable company of worshippers there are those who are unpledged, but who, for their own sake and for that of others related to them, ought to be the avowed disciples of Christ. It is our sacred duty, it is our high privilege, it will prove a service rich in the best reward, to speak the encouraging and inviting word which will lead them to take this important step.
1. Remove temptation from the path of those who might not be able toresist it. This is ground on which we must exhibit both understanding and earnestness, both sagacity and self-sacrifice. There are things which may be said. to be "abominations" (ver. 33) because they prove to be irresistible and ruinous temptations to some sincere disciples. In these cases, it is not enough to warn against them we must go further than that; we must do anything and everything that is needful to get the temptation as much out of the path of our neighbours as the images which were ground to dust
2. (ver. 4) were removed from the way of the people of Judah. We may add a fourth measure which may be suggested by the twenty-ninth verse:
3. Prevail upon our friends to come into the near presence and under thepower of the truth of God; and this not (as in the text) on one particular occasion, but frequently and regularly. For much fellowship with Christ and much hearkening to his voice as he speaks to us in the sanctuary will give strength unto the soul. C.
Vers. 29-33.
Judah"s last national covenant.
I THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
1. The time.
(1) In the eighteenth year of Josiah"s reign, or in Josiah"s twenty-sixth year; not so early as the covenant made by Asa in the fifteenth year of his reign, (2Ch_15:10) or as that made by Jehoiada in the first year of Joash"s reign, (2Ch_23:16) or as that projected by Hezekiah also in the first year of his reign. (2Ch_29:10) But better late than never.
(2) After the purgation of the land and the house. It is necessary as well as fitting that works of repentance and reformation should be followed up by resolutions after new obedience, that the casting out of false gods should be supplemented by the bringing in of the true God, that "ceasing to do evil" should be accompanied by "learning to do well". (Isa_1:16, Isa_1:17)
(3) While Josiah was under the devout impressions produced by the reading of the book of the Law. Seasons when the heart is affected by a sense of God"s nearness or a conviction of its own sinfulness should be improved by drawing closer its relations to God. (2Co_7:11)
2. The place.
(1) The city of Jerusalem, which had been swept clean from its idolatries an indispensable preliminary to meeting with God.
(2) The temple on Moriah, where Jehovah had set his Name. They who would have dealings with a God of grace must seek him at the times, in the places, and by the ways he himself has appointed.
II THE PARTIES.
1. The king. As was most appropriate, Josiah led the way. Though sovereigns have no right under the gospel to enforce religion on their subjects, they may nevertheless, by means of personal example, persuade their subjects to embrace religion.
2. The elders. These were the heads of the houses, and therefore the representatives of the inhabitants both of Judah and Jerusalem. Unless the chiefs in a state and the fathers in a family precede, it is not likely the inferiors in the former or the children in the latter will follow after in the paths of piety.
3. The priests and Levites. Instead of "the Levites," 2 Kings (2Ki_23:2) reads "prophets," which has been explained by supposing that the prophets, among whom probably were Jeremiah, Baruch, Zephaniah, and Urijah, belonged to priestly and Levitical families, or that they were Levites whose duty it was to preach and to interpret the Law (2Ch_17:8, 2Ch_17:9; cf. (Deu_17:18 Deu_31:9 Deu_33:10) Those who ascribe it to an error of the pen are uncertain whether that error should be charged against the author of the Kings (Keil) or against the Chronicler (Bertheau).
4. The people. Great and small the people of distinction and the lower classes, perhaps also the grown-up persons and the children were assembled as participants in this high transaction. (cf. Deu_1:17)
III THE PRELIMINARIES.
1. The reading of the book of the covenant. The part read most likely included Exodus 24., the readers being, not the king himself (Adam Clarke), but others, presumably Shaphan, Hilkiah, Jeremiah, etc. The reading was "in their ears," from which may be inferred that it was audible and distinct.
2. The standing of the king in his place. This was the platform beside the brazen altar, upon which the sovereign was accustomed to stand in high religious and national ceremonies. (2Ch_6:13 2Ch_23:13)
IV THE ENGAGEMENTS.
1. To walk after the Lord. The common phrase for observing the worship of Jehovah (2Ch_11:17; 2Ki_17:8 2Ki_21:22; Mic_4:5 Mic_6:16) Distinguish the similar phrases, "to walk before God" (2Ch_6:14; Gen_17:1) and "to walk with God". (Gen_5:24) The ideas in the first are perhaps those of imitation and obedience; in the second, those of sincerity and purity; in the third, those of communion and concord.
2. To keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes. Explanatory of the foregoing; to walk after Jehovah, signifying to keep his commandments, etc. The three terms commandments, testimonies, statutes occasionally occur together or in contiguity, (Psa_19:7, 8 119:21, 22, 23) and though etymologically distinguishable, are practically synonymous. They are employed here perhaps for variety, but chiefly for emphasis. (Ecc_4:12) The obedience required by Jehovah and promised by the people was not formal and superficial, but earnest and sincere all the heart, and with all the soul." God for Christ"s sake may accept less, but for his own sake he never can demand less, while God"s people and Christ"s should strive never to present less.
3. To perform the words of the covenant written in the book of the Law. The ultimate standard of duty for king and people was to be the words of the book, and neither the opinions of others nor the imaginations of themselves. So for Christians the supreme rule of faith and practice is the Holy Scriptures.
V THE RESULTS.
1. The people assented to the covenant. At the king"s command whether with perfect free-will (2Ki_23:3) is not clear they bound themselves to its observance (ver. 32). Without the concurrence of the will there can be no true religious service.
2. The king purged the land of Israel from abominations. He allowed no external observance of idolatry. To cleanse the hearts of his people from idol-worship was beyond his power. Human enactments, by whatever power promulgated, can only effect external reformation; the regeneration of the heart and renewal of the mind are competent to God alone.
3. The nation kept true to the covenant while Josiah lived. The practice of idolatry had been suppressed, but the spirit of idolatry had not been killed. After Josiah"s death it again raised its head, (2Ch_36:5 2Ki_23:32) as it had frequently done before after periods of reformation.
LESSONS.
1. The Word of God the supreme directory to a Christian both for faith andpractice.
2. The prime duty of man to keep God"s commandments and testimonies.
3. The highest evidence of piety in either individual or nation is holiness. W.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv29, 31, 33 all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of…
all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
This is a generalization. AT: "many other people" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)
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from great to small
This merism includes everyone in between. AT: "from the most important to the least important" (See: Merism)
He then read in their hearing
"Then the king read aloud so that they could hear"
that had been found
This can be translated in active form. AT: "that Hilkiah had found" or "that they had found" (See: Active or Passive)
translationWords
messenger
elder
priest
Levi
covenant
house of God
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v29 34:29-32 Renewal of the covenant was the most significant…
34:29-32 Renewal of the covenant was the most significant event in Josiah’s reform.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.