“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.”
Boy; 16 years old. (Du Hamel) — The kings of Juda were in their minority, till they had completed their 13th year. (Grotius) — Cleansed. Hebrew and Septuagint, “in the twelfth year he began to purify,” &c. (Haydock) — The work was not brought to perfection till six years afterwards, ver. 8. (Calmet) (Tirinus)
“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. the images: or, the sun images graves: Heb. face of the graves”
Idols. Hebrew chammanim, (Haydock) “statues of the sun.” The term often denotes those open enclosures, where sacred fire was kept in honour of the sun. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “the heights above them.” Syriac, “he destroyed the altars, idols, tigers, and temples, (5) the bracelets, little bells, and all the trees which had been consecrated to idols.” Arabic, “the altars, idols, and leopards.”
“And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.”
Priests, whom he slew upon the altars, 4 Kings xxiii.
“And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about. mattocks: or, mauls”
He. Hebrew, “with their swords, (Calmet; Protestants, mattocks) round about;” (Haydock) or, “and in their deserts,” the inhabitants being removed. Septuagint, “in their places around.” Syriac and Arabic, “in their public places.” All the interpreters have read differently from what we find in Hebrew at present. Some may wonder that Josias should act thus, out of his own dominions. But the few Israelites who were left, had placed themselves under his protection; and as he made no ravages, and the Cuthites did not adopt the former superstitious practices of the country, they were not concerned to see the altars destroyed; nor were the kings of Assyria informed of, or interested to stop, these proceedings. (Calmet) — Josias followed the directions of the priests and prophets; (Menochius) and many believe that the Assyrian monarch had given these territories to him, to hold, as his vassal; (Tirinus) or God restored them to the lawful king, (ver. 9) having promised all those countries to the family of David, for the express purpose of keeping up his own worship among his chosen people, and for exterminating idolatry. (Haydock)
“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.”
Eselias, or Assia. This man is alone mentioned, 4 Kings xxii. 3. (Calmet)
“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. to floor: or, to rafter”
Houses, or apartments of the temple, which were gone to decay. (Haydock)
“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.”
Of music is expressed in Hebrew and Septuagint. (Haydock) — These Levites were chosen, because they were not so constantly employed in the temple, (Calmet) and they were not hired barely to inspect the works, and hence the expense was diminished.
“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.”
Masters: literally, “master porters.” Protestants, “officers and porters;” all Levites. (Haydock) — Jahath, &c., directed them that carried burdens, (Calmet) as the Hebrew intimates; and in general, all the officers were chosen from the same tribe. (Haydock)
“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 . gathered together: Heb. poured out, or, melted”
Together: literally, “melted down,” as the Hebrew and Septuagint signify. Coin was not yet used. (Calmet) — But the pieces of money, of whatever description, were collected. (Haydock)
“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. Hasrah: or, Harhas, 2.kings.22.14. wardrobe: Heb. garments in the college: or, in the school, or, in the second part”
Hasra. Olda’s husband’s grandfather is styled Araas, 4 Kings xxii. (Haydock) — Second part of the city, near the temple, or near the second gate, or between the two walls. (Du Hamel)
“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.”
Peace. The country enjoyed peace, as Pharao was gone; (Menochius) and Josias did not witness the evils here denounced. (Tirinus) — This was a blessing. (Worthington)
“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. present: Heb. found from: Heb. from after”
In Israel, who had fled into his dominions. See ver. 6. (Calmet) — They. Septuagint, “he,” &c. Josias worshipped God with all his heart: but all Israel paid him, at least, an external adoration. (Haydock)