2 Kings 23:18
2 Kings 23:18 in Multiple Translations
“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.
And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.
And he said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.
So he said, Let him be; let not his bones be moved. So they let his bones be with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.
“Let him rest in peace,” said Josiah. “Don't anyone touch his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, together with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.
Then sayde he, Let him alone: let none remooue his bones. So his bones were saued with the bones of the Prophet that came from Samaria.
And he saith, 'Let him alone, let no man touch his bones;' and they let his bones escape, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.
He said, “Let him be! Let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.
And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.
And he said: Let him alone, let no man move his bones. So his bones were left untouched with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.
Josiah replied, “Allow his tomb to remain as it is. Do not remove the prophet’s bones from the tomb.” So the people did not remove those bones, or the bones of the other prophet, the one who had come from Samaria.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Kings 23:18
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2 Kings 23:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Kings 23:18
Study Notes — 2 Kings 23:18
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Kings 23:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 23:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 23:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:18
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 23:18
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:18
- Sermons on 2 Kings 23:18
Context — Josiah Destroys Idolatry
18“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.
19Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria he removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel who had provoked the LORD to anger. 20On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 13:31 | After he had buried him, the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones, |
| 2 | 1 Kings 13:1–22 | Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD. And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’” That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, “The LORD has spoken this sign: ‘Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.’” Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back. And the altar was split apart, and the ashes poured out, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before. Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your possessions, I still would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. For this is what I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’” So the man of God went another way and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel. Now a certain old prophet was living in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the deeds that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words that the man had spoken to the king. “Which way did he go?” their father asked. And his sons showed him the way taken by the man of God, who had come from Judah. So the prophet said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” Then they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it and went after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” “I am,” he replied. So the prophet said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some bread.” But the man replied, “I cannot return with you or eat bread or drink water with you in this place. For I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’” Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” The old prophet was lying to him, but the man of God went back with him, ate bread in his house, and drank water. While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back, and the prophet cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the commandment that the LORD your God gave you, but you went back and ate bread and drank water in the place where He told you not to do so, your body shall never reach the tomb of your fathers.’” |
2 Kings 23:18 Summary
In this verse, Josiah chooses to leave the bones of a prophet undisturbed, showing respect for the man who had spoken the truth of God. This teaches us the importance of respecting and honoring those who have spoken God's truth, even if they faced opposition or hardship (as seen in Hebrews 11:32-38). It also reminds us that God values those who proclaim His word, and that we should strive to show mercy and respect for others, just as Josiah did (see 1 Thessalonians 5:20 and Jeremiah 23:4). By respecting the prophet's bones, Josiah was showing that he valued the truth of God and the people who spoke it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Josiah decide to leave the bones of the prophet undisturbed?
Josiah chose to leave the bones of the prophet undisturbed because he recognized the prophet as a man of God who had spoken the truth, as seen in 2 Kings 23:17, and he wanted to show respect for him, much like the respect shown to the prophets in Hebrews 11:32-38.
What can we learn from Josiah's decision to spare the prophet's bones?
We can learn that respecting and honoring those who have spoken the truth of God is important, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:20, and that God values those who proclaim His word, as seen in Jeremiah 23:4.
How does this verse relate to the rest of 2 Kings 23?
This verse is part of Josiah's larger effort to reform Judah and remove the idols and high places, as seen in 2 Kings 23:15 and 2 Kings 23:19, and it shows that even in the midst of judgment, God's people can show mercy and respect for those who have spoken the truth.
What does this verse teach us about the importance of respecting the remains of the dead?
This verse teaches us that respecting the remains of the dead is important, as seen in the way Josiah chose to leave the prophet's bones undisturbed, and it reminds us of the biblical teaching to respect and care for the bodies of the dead, as seen in Deuteronomy 21:23 and Ezekiel 39:15.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can show respect for those who have spoken the truth of God in my life?
- How can I balance the need to confront sin and error with the need to show mercy and respect for others, as seen in Josiah's actions?
- What can I learn from the prophet's willingness to speak the truth, even if it meant facing opposition and hardship, as seen in 2 Kings 23:17?
- How can I apply the lesson of respecting and honoring those who have spoken the truth of God in my own relationships and interactions with others?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 23:18
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 23:18
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:18
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:18
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:18
Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 23:18
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:18
Sermons on 2 Kings 23:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Don't Miss Your Miracle by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of surrendering one's life to God and being open to His calling. He shares personal anecdotes of individuals who were impacte |
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Tragedy of Deflected Aims by William Fitch | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the tragedy of deflected aims and the importance of staying focused on the will of God. He emphasizes that the Bible is full of human stories |
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The Man of God - 1 Kings 13 by John Hunter | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of men of God who can effectively deliver the word of God to the audience. He compares the young man who appeared before Jero |
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Progress of Redemption #03 by David Shirley | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Solomon in the book of 1 Kings. He highlights how Solomon's disobedience to God's commands led to the decline and division of t |
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The Dynamics and the Downfall of the Man of God by Greg Locke | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being a fearless and dynamic preacher of the word of God. He criticizes preachers who have lost their fearlessness and foc |
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The Prophet From Judea by Carter Conlon | Carter Conlon emphasizes the importance of remaining steadfast in faith and obedience to God's calling, warning against the dangers of compromise and the influence of those who liv |
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One Good Prophet, One Bad Prophet, and One Ugly but Seriously Important Lesson by Brent Barnett | Brent Barnett delves into the intriguing yet crucial story of the unnamed 'man of God' in 1 Kings 13, who boldly confronts King Jeroboam about idol worship, obeys God's commands, b |






