2 Chronicles 34
BSA1 Josiah [a son of eight years, whom Jehovah heals] was eight years old [at the start of his reign] when he became king [to reign, to rule as a king], and he reigned [as a ruler, with kingly authority] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah] thirty-one years [thirty and one, a long period of time]. word study 2 And he did what was right [just, upright] in the eyes [the all-seeing gaze] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] and walked [lived, conducted his life] in the ways [paths, manner of life] of his father [ancestor, spiritual leader] David; he did not turn aside [deviate, stray] to the right [the direction of prosperity] or to the left [the direction of adversity]. word study 3 In the eighth [when he was yet young] year of his reign, while he was still [yet] young, Josiah began [started, undertook] to seek [worship, inquire of] the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of his father [ancestor, forefather] David, and in the twelfth year he began [undertook, started] to cleanse [purge, purify] Judah [the tribe of Judah] and Jerusalem [the city of peace] of the high places [elevations, cultic platforms], the Asherah poles [a wooden pole or grove of the goddess Asherah], the carved idols [graven images, false gods], and the cast images [molten images, metal statues]. word study 4 Then in his presence [face to face] the altars [places of sacrifice] of the Baals [false gods, idols] were torn down, and he cut to pieces [hewed down, shattered] the incense altars [pillars of worship] that were above them [on high, elevated]. He shattered [broke in pieces, demolished] the Asherah poles [sacred trees, idols], the carved idols [graven images, false gods], and the cast images [molten images, man-made objects of worship], crushed them to dust [pulverized, made into powder], and scattered them over [strewed upon, threw across] the graves [sepulchres, burial sites] of those who had sacrificed [offered, given] to them. word study 5 Then he burned [set on fire, kindled flames] the bones [substance, essence] of the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] on their altars [places of sacrifice, worship]. So he cleansed [purged, made pure] Judah [the tribe, region] and Jerusalem [city of peace, capital]. word study 6 Josiah did the same [repeated this action] in the cities [towns, settlements] of Manasseh [a tribe of Israel], Ephraim [doubly fruitful], and Simeon [heard by God], as far as [until, reaching] Naphtali [given by God], and in the ruins [destroyed places, desolate areas] around [surrounding, encompassing] them. word study 7 He tore down [completely destroyed, broke down] the altars [places of sacrifice, worship] and Asherah poles [idols, images of the goddess Asherah], crushed [beat, pulverized] the idols [graven images, false gods] to powder [dust, small pieces], and cut to pieces [hewed down, demolished] all the incense altars [sun-images, pillars] throughout [in every part of] the land [earth, territory] of Israel [God’s chosen people]. Then he returned [turned back, came back] to Jerusalem [the city of peace, God’s holy city]. word study 8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse [purge, make pure] the land [the earth, a country] and the temple [the house of worship, a sacred place], Josiah sent Shaphan [a type of rock rabbit] son of Azaliah, Maaseiah [work of Jehovah, a name signifying devotion] the governor [ruler, leader] of the city, and Joah [Jehovah is brother, a name implying unity] son of Joahaz, the recorder [one who remembers, a historian], to repair [strengthen, restore] the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] his God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. word study 9 So they went [came, approached] to Hilkiah [chief spiritual leader] the high priest and gave him the money [silver, wealth] that had been brought into the house [temple, dwelling place] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], which the Levites [descendants of Levi, temple servants] at the doors [gate, entrance] had collected from the people of Manasseh [a tribe of Israel] and Ephraim [a tribe of Israel, doubly fruitful], from all the remnant [what is left, surviving ones] of Israel, Judah [a tribe of Israel, praise], and Benjamin [a tribe of Israel, son of the right hand], and from the people [inhabitants, dwellers] of Jerusalem [the city of peace]. word study 10 They put it into the hands [to give, entrust] of the supervisors [overseers, those appointed to oversee] of those doing the work [labor, employment] of the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah], who in turn gave it to the workmen [those who make or do, laborers] restoring [to repair, mend] and repairing [to strengthen, fix] the house [place of worship, sanctuary] of the LORD. word study 11 They also gave money to the carpenters [skilled craftsmen, artisans] and builders [construction workers, restorers] to buy dressed stone [hewn, cut stones], as well as timbers [trees, wooden planks] for couplings [joists, beams] and beams [rafters, supports] for the buildings [houses, structures] that the kings [rulers, monarchs] of Judah [the tribe of Judah, the region] had allowed to deteriorate [destroyed, ruined, corrupted]. word study 12 And the men [workers, laborers] did the work [task, employment] faithfully [with trustworthiness, in a steadfast manner]. The Levites [descendants of Levi, the priestly tribe] overseeing [supervising, directing] them were Jahath [a Levite leader] and Obadiah [a prophet and leader], descendants [sons, offspring] of Merari [a son of Levi], and Zechariah [one who remembers God] and Meshullam [a common Israelite name], descendants [sons, offspring] of Kohath [a son of Levi and ancestor of a family of Levites]. Other Levites [all skilled musicians], all [every one] skilled [expert, proficient] with musical instruments [articles, utensils of song], word study 13 were over the laborers [bearers of burdens, workers] and supervised [overseeing, directing] all who did the work [service, employment], task by task [in every manner of service]. Some of the Levites [descendants of Levi] were secretaries [scribes, recorders], officers [officials, overseers], and gatekeepers [porters, doorkeepers]. word study 14 While they were bringing out [taking out, removing] the money [silver, payment] that had been taken [brought, carried] into the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], Hilkiah [a high priest and significant Israelite] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] found [discovered, attained] the Book [scroll, written document] of the Law [instruction, Torah] of the LORD [the supreme God] written [given, recorded] by [through the hand of, under the direction of] Moses [the Israelite leader who received the law from God]. word study 15 And Hilkiah [the high priest, a significant Israelite] said to Shaphan [a scribe, secretary] the scribe, “I have found [discovered, attained] the Book [scroll, written document] of the Law [instruction, guidance] in the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, God]!” And he gave [delivered, put] it to Shaphan [the rock badger, a man of exile and return]. word study 16 Then Shaphan [a royal secretary, the king’s scribe] brought the book [scroll, written document] to the king and reported, “Your servants [faithful attendants, those who serve you] are doing [carrying out, performing] all that has been placed [committed, entrusted] in their hands [care, responsibility]. word study 17 They have paid out [gathered together, emptied out] the money [silver, wealth] that was found [discovered, attained] in the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] and have put [delivered, given] it into the hands [power, direction] of the supervisors [overseers, those appointed] and workers [workmen, those doing the work].” word study 18 Moreover, Shaphan [the secretary, recorder] the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah [the high priest, spiritual leader] the priest has given [delivered, entrusted] me a book [scroll, written document].” And Shaphan read [declared, proclaimed] it in the presence [face, before] of the king. word study 19 When the king [the monarch, ruler] heard [listened to, obeyed] the words [commands, teachings] of the Law [instruction, Torah], he tore [rent, ripped apart] his clothes [garments, robe] word study 20 and commanded [gave orders to, instructed] Hilkiah, Ahikam [my brother has risen] son of Shaphan [rock badger, a type of animal], Abdon [servant, minister] son of Micah [who is like God], Shaphan [scribe, secretary] the scribe [one who records, writes], and Asaiah [God has made, helped] the servant [attendant, minister] of the king [ruler, sovereign]: word study 21 “Go [to seek, to inquire] and inquire [seek, ask] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] for me and for those remaining [left over, spared] in Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] and Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] concerning [about, regarding] the words [things, matters] in the book [scroll, written document] that has been found [discovered, uncovered]. For great [intense, immense] is the wrath [rage, intense anger] of the LORD that has been poured out [poured forth, flowed] on us because our fathers [ancestors, forefathers] have not kept [obeyed, protected] the word [thing, matter] of the LORD by doing [making, performing] all that is written [recorded, inscribed] in this book [scroll, written document].” word study 22 So Hilkiah [the high priest, a spiritual leader] and those the king [the monarch, ruler] had designated [appointed, chosen] went and spoke to Huldah [a prophetess, a woman who speaks God’s message] the prophetess, the wife of Shallum [a servant, a keeper] son of Tokhath [a descendant, a family member], the son of Hasrah [an ancestor, a forefather], the keeper [the guardian, the caretaker] of the wardrobe [the robes, the garments]. She lived [dwelt, resided] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital], in the Second [the duplicate, the copy] District [the area, the region]. word study 23 And Huldah said to them, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel’s covenant], the God [Elohim, the supreme Being] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], says: ‘Tell the man [a male person, an individual] who sent [dispatched, commanded] you [as his representatives] word study 24 that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says: I am about to bring [send, inflict] calamity [disaster, evil] on this place [location, region] and on its people [inhabitants, dwellers], according to all the curses [oaths, promises of judgment] written [recorded, inscribed] in the book [scroll, written document] that has been read [spoken, proclaimed] in the presence [face, before] of the king [ruler, monarch] of Judah [the tribe, the region], word study 25 because they have forsaken [abandoned, turned away from] Me and burned incense [worshiped, made offerings] to other [different, foreign] gods, that they might provoke [anger, irritate] Me to anger [intense wrath, rage] with all [every, the entirety of] the works [deeds, actions] of their hands [strength, power]. My wrath [fury, intense anger] will be poured out [released, unleashed] upon this [specific, particular] place [location, region] and will not [never, under no circumstances] be quenched [extinguished, put out].’ word study 26 But as for the king [ruler, monarch] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob], who sent [dispatched, commissioned] you to inquire [seek, ask] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], tell him that this is what the LORD [Yehovah], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants], says: ‘As for the words [things, matters] that you heard [listened to, obeyed], word study 27 because your heart was tender [soft, and penitent] and you humbled [submitted, bowed down] yourself before God [Elohim, the supreme God] when you heard His words [messages, declarations] against this place [location, city] and against its people [inhabitants, dwellers], and because you have humbled [submitted, bent your knee] yourself before Me and you have torn [rent, ripped apart] your clothes [garments, robes] and wept [cried, shed tears] before Me, I have heard [listened, given attention to] you,’ declares the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study 28 ‘Now I will indeed gather [collect, bring together] you to your fathers [ancestors, heritage], and you will be gathered [brought, laid] to your grave [final resting place, tomb] in peace [shalom, completeness, wellness]. Your eyes [sight, perception] will not see [perceive, behold] all the calamity [evil, disaster, distress] that I will bring [cause, inflict] on this place [location, region] and on its inhabitants [residents, dwellers].’” So they brought her answer [response, message] back to the king [ruler, sovereign]. word study 29 Then the king [the monarch, ruler] summoned [sent and gathered, called together] all [every single one] the elders [old, wise, and experienced men] of Judah [the tribe, region] and Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital]. word study 30 And he went up [ascended to a higher place] to the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] with all [every single one] the people of Judah [the tribe of Judah, descendants of Judah] and Jerusalem [the city of peace], as well as the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and the Levites [descendants of Levi, assistants to the priests]—all [every single one] the people small [of little importance, humble] and great [of high importance, noble]—and in their hearing [in their presence, within their earshot] he read [declared aloud, proclaimed] all [every single word] the words of the Book of the Covenant [the agreement between God and His people, the promise of divine relationship] that had been found [discovered, uncovered] in the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 31 So the king [standing in his royal position] stood by the pillar [his place of authority] and made a covenant [a solemn agreement, a promise] before the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] to follow [walk after, obey] the LORD and to keep [obey, guard] His commandments [laws], decrees [ordinances, regulations], and statutes [precepts, rules] with all his heart [his entire being, mind, and will] and all his soul [his innermost self, his emotions], and to carry out [fulfill, perform] the words [the terms, the promises] of this covenant [agreement, pact] that were written [recorded, inscribed] in this book [the scroll, the written record]. word study 32 Then he had everyone [all the inhabitants, every person] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Palestine] and Benjamin [son of the right hand, the youngest son of Jacob] take a stand [to stand in agreement, to affirm] in agreement to it [to the covenant, to the promise]. So all the people [the inhabitants, those who dwell] of Jerusalem carried out [obeyed, fulfilled] the covenant [promise, agreement] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], the God [El, the mighty One] of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers]. word study 33 And Josiah [whom Jehovah heals] removed [took away, demolished] all the abominations [detestable idols, disgusting things] from all the lands [countries, territories] belonging to the Israelites [the children of Israel, Jacob’s descendants], and he required [compelled, made] everyone in Israel [all who were present, found] to serve [to worship, work for] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] their God [Elohim, the supreme God]. Throughout his reign [all his days, during his lifetime] they did not turn aside [depart, stray] from following [serving, obeying] the LORD [the God of their ancestors], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers]. word study