Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Kings
Book: 2 Kings
Chapter: 23
Overview:
Josiah reads the
Law, and renews the
Covenant.
(1-3) He
destroys
Idolatry.
(4-14) The reformation extended to
Israel, A
Passover kept.
(15-24) Josiah slain
By Pharaoh-nechoh.
(25-30)
Wicked reigns of
Jehoahaz and
Jehoiakim.
(31-37)
1-3 Josiah had received a message from
God, that there was
No
preventing the ruin of
Jerusalem, but that he should only
deliver his own soul; yet he does his duty, and leaves the event
to
God. He engaged the people in the most solemn manner to
abolish
Idolatry, and to serve
God in
Righteousness and true
Holiness. Though most were formal or hypocritical herein, yet
much outward wickedness would be prevented, and they were
accountable to
God for their own conduct.
4-14 What abundance of wickedness in
Judah and
Jerusalem! One
would not have believed it possible, that in
Judah, where
God
was known, in
Israel, where his name was great, in
Salem, in
Zion, where his dwelling-place was, such abominations should be
found.
Josiah had reigned eighteen years, and had himself set
the people a good
Example, and kept up religion according to the
Divine
Law; yet, when he came to search for
Idolatry, the depth
and extent were very great. Both common history, and the records
of
God's
Word, teach, that all the real
Godliness or
Goodness
ever found
On Earth, is derived from the new-creating
Spirit of
Jesus Christ.
15-24 Josiah's zeal extended to the cities of
Israel within his
reach. He carefully preserved the
Sepulchre of that
Man of
God,
who came from
Judah to foretell the throwing down of
Jeroboam's
Altar. When they had cleared the country of the old
Leaven of
Idolatry, then they applied themselves to the keeping of the
Feast. There was not holden such a
Passover in any of the
foregoing reigns. The revival of a long-neglected ordinance,
filled them with holy joy; and
God recompensed their zeal in
destroying
Idolatry with uncommon tokens of his presence and
favour. We have reason to think that during the remainder of
Josiah's reign, religion flourished.
25-30 Upon reading these verses, we must say,
Lord, though thy
Righteousness be as the great mountains, evident, plainly to be
seen, and past dispute; yet thy judgments are a great
Deep,
unfathomable, and past finding out. The reforming
King is cut
off in the midst of his usefulness, in
Mercy to him, that he
might not see the evil coming upon his kingdom: but in wrath to
his people, for his
Death was an inlet to their desolations.
31-37 After
Josiah was laid in his
Grave, one trouble came
On
another, till, in twenty-two years,
Jerusalem was destroyed. The
wicked perished in great
Numbers, the remnant were purified, and
Josiah's reformation had raised up some to join the few who were
the precious seed of their future
Church and nation. A little
time, and slender abilities, often suffice to undo the good
which pious men have, for a course of years, been labouring to
effect. But, blessed be
God, the good work which he begins
By
his regenerating
Spirit, cannot be done away, but withstands all
changes and temptations.