Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
Vers. 1. THe king sent] 2 Chron. 34. 30.
the elders] See the Notes on 1 King. 8. 1.
V. 2. prophets] Such extraordinary prophets as were then living, as Jeremiah (Jer. 1. 2.) Zephaniah (Zeph. 1. 1.) Urijah (Jer. 26. 20.) and all their disciples, yea, all that went under the name of prophets. See the Notes on 1 King. 18. 4.
both small and great] Heb. from small even unto great.
read] Caused to be read.
the book] Mentioned, Chap. 22. 8.
V. 3. a pillar] See Chap. 11. 14.
stood to] Gave their consent to it, and bound themselves to perform it. See 2 Chron. 34. 32.
V. 4. of the second order] Next to the high priest.
keepers] See Chap. 22. v. 4.
all the vessels] All manner of instruments and utensils, as altars, and whatsoever belonged to them, images and their appurtenances; for such things had Manasseh (Chap. 21. 4, 7.) and other idolatrous kings, brought into the house of the LORD; which, though in the former yeers of Josiah's time, they had not been used, yet they were in the temple.
of Kid…on] See the Notes on 1 King. 2. 37.
Beth-el] The city wherein Jeroboam set one of his golden calves (1 King. 12. 29.) It was, for the iniquity of it, called also Beth-aven, Hos. 10. 5. To stain that conceit which many had of the holinesse of this idolatrous city, here he layes the ashes of those idolatrous things which he had burnt.
V. 5. put down] Heb. caused to cease.
idolatrous priests] Heb. chemarim. They are called in Hebrew chemarim, from their black clothes which they used to wear, or from burning their sacrifices. As many papists do yet still entertain masse-priests in England, so did many Israelites entertain these chemarims in Josiah's time, Jer. 3. 6, &c. Zeph. 1. 1, &c.
planets] Or, twelve signes, or, constellations; Commonly called, The seven wandring stars; whereof the sun and the moon are two. The Hebrew word importeth such things as send down an influence. Every of the seven planets were accounted prime gods or goddesses by the heathen, as Saturn, Jupiter, Mats, Phoelus, Mercury, Venus, Phoebe.
all the host] See the Notes on 1 King. 17. 16.
V. 6. grove fromt he house of the Lord] Chap. 21. 7.
brook Kidron] See the Notes on 1 King. 2. 37.
upon the graves] In detestation of such as had been idolaters, and for a fore-warning to such as then or afterwards might be so.
children of the people] The common sort who had offered sacrifices to idolls (2 Chron. 34. 4.) and were most sottish therein.
V. 7. he brake] See the like zeal, Chap. 18. 4.
sodomites] See the Notes on 1 King. 14. 24.
hangings] Heb. houses. Or, curtains, whereby they might keep themselves from the sight of others.
V. 8. priests] Of the seed of Aaron, but idolatrous, v. 9.
out of the cities] Where they had exercised their idolatry.
defiled] Put them to such base uses, and cast such filthy things into them, as idolaters thought them to be defiled.
from Geba to Beer-sheba] From the north to the south-coast. Of these two cities, see the Notes on 1 King. 15. 22. and 19. 3.
high places of the gates] Which were publikely erected at the gates of cities.
of Joshua] A man of great place in those days, who had caused high places to be by his own house: so as Josiah in his reformation spared none, no not the greatest.
V. 9. priests of the high places] Which were brought from the idolatrous places and services, v. 8.
came not at the altar] Were not admitted to perform the priests functions.
did eat] Were maintained by the provisions belonging to the priests. See Levit. 21. 21, 22. Ezek. 44. 10, &c.
V. 10. defiled] As v. 8.
Topheth] See the Notes on Chap. 16. v. 3.
valley] ibid.
Melech] See the Notes on 1 King. 11. 5.
V. 11. the horses] Live horses and light-horses that were from time to time nourished and kept to ride with speed, and carry men where they might see the first rising of the sun, to worship it, after the manner of the Persians. This phrase, he took away, (not burnt) implieth that they were live horses. Or they may be taken for images of horses.
chamberlain] Or, eunuch, or officer. See the Notes on 1 Kin. 22. 9.
chariots] To be drawn by the said horses, and dedicated to the sun: or images of horses.
V. 12. on the top] Fair great houses were leaded on flat roofs (Deut. 22. 8. Mar. 2. 4.) on these they used to erect altars, especially to the host of heaven, Jer. 19. 13. Zeph. 1. 5.
Manasseh had made] Chap. 21. 5.
brake them down from thence] Heb. ran from thence.
V. 13. the mount of corruption] That is, the mount of Olives; for there the Jews by their idolatry corrupted themselves.
Solomon the king of Israel] 1 King. 11. 7.
Ashtoreth, &c.] Of all these idolls, see the Notes on 1 Kin. 11. 5, 7.
V. 14. images] Heb. statues.
with bones, &c.] This was one way whereby he defiled places (as v. 8, 10.) to keep men from using them any more so superstitiously as they had done formerly. Those bones he took out of the graves of idolaters, v. 16.
V. 15. the altar] 1 King. 12. 33. and 13. 1.
high place] An house of high places, 1 King. 12. 31.
made Israel, &c.] See Chap. 12. 30.
grove] Where his house of high places was. See the Notes on 1 King. 3. 4. and 16. 33. That Jeroboam had had groves, is evident, 1 King. 14. 15.
V. 16. upon the altar] At Beth-el (v. 15.) before he had destroyed it.
word of the Lord] 1 King. 13. 2.
V. 17. What title] Inscription upon a grave-stone. See the Notes on 1 King. 13. 31.
of the city] Beth-el.
the sepulchre] See 1 King. 13. 30, 31.
V. 18. alone] Heb. to escape.
out of Samaria] The whole countrey and kingdom of Israel was oft called Samaria (see the Notes on v. 19. and on 1 Kings 16. 24.) In this extent is the word here used.
V. 19. cities of Samaria] Of that countrey, in sundry tribes, expresly mentioned, 2 Chron. 34. 6. It is probable that all these cities were under the jurisdiction of the king of Judah at that time, and that many in those tribes yeelded themselves to the king of Judah, 2 Chron. 30.
V. 20. slew] Or, sacrificed.
all the priests] Such as are described, 1 King. 13. 33.
upon the altars] To defile the altars the more thereby, and to testifie the greater indignation of that idolatry.
V. 21. Keep the passeover] 2 Chron. 35. 1.
as it is written] Exod. 12. 3. Deut. 16. 2.
book of the covenant] Wherein the covenant betwixt God and his people was contained. See Exod. 24. 7.
V. 22. such a passeover] With such preparation, humiliation, detestation of idolatry, devotion and solemn renovation of the covenant.
from the days of the judges] Even of the last of them, 2 Chron. 35. 18. from the time that Israel was an established kingdom.
V. 23. eighteenth] Of his reign; but six and twentieth of his age.
V. 24. familiar spirits and wizards] See the Notes on Chap. 21. 6.
images] Or, Teraphim. Teraphims were fashioned in the shapes of men: such an one Michal put into Davids bed, 1 Sam. 19. 13. The heathen consulted with such, Ezek. 21. 21. and answers have been returned by them (Zac. 10. 2.) either by the devil, or by the forgery of their priests. Teraphim (translated idolatry, 1 Sam. 15. 23.) is reckoned, among things most detestable to God.
idols] See the Notes on 1 King. 17. 12.
the law] Levit. 20. 27. Deut. 18. 11.
Hilkiah] Chap. 22. v. 8.
V. 25. like unto him] In holy zeal. See the Notes on chap. 18. 5.
V. 26. Notwithstanding] Gods wrath may be so far provoked, as God unalterably setled to take vengeance, Chap. 24. v. 4. 1 Sam. 3. 14. but though Josiah were truely pious, and rightly zealous, yet the people still doted after Manasseh's idolatry, Jer. 3. 6, 10. justly therefore are Manasseh's provocations remembred in this time of reformation.
provocations] Heb. angers.
V. 27. as I have, &c.] See Chap. 17. 18, 19, &c.
Jerusalem] See Chap. 21. 12.
My Name, &c.] 1 King. 8. 29. and 9. 3. Chap. 21. 7. See 1 King. 8. 16.
V. 29. In his days] 2 Chron. 35. 20.
Pharaoh] This was a common name to kings of Egypt, as Abimelech to kings of Philistims, and Caesar to Roman Emperours.
Nechoh] This is added, to distinguish him from others, as Hophra, Jer. 44. 30.
went against him] To hinder him from passing thorow this countrey, and to do a courtesie to the King of Assyria.
slew him] See the Notes on v. 30.
Megiddo] See the Notes on 1 King. 9. 15.
seen him] See the Notes on Chap. 14. v. 8.
V. 30. his servants] Josiah's souldiers and subjects.
dead] Deadly wounded; for he died at Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 35. 24.
the people] 2 Chron. 36. 1. All of all sorts, with an unanimous consent. See the Notes on v. 36.
Jehoahaz] Called Johonan (1 Chron. 3. 15.) and Shallum, Jer. 22. 11.
anointed] To settle him the more surely against Pharaoh-nechoh. See the Notes on v. 36.
V. 31. his mothers] See the Notes on 1 King. 15. 10.
of Libnah] See the Notes on Chap. 8. 22. This distinguisheth him from the prophet Jeremiah, who was of Anathoth, Jer. 1. 1.
V. 32. fathers] predecessours, Amon, Manasseh, Ahaz, and such like.
V. 33. at Riblah in Hamath] Both these were in the circuit of the land of Canaan given to Israel, Num. 34. 8, 11.
that he might not reign] Or, because he reigned.
put the land to a tribute] Heb. set a mulct upon the land.
an hundred talents of silver] Thirty seven thousand and five hundred pounds sterling, after the sacred account. See the notes on 1 King. 9. 14.
a talent of gold] Three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds, after the sacred account.
V. 34. in the room of Josiah] Because Jehoahaz, in regard of his short and troublesome time, was reputed as no king,
turned his name] As an evidence of his power over him, Pharaoh accounting Jehoiakim as his substitute or vassal. See Chap. 24. 15. Dan. 1. 7.
Jehoiakim] Matth. 1. 11, called Jakim. This and Eliakim have both the same notation and signification; for the first fyllable in each of them is a name of God; and both signifie Gods rising.
he came] Jehoahaz, being carried to Egypt by Pharaoh.
died there] As was fore-told, Jer. 22. 11, 12.
V. 35. gave the silver and gold] Which Pharaoh had charged upon the land, v. 33.
taxed the land] Laid a rate upon the severall inhabitants of the land.
commandment] Heb. mouth.
his taxation] The rate or sum which the king laid on every one.
V. 36. twenty and five yeers old] Or Jehoiakim was elder then Jehoahaz, v. 31. or this time of his age must be reckoned from the death of Jehoahaz, v. 34. For while Jehoahaz lived, he might be accounted a chief governour in his brothers absence, but not a plenary and absolute king. They who hold Jehoiakim to be the elder brother, say that Jehoahaz was a more stern and stout man, better able, and more forward to stand against Pharaoh then Jehoiakim: they say that he was the first lion mentioned, Ezek. 19. 3. and that the people (v. 30.) through a strong faction, chose him, and anointed him, to establish him the more firmly, as 1 King. 1. 39.
eleven yeers] From the time that Pharaoh first set him on the throne.
his mothers] See the Notes on 1 King. 15. 10.
V. 37. his fathers] See the Notes on v. 32.
fathers] See v. 32.