2 Kings 23 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Josiah’s Covenant

1 Then the king ^H4428 sent ^H7971 messengers, and they gathered ^H622 to him all ^H3605 the elders ^H2205 of Judah ^H3063 and Jerusalem ^H3389.

2 And the king ^H4428 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 to the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068 and every ^H3605 man ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 and all ^H3605 the inhabitants ^H3427 of Jerusalem ^H3389 with him, and the priests ^H3548, the prophets ^H5030, and all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, from ^H4480 the small ^H6996 to the great ^H1419; and he read ^H7121 in their [fn]presence ^H241 all ^H3605 the words ^H1697 of the Book ^H5612 of the Covenant ^H1285 which was found ^H4672 in the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068. 3 And the king ^H4428 stood ^H5975 by the pillar ^H5982 and made ^H3772 a covenant ^H1285 before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068, to walk ^H1980 after ^H310 the LORD ^H3068, and to keep ^H8104 His commandments ^H4687, His provisions ^H5715, and His statutes ^H2708 with all ^H3605 his heart ^H3820 and all ^H3605 his soul ^H5315, to carry ^H6965 out ^H6965 the words ^H1697 of this ^H2088 covenant ^H1285 that were written ^H3789 in this ^H2088 book ^H5612. And all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 [fn]entered ^H5975 into the covenant ^H1285.

Reforms under Josiah

4 Then the king ^H4428 commanded ^H6680 Hilkiah ^H2518 the high ^H1419 priest ^H3548, the priests ^H3548 of the second ^H4932 order, and the [fn]doorkeepers ^H8104 H5592 to bring ^H3318 out ^H3318 of the temple ^H1964 of the LORD ^H3068 all ^H3605 the utensils ^H3627 that had been made ^H6213 for Baal ^H1168, for [fn]Asherah ^H842, and for all ^H3605 the heavenly ^H8064 [fn]lights ^H6635; and he burned ^H8313 them outside ^H4480 H2351 Jerusalem ^H3389 in the fields ^H7709 of the Kidron ^H6939 Valley, and carried ^H5375 their ashes ^H6083 to Bethel ^H1008.

5 Then he did ^H7673 away ^H7673 with ^H7673 the idolatrous ^H3649 priests ^H3649 whom ^H834 the kings ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 had appointed ^H5414 to burn ^H6999 incense ^H6999 on the high ^H1116 places ^H1116 in the cities ^H5892 of Judah ^H3063 and in the surrounding ^H4524 area ^H4524 of Jerusalem ^H3389, as well as those who burned ^H6999 incense ^H6999 to Baal ^H1168, to the sun ^H8121, to the moon ^H3394, to the constellations ^H4208, and to all ^H3605 the remaining heavenly ^H8064 [fn]lights ^H6635. 6 He also brought ^H3318 out ^H3318 the Asherah ^H842 from the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068 outside ^H4480 H2351 Jerusalem ^H3389 to the brook ^H5158 Kidron ^H6939, and burned ^H8313 it at the brook ^H5158 Kidron ^H6939, and ground ^H1854 it to dust ^H6083, and threw ^H7993 its dust ^H6083 on the graves ^H6913 of the [fn]common ^H1121 people ^H5971. 7 And he tore ^H5422 down ^H5422 the cubicles ^H1004 of the male cult ^H6945 prostitutes ^H6945 which ^H834 were in the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068, where ^H834 H8033 the women ^H802 were weaving ^H707 [fn]hangings ^H1004 for the Asherah ^H842. 8 Then he brought ^H935 all ^H3605 the priests ^H3548 from the cities ^H5892 of Judah ^H3063, and defiled ^H2930 the high ^H1116 places ^H1116 where ^H834 H8033 the priests ^H3548 had burned ^H6999 incense ^H6999, from Geba ^H1387 to Beersheba ^H884; and he tore ^H5422 down ^H5422 the high ^H1116 places ^H1116 of the gates ^H8179 that were at the entrance ^H6607 of the gate ^H8179 of Joshua ^H3091 the governor ^H8269 of the city ^H5892, which ^H834 were on one’s ^H376 left ^H8040 at the city ^H5892 gate ^H8179. 9 Nevertheless ^H389 the priests ^H3548 of the high ^H1116 places ^H1116 did not go ^H5927 up ^H5927 to the altar ^H4196 of the LORD ^H3068 in Jerusalem ^H3389, but they ate ^H398 unleavened ^H4682 bread ^H4682 among ^H8432 their brothers ^H251. 10 He also defiled ^H2930 [fn]Topheth ^H8612, which ^H834 is in the Valley ^H1516 of the Son ^H1121 of Hinnom ^H2011, so that no ^H1115 one ^H376 would make his son ^H1121 or his daughter ^H1323 pass ^H5674 through the fire ^H784 for Molech ^H4432. 11 And he did ^H7673 away ^H7673 with ^H7673 the horses ^H5483 that the kings ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 had given ^H5414 to the sun ^H8121, at the entrance ^H935 of the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068, by the chamber ^H3957 of Nathan-melech ^H5419 the official ^H5631, which ^H834 was at the [fn]covered ^H6503 courtyard ^H6503; and he burned ^H8313 the chariots ^H4818 of the sun ^H8121 with fire ^H784. 12 The king ^H4428 also tore ^H5422 down ^H5422 the altars ^H4196 that were on the roof ^H1406, the upper ^H5944 chamber ^H5944 of Ahaz ^H271, which ^H834 the kings ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 had made ^H6213, and the altars ^H4196 which ^H834 Manasseh ^H4519 had made ^H6213 in the two ^H8147 courtyards ^H2691 of the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068; and he [fn]smashed ^H7533 them there ^H8033 and threw ^H7993 their dust ^H6083 into the brook ^H5158 Kidron ^H6939. 13 And the king ^H4428 defiled ^H2930 the high ^H1116 places ^H1116 that were opposite ^H5921 H6440 Jerusalem ^H3389, which ^H834 were on the right ^H3225 of the mount ^H2022 of destruction ^H4889 which ^H834 Solomon ^H8010 the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 had built ^H1129 for Ashtoreth ^H6252 the abomination ^H8251 of the Sidonians ^H6722, for Chemosh ^H3645 the abomination ^H8251 of Moab ^H4124, and for Milcom ^H4445 the abomination ^H8441 of the sons ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983. 14 He also smashed ^H7665 to ^H7665 pieces ^H7665 the memorial ^H4676 stones ^H4676 and cut ^H3772 down ^H3772 the [fn]Asherim ^H842, and filled ^H4390 their places ^H4725 with human ^H120 bones ^H6106.

15 Furthermore ^H1571, the altar ^H4196 that was at Bethel ^H1008 and the high ^H1116 place ^H1116 which ^H834 Jeroboam ^H3379 the son ^H1121 of Nebat ^H5028, who ^H834 misled ^H2398 Israel ^H3478 into ^H2398 sin ^H2398, had made ^H6213, even ^H1571 that altar ^H4196 and the high ^H1116 place ^H1116 he tore ^H5422 down ^H5422. Then he burned ^H8313 the high ^H1116 place ^H1116, ground ^H1854 the remains to dust ^H6083, and burned ^H8313 the Asherah ^H842. 16 Now when Josiah ^H2977 turned ^H6437, he saw ^H7200 the graves ^H6913 that were there ^H8033 on the mountain ^H2022, and he sent ^H7971 men and took ^H3947 the bones ^H6106 from the graves ^H6913, and burned ^H8313 them on the altar ^H4196 and defiled ^H2930 it in accordance with the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068 which ^H834 the man ^H376 of God ^H430 proclaimed ^H7121, the one who ^H834 proclaimed ^H7121 these ^H428 things ^H1697. 17 Then he said ^H559, “What ^H4100 is this ^H1975 gravestone ^H6725 there ^H1975 that I see ^H7200?” And the men ^H376 of the city ^H5892 told ^H559 him, “It is the grave ^H6913 of the man ^H376 of God ^H430 who ^H834 came ^H935 from Judah ^H3063 and proclaimed ^H7121 these ^H428 things ^H1697 which ^H834 you have done ^H6213 against ^H5921 the altar ^H4196 of Bethel ^H1008.” 18 And he said ^H559, “Leave ^H5117 him alone ^H5117; no ^H408 one ^H376 is to disturb ^H5128 his bones ^H6106.” So they left ^H4422 his bones ^H6106 undisturbed ^H4422 with the bones ^H6106 of the prophet ^H5030 who ^H834 came ^H935 from Samaria ^H8111. 19 Then Josiah ^H2977 also ^H1571 removed ^H5493 all ^H3605 the houses ^H1004 of the high ^H1116 places ^H1116 which ^H834 were in the cities ^H5892 of Samaria ^H8111, which ^H834 the kings ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 had constructed ^H6213, [fn]provoking ^H3707 the LORD ^H3068 to ^H3707 anger ^H3707; and he did ^H6213 to them [fn]just ^H3605 H4639 as he had done ^H6213 in Bethel ^H1008. 20 And he slaughtered ^H2076 all ^H3605 the priests ^H3548 of the high ^H1116 places ^H1116 who ^H834 were there ^H8033 on the altars ^H4196, and burned ^H8313 human ^H120 bones ^H6106 on them; then he returned ^H7725 to Jerusalem ^H3389.

Passover Reinstituted

21 Then the king ^H4428 commanded ^H6680 all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, saying ^H559, “Celebrate ^H6213 the Passover ^H6453 to the LORD ^H3068 your God ^H430 as it is written ^H3789 in this ^H2088 Book ^H5612 of the Covenant ^H1285.”

22 Truly ^H3588 such ^H2088 a Passover ^H6453 had not been celebrated ^H6213 since ^H4480 the days ^H3117 of the judges ^H8199 who ^H834 judged ^H8199 Israel ^H3478, nor ^H3808 in all ^H3605 the days ^H3117 of the kings ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 and the kings ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063. 23 But in the eighteenth ^H8083 H6240 year ^H8141 of King ^H4428 Josiah ^H2977, this ^H2088 Passover ^H6453 was celebrated ^H6213 to the LORD ^H3068 in Jerusalem ^H3389.

24 Moreover ^H1571, Josiah ^H2977 removed ^H1197 the mediums ^H178, the spiritists ^H3049, the [fn]household ^H8655 idols ^H8655, the idols ^H1544, and all ^H3605 the abominations ^H8251 that were seen ^H7200 in the land ^H776 of Judah ^H3063 and in Jerusalem ^H3389, so ^H4616 that ^H4616 he might [fn]fulfill ^H6965 the words ^H1697 of the Law ^H8451 which were written ^H3789 in the book ^H5612 that Hilkiah ^H2518 the priest ^H3548 found ^H4672 in the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068. 25 Before ^H6440 him there was no ^H3808 king ^H4428 like ^H3644 him who ^H834 turned ^H7725 to the LORD ^H3068 with all ^H3605 his heart ^H3824, all ^H3605 his soul ^H5315, and all ^H3605 his might ^H3966, in conformity to all ^H3605 the Law ^H8451 of Moses ^H4872; nor ^H3808 did any like ^H3644 him arise ^H6965 after ^H310 him.

26 Nevertheless ^H389, the LORD ^H3068 did not turn ^H7725 from the fierceness ^H2740 of His great ^H1419 wrath ^H639 with which ^H834 His anger ^H639 burned ^H2734 against Judah ^H3063, because ^H5921 of all ^H3605 the provocations ^H3708 with which ^H834 Manasseh ^H4519 had provoked ^H3707 Him. 27 And the LORD ^H3068 said ^H559, “I will also ^H1571 remove ^H5493 Judah ^H3063 from My sight ^H6440, just ^H834 as ^H834 I have removed ^H5493 Israel ^H3478. And I will reject ^H3988 this ^H2088 city ^H5892 which ^H834 I have chosen ^H977, Jerusalem ^H3389, and the [fn]temple ^H1004 of which ^H834 I said ^H559, ‘My name ^H8034 shall be there ^H8033!’”

Jehoahaz Succeeds Josiah

28 Now the rest ^H3499 of the acts ^H1697 of Josiah ^H2977 and all ^H3605 that he did ^H6213, are they not written ^H3789 in the Book ^H5612 of the Chronicles ^H1697 H3117 of the Kings ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063?

29 In his days ^H3117 Pharaoh ^H6549 Neco ^H6549 king ^H4428 of Egypt ^H4714 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 to the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 at the river ^H5104 Euphrates ^H6578. And King ^H4428 Josiah ^H2977 went ^H1980 to meet ^H7122 him, and when Pharaoh Neco saw ^H7200 him he killed ^H4191 him at Megiddo ^H4023. 30 His servants ^H5650 carried ^H7392 [fn]his body ^H4191 in ^H7392 a ^H7392 chariot ^H7392 from Megiddo ^H4023, and brought ^H935 him to Jerusalem ^H3389 and buried ^H6912 him in his own tomb ^H6900. Then the people ^H5971 of the land ^H776 took ^H3947 Jehoahaz ^H3059 the son ^H1121 of Josiah ^H2977 and anointed ^H4886 him and made ^H4427 him king ^H4427 in ^H8478 place ^H8478 of ^H8478 his father ^H1.

31 Jehoahaz ^H3059 was twenty-three ^H6242 H7969 years ^H8141 old ^H1121 when he became ^H4427 king ^H4427, and he reigned ^H4427 for three ^H7969 months ^H2320 in Jerusalem ^H3389; and his mother’s ^H517 name ^H8034 was Hamutal ^H2537 the daughter ^H1323 of Jeremiah ^H3414 of Libnah ^H3841. 32 He did ^H6213 evil ^H7451 in the sight ^H5869 of the LORD ^H3068, in accordance with all ^H3605 that his forefathers ^H1 had done ^H6213. 33 And Pharaoh ^H6549 Neco ^H6549 imprisoned ^H631 him at Riblah ^H7247 in the land ^H776 of Hamath ^H2574, so that he would not reign ^H4427 in Jerusalem ^H3389; and he imposed ^H5414 on the land ^H776 a fine ^H6066 of [fn]a hundred ^H3967 talents ^H3603 of silver ^H3701 and [fn]a talent ^H3603 of gold ^H2091.

Jehoiakim Made King by Pharaoh

34 Then Pharaoh ^H6549 Neco ^H6549 made ^H4427 Eliakim ^H471 the son ^H1121 of Josiah ^H2977 king ^H4427 in ^H8478 the place ^H8478 of ^H8478 his father ^H1 Josiah ^H2977, and he changed ^H5437 his name ^H8034 to Jehoiakim ^H3079. But he took ^H3947 Jehoahaz ^H3059 and [fn]brought ^H935 him to Egypt ^H4714, and he died ^H4191 there ^H8033. 35 So Jehoiakim ^H3079 gave ^H5414 the silver ^H3701 and gold ^H2091 to Pharaoh ^H6547, but he assessed ^H6186 the land ^H776 in order to give ^H5414 the money ^H3701 at the [fn]command ^H6310 of Pharaoh ^H6547. He collected ^H5065 the silver ^H3701 and gold ^H2091 from the people ^H5971 of the land ^H776, each ^H376 according to his assessment ^H6187, to give ^H5414 to Pharaoh ^H6549 Neco ^H6549.

36 Jehoiakim ^H3079 was twenty-five ^H6242 H2568 years ^H8141 old ^H1121 when he became ^H4427 king ^H4427, and he reigned ^H4427 for eleven ^H259 H6240 years ^H8141 in Jerusalem ^H3389; and his mother’s ^H517 name ^H8034 was Zebidah ^H2080 the daughter ^H1323 of Pedaiah ^H6305 of Rumah ^H7316. 37 He did ^H6213 evil ^H7451 in the sight ^H5869 of the LORD ^H3068, in accordance with all ^H3605 that his forefathers ^H1 had done ^H6213.