Ch. 2 Chronicles 34:1-2 (= 2 Kings 22:1-2). Josiah’s good Reign

1. In Jerusalem one and thirty years] R.V. thirty and one years in Jerusalem (as 2 Kin.). Here the Chronicler omits Josiah’s mother’s name; cp. 2 Chronicles 33:1; 2 Chronicles 33:21.

2. in the sight] R.V. in the eyes.

declined neither … nor] R.V. turned not aside … or (as 2 Kin.).

3–7 (cp. 2 Chronicles 34:33; 2 Kings 13:4-20). Josiah destroys the Symbols of Idolatry

3. in the eighth year … and in the twelfth] The two dates given in this verse seem to be “doublettes,” i.e. various readings both of which have been adopted and placed side by side in the text. Moreover it is probable that neither reading is original, for both seem to have been derived by some transcriptional error or other from 2 Kings 22:3, where the account of Josiah’s doings begins with the date, in the eighteenth year.

Thus we get:—

(a)  2 Kings 22:3 (= 2 Chronicles 34:8):

bishĕmôneh esreh “eighteenth” (the original reading).

(b)  2 Chronicles 34:3 a:

bishĕmôneh “eighth” (defective reading; esreh having dropped out).

(c)  2 Chronicles 34:3 b:

bishtçym esreh, “twelfth” (attempted correction, perhaps from memory, of the defective reading).

It should also be noticed that the order of the events of Josiah’s reign given in Chron. varies from that given in 2 Kin. Thus we have in 2 Chr.:

(1) Destruction of idolatrous symbols throughout Jerusalem, Judah and Israel; 2 Chronicles 34:3-7.

(2) Repair of the Temple and Finding of the Law; ib. 2 Chronicles 34:8-28.

(3) Renewal of the Covenant with Jehovah; ib. 2 Chronicles 34:29-32.

(4) Great Passover kept; 2 Chronicles 35:1-19.

(5) Death of Josiah; ib. 2 Chronicles 35:20-27.

In 2 Kin. on the other hand (2), (3) precede (1), and there can be little doubt that this order is right.

while he was yet young] There is no clause corresponding to this in 2 Kin., and the statement rests on the probably faulty reading “eighth.” Yet his early piety is probably a fact, for though in 2 Kin. his reformation is dated in the eighteenth year of his reign, i.e. when he was 25 years of age (hardly “young” for a king), the favourable judgement passed on him (2 Kings 12:2) is unqualified by any suggestion that he was tardy in turning to Jehovah.

in the twelfth year he began] The Chronicler spreads the cleansing of the land over six years, i.e. from the twelfth to the eighteenth; cp. 2 Chronicles 34:8.

to purge] Josiah’s measures are more fully enumerated and described in 2 Kings 23; notice e.g. the removal of the Asherah from the Temple (2 Chronicles 34:6), the destruction of the houses of the Ḳĕdeshim (cp. Deuteronomy 23:17-18) which were in the House of the Lord (2 Chronicles 34:7), the deportation of priests from the cities of Judah into Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 34:8-9), and the defiling of Topheth and of Beth-el (2 Chronicles 34:10; 2 Chronicles 34:15-16).

the groves] R.V. the Asherim; cp. 2 Chronicles 14:3 (note).

carved images] R.V. graven, images; as 2 Chronicles 33:7; 2 Chronicles 33:22.

4. Baalim] R.V. the Baalim; cp. 2 Chronicles 33:3 (note).

the images] R.V. the sun-images (so 2 Chronicles 34:7 for “the idols”). See 2 Kings 23:11.

he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images] R.V. he hewed down; and the Asherim, and the graven images.

5. he burnt the bones of the priests] Specially at Beth-el; 2 Kings 23:15-16.

cleansed] R.V. purged (as in 2 Chronicles 34:3; 2 Chronicles 34:8).

6. Simeon] Here as in 2 Chronicles 15:9 regarded as belonging to the Northern tribes, but their cities were in the south; cp. 1 Chronicles 4:28 ff.

with their mattocks] R.V. in their ruins (with marginal note, “The text is probably corrupt”). LXX. ἐν … τοῖς τόποις αὐτῶν i.e. “in their places.” Pesh. reads, in their broad places, and this is probably correct.

7. And when … all the idols] R.V. And he brake down the altars, and beat the Asherim and the graven images into powder, and hewed down all the sun-images.

he returned] R.V. and returned.

8–28 (= 2 Kings 22:3-20). Repair of the Temple. Discovery of the Book of the Law

8. Shaphan] According to 2 Kin. he was Scribe. See 1 Chronicles 18:16 (note).

the governor of the city] Render, a ruler of the city; cp. 2 Chronicles 29:20.

the recorder] R.V. mg. the chronicler; cp. 1 Chronicles 18:15 (note). Neither Maaseiah nor Joah is mentioned in 2 Kin.

9. And when they came … they delivered] R.V. And they came … and delivered. The matter is somewhat differently stated in 2 Kin. according to which they are sent to Hilkiah with a message to him to “sum” i.e. to reckon the total of the money collected in the Temple.

the Levites that kept the doors] R.V. the Levites, the keepers of the door. In 2 Kings 12:9 the keepers of the doors are called priests; cp. ib. 2 Kings 25:18.

of the hand of Manasseh etc.] In 2 Kin. simply “of the people.”

and they returned to Jerusalem] R.V. and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The A.V. (cp. for the meaning of this rendering, 2 Chronicles 24:5) follows one reading of the Hebrew (the Ḳ’rî), the R.V., in agreement with the LXX., follows the other reading (C’thib).

10. put it in] R.V. delivered it into.

and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD] R.V. and the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD gave it. The “workmen” are distinguished from the “carpenters and builders” (2 Chronicles 34:11); overseers of some kind are meant. To oversee the work and to do the work are used as synonymous phrases in 1 Chronicles 23:4 and ibid. 1 Chronicles 23:24.

to repair and mend] R.V. to amend and repair. “To amend” is to fill up a breach.

11. to the artificers and builders] R.V. to the carpenters and to the builders.

to floor] R.V. to make beams for.

the houses] Cp. 1 Chronicles 28:11.

12. the overseers] There is no parallel in 2 Kin. for the rest of this verse and for 2 Chronicles 34:13.

to set it forward] The same Heb. word is used in 1 Chronicles 23:4.

could skill] “Skill” is used as a verb also in 2 Chronicles 2:7-8. skill of instruments = “play skilfully upon instruments.”

13. were overseers of all that wrought the work] R.V. set forward all that did the work.

in any manner] R.V. in every manner.

scribes] Transcribers of the Law; Ezra 7:6; Ezra 7:11.

officers] Cp. 2 Chronicles 19:11.

porters] Cp. 1 Chronicles 26:1 ff.

14. This verse has no parallel in 2 Kin.

a book of the law] R.V. the book of the law. This book was not the complete Pentateuch in its present shape, for the redaction of the Pentateuch as a whole, is attributed by the ablest critics to a later period than this. Similarly it cannot have been the book of Deuteronomy in the complete form in which we have it, for there are traces in Deuteronomy of the work of an editor who must have lived at a later time than the days of Josiah. This “book of the law” seems to have consisted (roughly reckoned) of Deuteronomy 5-26 with 28.

15. answered and said] For the use of “answer” where no question had been asked cp. 2 Chronicles 29:31, note.

16. and brought the king word back again] R.V. and moreover brought the king word again.

17. have gathered together] R.V. have emptied out.

18. Then Shaphan] R.V. And Shaphan.

hath given] R.V. hath delivered (as in 2 Chronicles 34:15).

read it] R.V. read therein. The Heb. expression is partitive.

19. rent his clothes] A sign of grief. “Clothes” is in the plur. because both inner and outer garments are meant. See Ezra 9:3 (with Ryle’s note).

20. Ahikam the son of Shaphan] Cp. Jeremiah 26:24; Jeremiah 40:5.

Abdon the son of Micah] In 2 Kin. “Achbor the son of Micaiah.”

a servant of the king’s] R.V. the king’s servant.

21. Go] R.V. go ye (as in 2 Kin.).

that is poured out upon us] In 2 Kin. “that is kindled against us,” so LXX. ἐκκέκαυται. Cp. here, 2 Chronicles 34:25 (note).

after all] R.V. according until all (cp. 2 Chronicles 28:3).

22. they that the king had appointed] R.V. they whom the king had commanded. The verb âmar has seemingly fallen out of the Heb. text.

the prophetess] This title is given to Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Jdg 4:4), Anna (Luke 2:36); cp. also Nehemiah 6:14; Revelation 2:20.

Tikvath] R.V. Tokhath. In 2 Kin. “Tikvah.”

Hasrah] In 2 Kin. “Harhas.”

keeper of the wardrobe] Lit. “keeper of the garments.” The Heb. word for garments (bĕgâdim) is applied to a king’s robes (2 Chronicles 18:29), to a high priest’s vestments (Exodus 28:2; Exodus 28:4), and to clothes in general; it is therefore not easy to say what office precisely is here referred to. Some in consideration of 2 Kings 10:22 have thought that the garments here meant were ecclesiastical and not royal.

in the college] R.V. in the second quarter; so Zephaniah 1:10 (R.V.). A second, newer division of the city seems to be meant, but precisely what part is not known. Cp. Nehemiah 11:9 (with Ryle’s note on second over the city).

23. she answered them] R.V. she said unto them.

24. all the curses] Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Deuteronomy 28:15-68.

25. therefore my wrath shall be poured out] R.V. therefore is my wrath poured out (agreeing with 2 Chronicles 34:21). Some of its effects were already manifest.

26. And as for the king] R.V. But unto the king.

the Lord God of Israel concerning the words] R.V. the LORD, the God of Israel: As touching the words.

27. humbledst … and didst rend … and weep] R.V. hast humbled … and hast rent … and wept.

I have men heard thee also] R.V. I also have heard thee.

28. of the same] R.V. thereof. Cp. the similar promise made to Ahab (1 Kings 21:29).

29–33 (cp. 2 Kings 23:1-3). The Renewal of the Covenant with Jehovah

This renewal of the covenant should be compared with Hezekiah’s great service of atonement for the breach of the covenant (2 Chronicles 29:20 ff.). See also Exodus 24:3-8.

30. the Levites] In 2 Kin. “the prophets.”

31. to walk after the Lord] Cp. Deuteronomy 10:12-13.

which are written] R.V. that were written.

32. he caused all that were found … to stand to it] In 2 Kin., “all the people stood to the covenant.”

33. And Josiah took away] Cp. 2 Chronicles 34:3-7.

made all that were found … to serve] i.e. made the remnant of the Northern tribes his subjects.

even to serve] Render, that they might serve.

all his days] The case was altered under his son Jehoiakim.