2 Kings 23:4

_AND THE KING COMMANDED HILKIAH THE HIGH PRIEST, AND THE PRIESTS OF THE SECOND ORDER, AND THE KEEPERS OF THE DOOR, TO BRING FORTH OUT OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD ALL THE VESSELS THAT WERE MADE FOR BAAL, AND FOR THE GROVE, AND FOR ALL THE HOST OF HEAVEN: AND HE BURNED THEM WITHOUT JERUSALEM IN THE FIELDS OF KIDRON, AND CARRIED THE ASHES OF THEM UNTO BETHEL._ The king commanded Hilkiah ... - i:e., the high priest and other priests, because there was no greater variety of official gradations in the temple. ALL THE VESSELS ... - the whole apparatus of idol worship. BURNED THEM WITHOUT JERUSALEM. The law required them to be consigned to the flames (Deuteronomy 7:25). IN THE FIELDS OF KIDRON - most probably that part of the Valley of Kidron where lies Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. It is a level, spacious basin, abounding at pres

4-14 What abundance of wickedness in Judah and Jerusalem! One would not have believed it possible, that in Judah, where God was known, in Israel, where his name was great, in Salem, in Zion, where his dwelling-place was, such abominations should be found. Josiah had reigned eighteen years, and had himself set the people a good example, and kept up religion according to the Divine law; yet, when he came to search for idolatry, the depth and extent were very great. Both common history, and the records of God's word, teach, that all the real godliness or goodness ever found on earth, is derived from the new-creating Spirit of Jesus Christ....

Verse 2 Kings 23:4. _THE PRIESTS OF THE SECOND ORDER_] These were probably such as supplied the place of the high priest when he was prevented: from fulfilling the functions of his office. So the Chaldee understood the place - _the sagan of the high priests_. But the words may refer to those of the _second course_ or _order_ established by David: though it does not appear that those _orders_ were now in use, yet the _distinction_ was continued even to the time of our Lord. We find the _course of Abia_, which was the _eighth_, mentioned Luke 1:5; where see the note. Luke 1:5. _ALL THE VESSELS_] These _had_ been used for idolatrous purposes; the king is now to destroy the

A parenthesis giving the earlier reforms of Josiah. 2 Kings 23:4 THE PRIESTS OF THE SECOND ORDER - This is a new expression; and probably refers to the ordinary priests, called here “priests of the second order,” in contrast with the high priest, whose dignity was reviving (2 Kings 12:2 note). THE VESSELS - This would include the whole apparatus of worship, altars, images, dresses, utensils, etc., for Baal, etc. (2 Kings 21:3 notes). The ashes of the idolatrous objects burned in the first instance in the “fields of Kidron” (i. e., in the part of the valley which lies nort

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 23:1 JOSIAH'S RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT. HIS REFORMS AND DEATH. REIGN OF JEHOAHAZ. ACCESSION OF JEHOIAKIM. 2 KINGS 23:1 _Josiah_'_s renewal of the covenant_._ _The first care of Josiah, on receiving Huldah's message, which stamped the book found as the true "book of the covenant," was to call together a great assembly of the nation, which should be sufficiently representative of it, and renew the covenant between God and his people made originally a

AND THE KING COMMANDED HILKIAH THE HIGH PRIEST, AND THE PRIESTS OF THE SECOND ORDER,.... Or the second course of the priests; the course of Jedaiah, 1 Chronicles 24:7 as some think; or rather, the two chief priests next to the high priest, who were of the line both of Eleazar and Ithamar; though the Targum interprets it of the Sagan of the priests, a deputy of the high priest, such as in later times the high priest had always appointed for him on the day of atonement r: AND THE KEEPERS OF THE DOOR: the porters at the door and gates of the temple; or rather the treasurers, as the Targum; such as were appointed over the vessels of the sanctuary, as the Jewish writers generally interpret it, and which best agrees with what follows: TO BRING FORTH OUT OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD ALL THE VESSELS THAT WERE MADE FOR BAAL: used in burning incense, or of

2. THE RESULTS OF THE REVIVAL AND THE DEATH OF JOSIAH CHAPTER 23:1-30 _ 1. The People hear the law (2 Kings 23:1; 2 Chronicles 34)_ 2. Josiah makes a covenant (2 Kings 23:3) 3. The great reformations (2 Kings 23:4) 4. The Passover celebrated (2 Kings 23:21; 2 Chronicles 35) 5. Further statements concerning Josiah (2 Kings 23:24

2 KINGS 23:3. BY THE PILLAR. COVENANT: for the word pillar see 2 Kings 11:14 and 1 Kings 7:21. In the latter passage it is used for the two great brazen pillars set up by Solomon before the porch of the Temple. In making the covenant the king takes the lead. The ceremony was accompanied by a sacrifice; hence the phrase in Heb. is to _cut_ a covenant (Genesis 15:17 *, Jeremiah 34:18) or divide the victims. The newly discovered volume is called (2 Kings 23:2) the

PRIESTS OF THE SECOND ORDER (or degree), i.e. ordinary priests. THE GROVE. the _'Asherah._ See App-42. HOST OF HEAVEN. Compare 2 Kings 21:3. BURNED THEM. As prescribed in Deuteronomy 7:25. UNTO BETH-EL. To defile the altar there, according to the prophecy in 1 Kings 13:2....

F. THE REFORMATION INTENSIFIED 23:4-23 The author deals with the reformation launched by Josiah geographically rather than chronologically. He discusses (1) the cleansing of the Temple (2 Kings 23:4-7); (2) the reforms in Jerusalem and Judah (2 Kings 23:8-14); (3) the reforms in the territory which had formerly belonged to the kingdom of Israel in the North (2 Kings 23:15-20); and (4) the great passover celebration in which Jews and Israelites jointly shared in Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:21-23). 1. _THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE_ ...