Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 23:24
Moreover the [workers with] familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.
24. Moreover the workers with [R.V. them that had ] familiar spirits, and the wizards ] See note on 2Ki 21:6. Josiah now proceeds to exterminate all the superstitious practices which grow up side by side with idolatry.
and the images ] R.V. the teraphim. These were a sort of household gods, and some charm or virtue seems to have been ascribed to the possession of them. Hence Rachel stole the teraphim (Gen 31:19) when she was leaving her father’s home. Micah made teraphim for his house in Mount Ephraim (Jdg 17:5), and it was the teraphim which Michal, Saul’s daughter, hid in the bed, to make believe that David was sick, and thus give him time to escape.
that he might perform (R.V. confirm) the words of the law ] The change is as in verse 3. What Josiah desired was not only to carry out on this occasion the prescription of the Law, but so to establish the observance that it should continue and not be lightly modified. There is no mention of the passover held in the nineteenth year and in the succeeding years of Josiah’s reign. It would be rash, however, to conclude from such absence of the record, that the same solemnity was not used every succeeding year of the king’s reign, almost as rash as to decide that the passover had been unobserved since the time of Samuel.
The ordinances for putting down them that had familiar spirits and other like superstitions are found in Lev 19:31; Lev 20:6; Lev 20:27.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Perform – Rather, establish. Josiah saw that it was necessary, not only to put down open idolatry, but also to root out the secret practices of a similar character which were sometimes combined with the worship of Yahweh, notwithstanding that the Law forbade them (marginal references), and which probably formed, with many, practically almost the whole of their religion.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. The workers with familiar spirits] See on 2Kg 21:5.
And the images] The teraphim. See Clarke on Ge 31:19.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The wizards; of which see on Lev 19:31; 20:27; Num 22:5; Deu 18:11.
The images, and the idols, and all the abominations; three words noting the same thing, to show that till the instruments and monuments of idolatry were destroyed, as God had commanded.
That were spied, i.e. all that were discovered; not only such as were in the place and state of worship, but such as their priests or zealots had removed, and endeavoured to hide and secure.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Moreover, the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards,…. Who were not to be allowed among the Israelites, De 18:10
and the images; or teraphim: and the idols, and all the abominations; which were worshipped by the Heathens, and introduced among the Jews, and forbidden by the word of God:
that were spied in the land of Judah, and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away; for which, it seems, diligent search was made, and wherever they were discovered were removed:
that he might perform the words of the law, which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord; both with respect to witchcraft and idolatry, see Le 20:27.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Josiah’s Death Commentary on 2Ki 23:24-30 AND 2Ch 35:20-27
While the two passages now under study are parallel they complement each other by relating details differently. The Kings account continues a notice of the reform efforts of Josiah. Everywhere he saw anything that smacked of the pagan or cultic the king had it destroyed in a determined effort to bring his kingdom into compliance with the law of Moses as found in the rediscovered book. Josiah knew that Judah faced divine judgment and ruin, but he also believed that God would relent and not destroy the nation in keeping with his mercy and grace if they would repent. And he was correct in that thinking.
The Kings account goes on to evaluate the noble attempt of Josiah and to show why it failed. It is a great lesson for all believers to follow in this day. Josiah was altogether right in what he attempted to do, for the Scriptures extol him as unsurpassed by any king in the matter of strict adherence to God’s law. He put his whole heart, soul, and strength into his constant effort. He stands alone in all history in his great effort. Not even David, or Hezekiah, surpassed him in this, though it was said of Hezekiah, “He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him” (2Ki 18:5). At first this might seem contradictory to what is said of Josiah, but it is not. The statement of Hezekiah concerns his trust in the Lord and his humility in repentance, like his forefather David. The statement about Josiah pertains to his rigid attempts to keep the law of Moses, to impose it on Judah, so that his people might escape the judgments written in the book of Moses.
It is sad that such devoted effort as that of Josiah should fail. But the seeds were sowed long before, chiefly in the time of Manasseh, and the people were not sincere in their renewal of the covenant at the king’s insistence. The terrible sins of Manasseh had provoked the wrath of God, and they must be judged. When the people did not honestly respond to Josiah’s call to renewal of the covenant there was nothing left but judgment. Even though Manasseh turned late in life to the Lord and was saved he was unable to turn the people from the sins in which he had formerly encouraged them. It is of the wonderful grace of God that such a wicked old reprobate sinner could be saved, but it is tragically deplorable that many wound up in judgment and hell because of his long influence before his conversion (Isa 3:8).
As has been several times noted in this commentary Assyria was in her decline during the reign of Josiah. All the larger subject nations, such as Egypt, Babylon, and Persia were bent on throwing off her yoke and destroying her. It was this which brought the army of Egypt into Palestine. Pharoh-necho was bound for Carchemish, a notable place on the Euphrates River far to the north. It was the eastern capital of the old Hittite empire on one of the finest fords of the upper Euphrates. Pharaoh was to engage in one of the decisive battles of world history there, for it was here that Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Assyrians and turned the power of empire to Babylon instead of Assyria.
Josiah resented this incursion of the Egyptian army into what he considered his domain, although the invaders probably stayed well away from Jerusalem, and the king did not confront them until they were well within the area of the former northern kingdom. Megiddo was one of the fortified cities of Solomon and was so continued by the northern kings. It was located in the tribe of Issachar on a high hill overlooking the valley of Jezreel, the site of the future battle of Armageddon.
The retort of Necho when Josiah confronted him is interesting. He says that his battle is not with Josiah, and he has no desire to combat him. His claim that he comes by command of God raises questions. Would God actually send a message to a heathen king telling him to go and fight another heathen king? One might think that his reference to God is merely to “God” in the sense of divine power, except that verse 22 of Chronicles says Josiah did not hearken to the words of Necho from the mouth of God, leaving little doubt that they were of God.
Though Josiah disguised himself and entered the contest against Necho he was mortally wounded. His dead body was returned to Jerusalem and buried in his own sepulchre. Great lamentation was made for the good king, joined in by the prophet-Jeremiah. The lamentations were written down and preserved in the literature of Judah. A probable reference is that of La 4:20. The people made Josiah’s son Jehoahaz king after him.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
G. AN APPRAISAL OF THE JOSIANIC REFORMATION 23:2427
TRANSLATION
(24) Moreover those with familiar spirits, the wizards, the teraphim, the idols, and all the abominations. which were found in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem Josiah removed in order to fulfill the words of the Law which was written in the book which Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the LORD. (25) Like him there was not before him a king who turned unto the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might according to the Law of Moses; and after him one did not arise like him. (26) Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great anger with which He was angry against Judah because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. (27) And the LORD said, Also Judah I will remove from before My face like I removed Israel, and I will reject this city which I have chosen, viz., Jerusalem, along with the house of which I have said, My name shall be there.
COMMENTS
Occult practices had flourished during the long reign of Manasseh. Josiah was determined to banish these devilish deeds from the land. Those with familiar spirits, i.e., mediums, and wizards who pretended to possess supernatural knowledge, were removed. The teraphim or household gods were destroyed whenever possible. Idols (gillulimshapeless, formless things) probably again refers to objects used in private, perhaps figures used as amulets. Private superstitious practicesabominationswere uncovered and banished. Josiah conscientiously tried to fulfill all of the precepts of the Law of Moses with regard to these matters (2Ki. 23:24). In his exact obedience to the Law, Josiah was without equal among the kings of Judah[656] (2Ki. 23:25).
[656] In 2Ki. 18:5 the writer makes a similar comment about Hezekiah. A close examination, however, indicates that Hezekiah is praised for his trust in God and Josiah for his obedience to the Lord.
In spite of Josiahs valiant efforts to reform the nation, the anger of the Lord was not turned aside from Judah. The king meant well; but it was too late for the nation to repent sincerely and heartily. At best, the reformation only gained a temporary reprieve for Judah. The wicked practices introduced by Manasseh provoked the Lord to wrath, and the corruption of that sin had not been removed from the hearts of the people. God was not about to punish one generation for the sins of another. The sinister shadow of Manasseh still hovered over the hearts of the men of Judah in spite of all that Josiah had attempted to do (2Ki. 23:26).[657] Therefore, God determined to remove Judah from His sight just as He earlier had removed Israel. Jerusalem, the city chosen by God as the residence of His ark and His Temple, would be abandoned (2Ki. 23:27)[658]
[657] See especially Jeremiah 5.
[658] God chose Jerusalem when he led David to bring the ark there. He confirmed the choice of Jerusalem when at the Temple dedication fire came down and consumed the burnt offering and the glory of the Lord filled the house (2Ch. 7:1).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(24) Moreover the workers . . .After abolishing public idolatry, Josiah attacked the various forms of private superstition.
The workers with familiar spirits.The necromancers (bth; 1Sa. 28:3 seq.). (See 2Ki. 21:6.)
Images.See margin; and Gen. 31:19; Jdg. 17:5; 1Sa. 19:13; Zec. 10:2.
The idols.The dunglings. Gresenius prefers to render, idol-blocks; Ewald, doll-images. (See 2Ki. 17:12.)
That were spied (seen).A significant expression. Many idols were, doubtless, concealed by their worshippers.
Put away.Or, put out, did away with (Deu. 13:6; Deu. 17:7); strictly, consumed. (See the law in Lev. 20:27; Deu. 18:9-10.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. Workers with familiar spirits wizards Who seem especially to have multiplied under the reign of Manasseh. 2Ki 21:6.
Images Teraphim. See notes on Jos 24:14, and 1Sa 19:13.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Josiah’s Obedience To The Law Would Prove To Be Insufficient To Prevent The Final Catastrophe For Judah Because Jerusalem’s Sin Had Been Too Great And Was Still Too Deeply Imbedded In The People ( 2Ki 23:24-27 ).
With all his enthusiasm and godliness Josiah could only reform the outward trappings of Yahwism and demonstrate his own zeal and love for YHWH. What he could not do was force the people to follow his example in their hearts. The sins of Manasseh had brought out how willing the people had been to follow him in the path of idolatry. They had demonstrated what the people of Judah had really become in spite of God’s amazing deliverance in the time of Hezekiah.
2Ki 23:24 sums up and puts the cap on the reformation, and includes the new element of the removal of all that was connected with the occult. From now on men would seek to YHWH only. The whole land was being swept clean, and it was in confirmation of the law which was written in the book which Hilkiah, the Priest, had found in the house of YHWH. For of all the kings of Judah there was none, not even Hezekiah, who so fully followed the Law of Moses with all his heart and with all his soul. Hezekiah had been the ultimate when it came to trusting YHWH, but Josiah was the ultimate in obeying Him.
Nevertheless Josiah’s obedience, like Hezekiah’s trust, while it averted YHWH’s wrath for a time, was not sufficient to totally remove that wrath, for Judah’s provocation was too great (and it is significant that just as Hezekiah’s trust had been seen to fail in his dealings with Babylon, so Josiah’s would be seen to fail in a similar way). It would not be until there came a Son of David whose trust and obedience was total that final deliverance for God’s people could come.
Analysis.
a
b And like him was there no king before him, who turned to YHWH with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, nor after him did there arise any like him (2Ki 23:25).
a Notwithstanding, YHWH did not turn not from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him (2Ki 23:26).
Note that in ‘a’ we have a summary of what Josiah had to put away from Judah and Jerusalem, and in the parallel it is YHWH’s anger over these thing that will result in the final destruction of Judah. Central in ‘b’ is the incomparability of Josiah.
2Ki 23:24
‘Moreover those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations who were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of YHWH.’
Josiah’s cleansing of Judah went further than just the sites involving pagan ritual. It also included those who sought to parallel the prophets as obtainers of information from the ‘other world’ by engaging in the occult. Those who ‘had familiar spirits’ were mediums who claimed to consult the dead. The ‘wizards’ too claimed contact with the ‘other world’. The teraphim are associated with divination (compare Jdg 17:5 where they are paralleled with the ephod in Micah’s own personal sect, and see Eze 21:26). The word possibly associates with the Hittite ‘tarpis’, indicating a type of evil or protecting spirit. All had idolatrous associations. So these were removed along with all the other idols and abominations, and it was in order to ‘confirm the words of the Law’ which were written in the Book of the Law which had been discovered.
Here again we have a number of indications that suggest that the Law Book consisted of more than Deuteronomy. We read, for example, of ‘those who have familiar spirits’. But this is a way of putting it which is paralleled only in Lev 19:31; Lev 20:6, (compare also Lev 20:27). Deuteronomy, in its only mention of familiar spirits, speaks of ‘consulters of familiar spirits’ (Deu 18:11). The terminology used here is thus totally unexpected if it was inspired by a section of Deuteronomy, but fully understandable if inspired by Leviticus. The teraphim are only mentioned in the Pentateuch in Gen 31:19; Gen 31:34-35 (and then in Jdg 17:5; Jdg 18:14; Jdg 18:17-18; Jdg 18:20). The idea of the ‘putting away of idols (gilulim)’ is something found only in Lev 26:30 (where the idea is described in an even more forceful way). Deu 29:17 does speak of such ‘idols’ as something seen among the nations among whom they found themselves, but it contains no mention of putting them away. On the other hand ‘abominations’ are only mentioned in Deu 29:17 (although even then they are nowhere specifically said to need putting away). Yet here in Kings all these things are said to be put away ‘to confirm the words of the Law which were written in the book — which was found in the house of YHWH’. This must again be seen as suggesting that the Book of the Law included a considerable portion of the Pentateuch over and above Deuteronomy.
2Ki 23:25
‘And like him was there no king before him, who turned to YHWH with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, nor after him did there arise any like him.’
As a result of his zealous activities to observe the Law in all its fullness Josiah is recommended in terms which deliberately remind us of his making of the covenant in 2Ki 23:3. Here it is stressed that what he covenanted, he also carried into action. (Happy the person who can say the same). Note the addition of ‘with all his might’ which stresses this. He was not just a hearer, but a doer also. Thus while Hezekiah had been incomparable because he trusted in YHWH with all his might, Josiah was incomparable because he obeyed Him with all his might by seeking to fully observe His Law as discovered in the Temple, that is, ‘all the law of Moses’.
2Ki 23:26
‘Notwithstanding, YHWH did not turn not from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him.’
His activity was, however, too late to prevent God’s wrath being visited on Judah. Even his righteousness was not sufficient, and this was because Manasseh’s sin, and Judah’s sin, had been too great and was too firmly imbedded within the psyche of Judah. It was not, of course, that YHWH would not have forgiven them had they truly repented. And had every king who followed Josiah behaved like he did then the outpouring of God’s wrath would certainly have been continually delayed. But the fact was that YHWH knew the truth about men’s hearts, and was already aware of what Josiah’s sons would do, and what Judah would do. He was thus aware that within twenty five short years all would be over. (We must remember, however, that the book does not end with that, but with the raising up of the erring son of David to place of acceptance, something which had within it a germ of hope for the future. But we must also remember that His mercy revealed in that had not prevented the collapse of both Israel and Judah. God is not mocked).
In a sense we could say that Judah, as with Israel before them, had committed ‘the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit’. They had resisted YHWH for so long that resistance had become so ingrained within them that even the revival under Josiah was insufficient to stem the tide. Thus although those who in the future would listen to the pleadings of Jeremiah would find salvation and hope in God, the majority of Judah would await only judgment and darkness (as the Jewish leaders also would in the time of Jesus). The truth is that God is very patient, and allows His light to burn on for so long, but if it is not finally heeded eventually He allows it to die out. (We can compare Rev 2:5. The Ephesian church, along with its fellow churches in Asia Minor, which had enjoyed such great privileges, gradually lost their illumination and sank into formalism and error, and the result was that eventually the Muslim hordes came in and their future became one of darkness. They had grieved God once too often. We see the light similarly growing dim even now in the UK, a light which, unless it is revived, will slowly die out. And make no mistake about it, the USA, which is under grave spiritual attack, will be next).
2Ki 23:27
‘And YHWH said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, “My name shall be there”.’
YHWH’s verdict on Judah was now pronounced. His warning was that He would remove Judah out of His sight in the same way as He had removed Israel out of His sight. And this would even be true of the city and the Temple that, for David’s sake, He had chosen (1Ki 11:13), and of which He had said, ‘My Name will be there’ (compare 1Ki 8:16; 1Ki 8:29). For within a few short years His prophet Ezekiel would visually witness His desertion of Jerusalem (Eze 10:1-22 with Eze 11:22-23), and the Ark which bore His name (2Sa 6:2) would be lost for ever.
As we know, Jerusalem would later be restored for a further probationary period, but old Israel would not have learned its lesson, and when the true Son of David came they would reject Him, bringing on themselves final destruction. But we must remember as we consider this that His final promise had not been the continuation of Jerusalem, but the continuation of the Davidic house out of which would one day arise the One Who would bring about salvation. That is why 2 Kings will end, not with the rising of Jerusalem from the ashes, but with the rise of the son of David from his captivity. And once Jerusalem was again destroyed the Temple would then be replaced by the new Temple, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the true people of God who have become one with Him in His salvation, and Jerusalem would become the one that was above to which His true people would look (Gal 4:25-30; Heb 12:22), the Jerusalem which is the true city of God. The old has passed way, the new has come, and there is no going back.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
When we consider the youth of this good king, it serves to teach young persons of all ranks, how grateful in the Lord’s sight is early piety.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 23:24 Moreover the [workers with] familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.
Ver. 24. Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, ] q.d., Josiah did all that might be done to prevent that utter devastation of his country foretold by the prophets; but the decree was even “ready to bring forth,” and there was no reversing or impeding it. Zep 2:2 See 2Ki 21:10-15 .
And the images.
That were spied in the land of Judah and Jerusalem.
“ Aedibus in propriis quae recta aut prava gerantur. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
familiar spirits. See note on Lev 19:31.
images = teraphim = household gods.
idols = manufactured gods.
put = clear.
Hilkiah the priest found. See 2Ki 22:8, &c.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Moreover: “His eighteenth year ending.”
the workers: 2Ki 21:3, 2Ki 21:6, 1Sa 28:3-7, Isa 8:19, Isa 19:3, Act 16:16-18, Rev 22:15
images: or, teraphim, Gen 31:19, Jdg 17:5, Jdg 18:17, Jdg 18:18, Hos 3:4
that he might: Lev 19:31, Lev 20:27, Deu 18:10-12, Isa 8:20, Rom 3:20, Jam 1:25
the book: 2Ki 22:8-13, 2Ch 34:14-19
Reciprocal: 2Ch 33:6 – dealt Jer 4:1 – put away Eze 21:21 – images
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 23:24. Workers with familiar spirits, and wizards Of which see notes on Deu 18:10-11; Lev 19:31; and Lev 20:27. And the images Hebrew, the teraphim, images which were very ancient among idolaters. And idols Other kinds of images. And all the abominations that were spied All the instruments and monuments of idolatry that were discovered, were destroyed as God had commanded; not only such as were in the place of worship, but such as their priests or zealots had removed, and endeavoured to hide.