Day 215, 3 August 2026



1) 2 Kings 22,23 , 2 Chronicles 34, 35



2 Kings 22:1-2



Josiah, King of Judah



2Ch 34:1-28



1 (Jos 15:39) Josiah was eight years old when he became king,

and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name

was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath.

2 (Dt 5:32; Jos 1:7) He did what was right in the sight of the Lord

and walked in all the ways of David his father.

He did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.



[1] Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty

and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter

of Adaiah of Boscath.

[2] And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in

all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or

to the left.



2 Chronicles 34:1-7



Josiah, King of Judah



2Ki 22:1-7; 23:4-20



1 (Jer 1:2; Zep 1:1) And Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign,

and he was king for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

2 (2Ch 29:2) And he did what was correct in the eyes of the Lord,

and he walked in the ways of David his father

and did not turn either to the right or left.

3 (2Ch 15:2; 33:22) And in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still

a young boy, he began to seek out the God of David his father;

and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem

from high places, Asherah poles, idols, and carved and cast images.

4 (Ex 32:20; Lev 26:30) So they tore down the altars for the Baals,

and he cut down the incense altars that were above them

and smashed the Asherah poles and carved and cast images.

And he crushed them to dust and scattered them before the graves

of those who sacrificed to them.

5 (1Ki 13:2) Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars

and so cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

6 In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali,

in their ruins all around,

7 (2Ch 31:1; Dt 9:21) he broke down the altars, beat Asherah poles

and the images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars

throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.



[1] Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in

Jerusalem one and thirty years.

[2] And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in

the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to

the left.

[3] 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 began to

purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the

carved images, and the molten images.

[4] And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the

images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the

carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of

them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

[5] And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed

Judah and Jerusalem.

[6] And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even

unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.

[7] And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten

the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the

land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.



2 Kings 22:3-20



The Book of the Law Found



3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah the king sent Shaphan

son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the Lord,

saying,

4 (2Ki 12:4) "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, and have him prepare the money

that has been brought to the house of the Lord, which the keepers

of the threshold have gathered from the people.

5 (2Ki 12:11-14; 12:5) Let them deliver it to the hand of the appointed

workers of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workers

who are in the house of the Lord to repair the damages to the house,

6 that is, to the carpenters, the builders, and the masons to buy timber

and cut stone to repair the house.

7 (2Ki 12:15; 1Co 4:2) But there need be no settling of accounts with them

concerning the money that was given to their hand,

because they are behaving honestly."

8 (Dt 31:24-26) Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe,

"I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord."

Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

9 Then Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought the king a report.

He said, "Your servants have emptied the money that was found

in the house and have given it into the hand of the appointed workers

of the house of the Lord."

10 (Jer 36:21) Shaphan the scribe informed the king, saying,

"Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." So Shaphan read it before the king.

11 When the king had heard the words of the Book of the Law,

he tore his clothes.

12 (Jer 26:24; 2Ki 25:22) Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest,

Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe,

and Asaiah, a servant of the king, saying,

13 (Dt 29:23-28; 31:17-18) "Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people,

and for all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found,

for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us,

because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book

by doing according to all that is written concerning us."

14 (2Ch 34:22) So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah

went to Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah, son of Harhas,

keeper of the wardrobe (she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter),

and they spoke with her.

15 She said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel:

Tell the man that sent you to Me,

16 (Jos 23:15; Da 9:11-14) Thus says the Lord: See, I will bring evil

on this place and on its inhabitants-all the words of the book

that the king of Judah has read.

17 Because they have forsaken Me and have made offerings to other gods,

so that they have provoked Me to anger with all the works of their hands,

therefore My wrath will be kindled against this place,

and it will not be quenched.

18 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord,

thus shall you say to him, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel

with regard to the words you have heard:

19 (1Ki 21:29; Ps 51:17) Because your heart was timid,

and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard

what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants,

that they should become a desolation and a curse,

and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me,

I also have heard you, declares the Lord.

20 (Ps 37:37; Isa 57:1-2) Therefore, I will gather you to your fathers,

and you will be gathered to your grave in peace.

Your eyes will not see all the evil which I am about to bring upon this place."

Then they brought the king a report.



[3] And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king

sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the

house of the LORD, saying,

[4] Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is

brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have

gathered of the people:

[5] And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that

have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the

doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches

of the house,

[6] Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn

stone to repair the house.

[7] Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was

delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.

[8] And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found

the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to

Shaphan, and he read it.

[9] And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word

again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the

house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that

have the oversight of the house of the LORD.

[10] And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath

delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

[11] And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of

the law, that he rent his clothes.

[12] And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of

Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah

a servant of the king's, saying,

[13] Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all

Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the

wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not

hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which

is written concerning us.

[14] So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and

Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of

Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in

Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

[15] And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man

that sent you to me,

[16] Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and

upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king

of Judah hath read:

[17] Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods,

that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands;

therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be

quenched.

[18] But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus

shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the

words which thou hast heard;

[19] Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before

the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against

the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse,

and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee,

saith the LORD.

[20] Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt

be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the

evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word

again.



2 Chronicles 34:8-28



8 (2Sa 8:16) In the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged

the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah,

Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz,

the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

9 (2Ch 30:10; 30:18) When they came to Hilkiah the high priest,

they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God,

which the Levites, the keepers of the door, had collected

from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel,

and from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

10 And they gave it to those appointed to do the work

in the house of the Lord. And those who were doing the work on the house

gave it to repair and restore the house.

11 (2Ch 33:4-7) And they gave it to the craftsmen and builders to acquire

quarried stones and timber for joists and beams for the buildings

that the kings of Judah had ruined.

12 (2Ki 12:15; 1Ch 23:5) So the men did the work faithfully.

Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Le­vites,

of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam,

of the sons of the Kohathites, as supervisors.

And other Levites, all skillful with musical instruments,

13 (Ne 4:10; 2Ch 2:18) were over those laborers and supervised

all those doing the work in every type of service,

and other Le­vites were scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.



[8] Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land,

and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor

of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the

house of the LORD his God.

[9] And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money

that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the

doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the

remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to

Jerusalem.

[10] And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of

the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the

house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:

[11] Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone,

and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah

had destroyed.

[12] And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were

Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and

Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of

the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.

[13] Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all

that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there

were scribes, and officers, and porters.



The Book of the Law Found

2Ki 22:8-20; 23:1-3



14 When they brought out the money that had been given to the house

of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord

from Moses.

15 Then Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law

in the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

16 Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported,

"Everything that has been designated to your servants, they are doing.

17 They have given out the money that was in the house of the Lord

and have allocated to those who are supervisors and those

who are doing the work."

18 Then Shaphan the scribe also declared to the king,

"Hilkiah the priest has given me a book."

And Shaphan read from it to the king.

19 (Jos 7:6) And it happened that when the king heard the words

of the Law, he tore his garments.

20 (2Ki 22:12) Then the king ordered Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan,

Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe,

and Asaiah the attendant of the king:

21 "Go and seek the Lord on my behalf and on the behalf of the remnant

in Israel and Judah concerning what is written in the book that was found,

for the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us is great

because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord,

to do everything that is written in this book."

22 (Ex 15:20) So Hilkiah and those with the king went

to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath,

son of Hasrah, who kept the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem

in the Second Quarter, and they spoke to her about this.

23 And she said to them, "So says the Lord God of Israel:

Speak to the man who sent you all to Me,

24 (2Ch 36:14-20) Thus says the Lord: I am bringing disaster

on this place and all who dwell in it, even all the curses

that are written in the book that they read before the king of Judah.

25 (Jer 7:20) Because they have abandoned Me

and offered sacrifices to other gods in order to provoke Me

with everything they have made with their hands,

so My rage will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.

26 And the king of Judah who sent you all to seek out the Lord,

so you will speak to him: So says the Lord God of Israel:

The words that you have heard,

27 (2Ch 32:26) because your heart was tender and you humbled

yourself before God when you heard His words against this place

and those who dwell here, and you have brought yourself low

before Me and torn your clothes and wept before Me,

I have heard you, declares the Lord.

28 (2Ch 35:24) I am bringing you to be with your fathers,

and you will be brought to your grave in peace,

and your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing

on this place and on those who dwell here."

So they returned this word to the king.





[14] And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of

the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by

Moses.

[15] And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the

book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to

Shaphan.

[16] And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word

back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it.

[17] And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house

of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to

the hand of the workmen.

[18] Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath

given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

[19] And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that

he rent his clothes.

[20] And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and

Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the

king's, saying,

[21] Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel

and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is

the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have

not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.

[22] And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the

prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah,

keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and

they spake to her to that effect.

[23] And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the

man that sent you to me,

[24] Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and

upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the

book which they have read before the king of Judah:

[25] Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods,

that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands;

therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be

quenched.

[26] And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, so

shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the

words which thou hast heard;

[27] Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before

God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the

inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy

clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.

[28] Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered

to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will

bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought

the king word again.



2 Kings 23:1-20



2 Kings 23



Josiah Renews the Covenant

2Ch 34:3-33; 35:1-36:1



1 Then the king sent them away and they gathered all the elders

of Judah and Jerusalem to him.

2 (2Ki 22:8; Dt 31:10-13) The king went up to the house of the Lord,

and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him,

the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great.

He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant

that was found in the house of the Lord.

3 (2Ki 11:14; 11:17) The king stood by a pillar and made a covenant

before the Lord to follow the Lord, to keep His commandments,

His testimonies, and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul,

to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book.

All the people agreed with the covenant.

4 (2Ki 21:3; 21:7) The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest,

the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold

to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the implements that were

made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven.

Then he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron

and carried their ashes to Bethel.

5 Then he removed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah

had ordained to burn incense on the high places at the cities of Judah

and around Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun,

to the moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.

6 (2Ch 34:4; 2Ki 23:15) He brought out the Asherah from the house of the Lord

to the outside of Jerusalem, to the Kidron Valley. Then he burned it

at the Kidron Valley, crushed it to dust, and threw its dust upon

the graves of the people.

7 (1Ki 14:24; 15:12) He tore down the houses of the male cult prostitutes

that were in the house of the Lord, where the women were weaving hangings

for the Asherah.

8 (1Ki 15:22; Jos 21:17) He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah

and defiled the high places where the priests had made offerings, from Geba

to Beersheba. He broke down the high places of the gates at the entry

of the gates of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on the left

at the gate of the city.

9 (Eze 44:10-14) However the priests of the high places did not go up

to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem. Instead they ate unleavened bread

among their fellow priests.

10 (Isa 30:33; Lev 18:21; Jer 7:31-32) He defiled Topheth, which is

in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so that no man would make his son

or his daughter pass through the fire to Molek.

11 (Eze 8:16) He removed the horses that the kings of Judah

had given to the sun, at the entry of the house of the Lord,

by the hall of Nathan-Melek the eunuch, which was in the vestibule.

The chariots of the sun he burned with fire.

12 (2Ki 21:5; Jer 19:13) The altars that were on the roof of the upper chamber

of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh

had made in the two courts of the house of the Lord the king tore down

and banished from there and threw their dust into the Kidron Valley.

13 (1Ki 11:5; 11:7) The high places east of Jerusalem, south of the Mount

of Corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth

the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites,

and for Molek the abomination of the Ammonites, the king defiled.

14 (Ex 23:24; Dt 7:5) He broke the standing stones, cut down the Asherah

poles, and filled their sites with human bones.

15 (1Ki 14:16) Moreover, the altar that was at Bethel and the high place

which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made,

both that altar and the high place he tore down. Then he burned the high place

and crushed it to powder, and he burned the Asherah.

16 As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs that were there on the mount.

He took the bones out of the tombs and burned them on the altar and defiled it,

according to the word of the Lord that the man of God proclaimed,

the one who announced these things.

17 (1Ki 13:1; 13:30-31) Then he said, "What is this monument that I see?"

The men of the city said to him, "It is the tomb of the man of God

who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done

against the altar of Bethel."

18 (1Ki 13:31) He said, "Let him rest. No one shall disturb his bones."

So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet

who came out of Samaria.

19 (2Ch 34:6-7) Moreover, all the houses of the high places that were

in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke

the Lord to anger, Josiah removed. He did to them just

as he had done in Bethel.

20 (2Ki 11:18; Ex 22:20) He slaughtered on the altars all the priests

of the high places who were there, and burned human bones on them.

Then he returned to Jerusalem.



[1] And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah

and of Jerusalem.

[2] And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of

Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and

the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their

ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house

of the LORD.

[3] And the king stood by a pillar, 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 their heart and all their soul, to perform the words

of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to

the covenant.

[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.

[5] And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had

ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in

the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal,

to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of

heaven.

[6] And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without

Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and

stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of

the children of the people.

[7] And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of

the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

[8] And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled

the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to

Beer-sheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the

entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a

man's left hand at the gate of the city.

[9] Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of

the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their

brethren.

[10] And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of

Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the

fire to Molech.

[11] And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the

sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of

Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the

chariots of the sun with fire.

[12] And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which

the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the

two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake them

down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.

[13] And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right

hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had

builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the

abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children

of Ammon, did the king defile.

[14] And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled

their places with the bones of men.

[15] Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which

Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar

and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it

small to powder, and burned the grove.

[16] And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there

in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned

them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD

which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

[17] Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city

told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and

proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel.

[18] And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his

bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

[19] And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of

Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger,

Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done

in Bethel.

[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.



2 Chronicles 34:29-33



Josiah Restores True Worship



29 (2Ki 23:1-3) Then the king sent for all the elders of Judah

and Jerusalem.

30 (2Ki 23:2) Then the king went up to the house of the Lord

with men from Judah and those living in Jerusalem,

even the priests and Levites and all the people

from the greatest to the least, and he read within their hearing

all the words of the Book of the Covenant that was found

in the house of the Lord.

31 (2Ch 23:16; 29:10) Then 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 soul, to perform the words

of the covenant written in this book.

32 Then he appointed all who were in Jerusalem and Benjamin

to carry this out, and those living in Jerusalem did according

to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

33 (2Ch 34:3-7) So Josiah took away all the detestable things

from the lands that belonged to the people of Israel

and caused all who were found in Israel to serve their Lord God.

And all his days they did not turn away from the Lord God of their fathers.



[29] Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and

Jerusalem.

[30] 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.

[31] 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.

[32] 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.

[33] 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.



2 Kings 23:21-28



21 (Dt 16:1-8) The king commanded all the people, "Keep the Passover

to the Lord your God as it is written in this Book of the Covenant."

22 For such a Passover had not been kept from the days of the judges

who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel

and the kings of Judah.

23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was kept

to the Lord in Jerusalem.

24 (Lev 19:31; Ge 31:19; 2Ki 21:6) Moreover, Josiah disposed of the mediums,

the soothsayers, the teraphim, the idols, and all the abominations

that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, so that he established

the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah

the priest found in the house of the Lord.

25 (2Ki 18:5) Now there had been no king like him before or after,

who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul,

and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses.

26 (2Ki 21:11-13; 24:4) However, the Lord did not turn from the fierceness

of His great wrath, by which His anger was kindled against Judah,

because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.

27 (2Ki 18:11; 21:13) The Lord said, "I will also remove Judah from before Me,

as I have removed Israel. I will reject this city that I have chosen,

Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there."



Josiah Dies in Battle



28 Now the rest of the deeds of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not

written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?



[21] And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto

the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.

[22] Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges

that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the

kings of Judah;

[23] But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was

holden to the LORD in Jerusalem.

[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.

[25] And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD

with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according

to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

[26] Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great

wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the

provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.

[27] And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have

removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen,

and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.

[28] Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not

written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?



2 Kings 23:29-30



29 (Jer 46:2; Jdg 5:19; 2Ch 35:20-24) In his days Pharaoh Necho,

king of Egypt, went up against the king of Assyria to the River Euphrates.

King Josiah went to meet him, but he killed him at Megiddo

when he had seen him.

30 (2Ki 9:28; 2Ch 36:1-4) His servants carried him dead in a chariot

from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb.

The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah,

anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.



[29] In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of

Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he

slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.

[30] And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and

brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the

people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and

made him king in his father's stead.



2 Chronicles 35:1-19



2 Chronicles 35



Josiah Celebrates the Passover



2Ki 23:21-23



1 (Ex 12:6; Nu 9:3) Josiah kept a Passover for the Lord in Jerusalem;

they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month.

2 (2Ch 31:2) He appointed priests for their duties and encouraged them

in their service to the house of the Lord.

3 (Dt 33:10; 1Ch 23:26) And he said to the Levites who gave insight to

all Israel and were consecrated to the Lord, "Set the holy ark in the house

that Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel, built. You should not carry

it on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and His people Israel.

4 (2Ch 8:14; 1Ch 23:1-26) Prepare yourselves according to your fathers' houses

by your divisions, as instructed in the writing of David, king of Israel,

and the document of Solomon his son.

5 (Ps 134:1) "And stand in the Holy Place according to the divisions

of the fathers' households of your brothers, the laypeople,

and according to the Levites, by division of a father's household.

6 (2Ch 29:5; 29:15) Then slaughter the Passover lamb and consecrate yourselves

and prepare for your brothers to do according to the word of the Lord

by the hand of Moses."

7 (1Ki 8:63; 2Ch 30:24) Josiah contributed to the laypeople, as Passover

offerings for all who were present, lambs and young goats from the flock

to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls;

these were from the king's possession.

8 (2Ch 29:31-33) His officials contributed willingly to the people,

to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel,

the chief officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover

offerings two thousand six hundred lambs and three hundred bulls.

9 Konaniah, his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah,

Jeiel, and Jozabad, officers of the Levites, gave to the Levites

for the Passover offerings five thousand lambs and five hundred bulls.

10 (2Ch 30:16; Ezr 6:18) When the service was prepared, the priests

stood in their places and the Levites in their divisions,

according to the king's command.

11 (2Ch 29:34) And they slaughtered the Passover offerings,

and the priests sprinkled the blood given to them

while the Levites skinned animals.

12 And they set aside the burnt offering to distribute according

to each house of the fathers for the people to bring near to the Lord,

as written in the Book of Moses. And they did the same with the bulls.

13 (Ex 12:8-9; 1Sa 2:13-15) And they cooked the Passover lamb with fire

according to the rule, and they cooked the holy offerings in pots, jars,

bowls, and quickly brought them to all the people.

14 Afterward they prepared the offerings for them and the priests

because the priests, the sons of Aaron, offered the burnt offering

and fat portions until night. So the Levites prepared for themselves

and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.

15 (1Ch 9:17-19; 25:1-7) The singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their places

according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun

the king's seer. The gatekeepers were at each of the gates;

they did not need to leave their service, for their brothers the Levites

made preparations for them.

16 So all the service of the Lord was carried out that day to have

the Passover, and to offer the burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord

according to the command of King Josiah.

17 (Ex 12:15-20) And the sons of Israel who were pres­ent had the Passover

at that time and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

18 (2Ki 23:21-23; 2Ch 30:5) And no Passover had been made like this in Israel

since the days of Samuel the prophet. And none of the kings of Israel

had performed a Passover like Josiah had done. And the priests and Levites

and all Judah and Israel were present along with those living in Jerusalem.

19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was performed.



2 Chronicles 35

[1] Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they

killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

[2] And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the

service of the house of the LORD,

[3] And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto

the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king

of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve

now

the LORD your God, and his people Israel,

[4] And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your

courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to

the writing of Solomon his son.

[5] And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families

of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the

families of the Levites.

[6] So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your

brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of

Moses.

[7] And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for

the

passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty

thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance.

[8] And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to

the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God,

gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six

hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.

[9] Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah

and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for

passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.

[10] So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and

the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.

[11] And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from

their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

[12] And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give

according to

the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it

is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.

[13] And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but

the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and

divided them speedily among all the people.

[14] And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests:

because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt

offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for

themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.

[15] And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the

commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer;

and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their

service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.

[16] So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the

passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD, according

to the commandment of king Josiah.

[17] And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that

time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.

[18] And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of

Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover

as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel

that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

[19] In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.



The Death of Josiah



2Ki 23:28-30



20 (2Ki 23:29-30; Isa 10:9) After all this when Josiah had prepared

the temple, Necho king of Egypt went up to war in Carchemish

on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him.

21 (2Ki 18:25; 2Ch 25:19) And Necho sent messengers to him saying,

"What is there between you and me, king of Judah?

I am not against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war.

And God has commanded that I hurry. Refrain from being against God

who is with me so that He does not destroy you."

22 (Jdg 5:19; 2Ch 18:29) But Josiah did not turn away from him for he went

to battle against him disguised. He did not listen to the words of Necho

that came from the mouth of God,

but he came to battle in the plain of Megiddo.

23 (1Ki 22:34) So the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said

to his servants, "Take me away for I am severely wounded."

24 (Zec 12:11) Then his servants took him from the chariot,

and they set him in a second chariot, and they brought him to Jerusalem.

He died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers.

And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

25 (Jer 22:10; La 4:20) And Jeremiah composed a dirge for Josiah,

and all the male and female singers speak of Josiah in their laments

to this day. They set them as a statute over Israel.

They are written in the Laments.

26 And the remainder of the acts of Josiah, his deeds and covenant

faithfulness, according to what is written in the Law of the Lord,

27 and his acts from beginning to end are written

in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.



[20] After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of

Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out

against him.

[21] But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee,

thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house

wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from

meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.

[22] Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised

himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of

Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

[23] And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants,

Have me away; for I am sore wounded.

[24] His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the

second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died,

and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and

Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

[25] And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the

singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made

them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the

lamentations.

[26] Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that

which was written in the law of the LORD,

[27] And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of

the kings of Israel and Judah.



2 Kings 23:31-37



Jehoahaz, King of Judah

2Ch 36:2-4



31 (2Ki 24:18; 1Ch 3:15) Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king,

and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal

daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

32 (2Ki 21:2-7) He did evil in the sight of the Lord,

according to all that his fathers had done.

33 (1Ki 8:65; 2Ki 25:6) Pharaoh Necho imprisoned him at Riblah

in the land of Hamath, so that he might not reign in Jerusalem,

and imposed tribute on the land of a hundred talents

[About 3 3/4 tons, or 3.4 metric tons.] of silver and a talent

[About 75 pounds, or 34 kilograms.] of gold.

34 (Eze 19:3-4; 2Ki 24:17) Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king

in place of Josiah his father and changed his name to Jehoiakim.

He took Jehoahaz away and went to Egypt, and he died there.

35 (2Ki 23:33) Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh,

but he taxed the land to give the money according to Pharaoh's demand.

According to an assessed amount, he exacted the silver

and gold from the people of the land to give to Pharaoh Necho.



[31] Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he

reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the

daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

[32] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to

all that his fathers had done.

[33] And Pharaoh-nechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath,

that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an

hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

[34] And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of

Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away:

and he came to Egypt, and died there.

[35] And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the

land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted

the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to

his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-nechoh.



Jehoiakim, King of Judah

2Ch 36:5-8



36 (2Ch 36:5) Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king.

He reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebidah

daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

37 He did evil in the sight of the Lord,

according to all that his fathers had done.



[36] Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he

reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the

daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

[37] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to

all that his fathers had done.