Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 23:20
And he slew all the priests of the high places that [were] there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.
20. and burnt men’s bones upon them ] To the heathen, as well as to the Jew, this would be a pollution that would make the place for ever unfit for worship.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 20. Slew all the priests] The lives of these, as corrupters of the people, were forfeited to the law.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The priests of the high places; either,
1. The priests which Jeroboam had made of the meanest of the people, whom he slew, both for their presumptuous usurpation of that sacred office, which of itself was punishable with death by Gods law, Num 3:10, and for their idolatry. Or rather,
2. The priests of Baalim; by comparing this verse with the former, where speaking of the same high places, he doth not say, which Jeroboam made, as is usual when he speaks of the high places of the calves; but, which the other kings of Israel made, who were divers of them worshippers of Baal; and by considering the parallel place, 2Ch 34:4, where it is said, they brake down the altars of Baalim, &c. By this relation it appears, and from the nature of the thing, and common practice in like cases, it is more than probable, that after the departure of the king of Assyria, divers of the Israelites who had retired to other parts, and kept themselves out of the conquerors hands, returned together with their priests to their own land, and to their old trade of worshipping idols; to whom, peradventure, they ascribed this their deliverance from that judgment which Jehovah had brought upon them.
That were there upon the altars; according to that famous prophecy, 1Ki 13:1,2.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there,…. The idolatrous priests who sacrificed to Baal, and other Heathen deities; for as for others that burnt incense in high places, yet to the true God, those he spared, though they were not suffered to officiate at the altar of God: the others he slew
upon the altars; where they sacrificed:
and burnt men’s bones upon them: the bones of the priests, and worshippers of idols, as he had done at Bethel:
and returned to Jerusalem; after he had gone through the land, both of Judah and Israel, and abolished idolatrous worship everywhere.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) He slew.He slaughtered. A contrast to his mild treatment of the priests of the Judan high places (2Ki. 23:8-9). They were Levites, and these heathenish priests. (Comp. Deu. 17:2-5.) Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of 1Ki. 13:2. (Thenius considers the event historical, because that prophecy is undoubtedly modelled upon it.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. Slew all the priests Literally, sacrificed them; and he did it upon the altars which these very priests had used for idolatrous purposes.
High places that were there High places that were in the several cities of Samaria.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 23:20 And he slew all the priests of the high places that [were] there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.
Ver. 20. And burnt men’s bones.] Hence Papists would prove the lawfulness of unburying dead heretics, as they call us, and burning their bones; as they dealt here by Grosthead, bishop of Lincoln, Paulus Phagius, Bucer’s wife, &c. But Josiah’s act is justified by the prophecy, whereby he was appointed so to do; and the Lord would have it so done, to show the abomination wherein he had idolaters, and for a demonstration of their damnation in hell.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
slew = sacrificed. See App-43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
he slew: or, he sacrificed, 2Ki 10:25, 2Ki 11:18, Exo 22:20, Deu 13:5, 1Ki 13:2, 1Ki 18:40, Isa 34:6, Zec 13:2, Zec 13:3
burned: 2Ch 34:5
Reciprocal: Lev 26:30 – I will destroy 2Ki 9:28 – General 2Ki 10:11 – his priests Jer 7:31 – the high Jer 8:1 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 23:20. He slew all the priests of the high places By this relation it appears, that after the departure of the king of Assyria, divers of the Israelites, who had retired to other parts, and kept themselves out of the conquerors hands, returned together with their priests to their own land, and to their old trade, worshipping idols; to whom, peradventure, they ascribed this their deliverance from that judgment which Jehovah had brought upon them. And burned mens bones upon them According to that famous prophecy, 1Ki 13:1-2.