Verse 1

Josiah. These two chapters are complementary to 2 Kings 22:1, 2 Kings 23:30. See App-56.

Verse 2

declined = turned aside or swerved.

Verse 3

he began. Doubtless Zephaniah and Jeremiah were used in influencing Josiah. Both prophesied during his reign. Zephaniah began in first year of Josiah; Jeremiah in his thirteenth year, i.e. in 510.

groves = "Asherim. See App-42.

carved images. Same as Deuteronomy 7:5.

Verse 4

brake down. Note the Figure of speech Synonymia (App-6), by which the words are heaped together to impress us with the thoroughness of the work: e.g. "brake down", "cut down", "brake in pieces", "made dust of them", "strowed it", and "burnt".

graves. Hebrew. keber = a burial place, from kabar, to bury (Genesis 23:4, Genesis 23:20, &c). Primary idea is heaping up a tumulus. Keber = a grave; Sheol = the grave. See App-35.

Verse 5

burnt the bones. Thus fulfilling 1 Kings 13:2.

Verse 6

with their mattocks: or, in their ruins.

Verse 8

he sent. This is supplementary to 2 Kings 22:3.

to repair. This had been done before by Joash (2 Kings 12:4-15).

Verse 12

all that could skill = all that had understanding, or ability.

Verse 13

Also. Some think this should be omitted with the italics "they were" and "were".

Verse 14

found a book of the law. Without doubt the book which Moses himself wrote, the original copy of the Pentateuch. Compare 2 Kings 22:8, and see App-47.

by = by the hand of.

Verse 16

to = to the hand of.

Verse 17

gathered together. Hebrew poured out, or melted down.

Verse 18

given me = given to me.

Verse 20

Abdon: or Achbor. Compare 2 Kings 22:12. See note on 1 Chronicles 25:11.

Verse 21

the word. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "the words".

Verse 22

had appointed. The Septuagint reads "named"; the Syriac reads "sent".

college: or second quarter [of the city].

Verse 23

saith = hath said.

Verse 24

written in the book. See note on 2 Chronicles 34:14; 2 Chronicles 35:12, and App-47.

Verse 25

works. Some codices, with one early printed edition and Syriac, read "workmanship". Compare 2 Kings 22:17.

My wrath shall be poured out. Hebrew text reads "that My wrath might be poured out". Some codices, with nine early printed editions and Septuagint, read "My wrath hath been poured out".

Verse 27

His words. Some codices, with Septuagint, read "My words".

Verse 28

gather thee to thy fathers. This is explained by the next sentence. See note on 2 Samuel 12:23.

gathered to thy grave. Figure of speech Euphemismos (App-6), for dying.

evil. Hebrew. ra"a". App-44.

Verse 30

the Levites. And prophets (2 Kings 23:2).

Verse 31

stood in his place; or stood on his stand. Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6).

a = the.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

Verse 32

present = found.

Verse 33

took away. Compare 1 Kings 23:4-8.

children = sons.

serve, even to serve. Figure of speech Epizeuxis.

all his days. Significant words, showing that in their hearts the people were still inclined to worship other gods, as Jeremiah testifies (Jeremiah 25:3. See also Jeremiah 11 and Jeremiah 13.