Chapter 34

1 Josiah’s good reign. 3 He destroyeth idolatry. 8 He taketh order for the repair of the temple. 14 Hilkiah having found a book of the law, Josiah sendeth to Huldah to enquire of the Lord. 23 Huldah prophesieth the destruction of Jerusalem, but respite thereof in Josiah’s time. 29 Josiah, causing it to be read in a solemn assembly, reneweth the covenant with God.

1. Josiah. Chapters 34 and 35 describe the reign of Josiah. For the most part the same order is preserved as in 2 Kings 22 and 23. The writer of Kings enlarges upon the moral and religious reformation following the finding of the book of the law (2 Kings 23:4–20, 24–27), and mentions briefly the repair of the Temple (ch. 22:3–7), the celebration of the Passover (ch. 23:21–23), and the battle with Necho (ch. 23:29, 30). 2 Chronicles, however, mentions briefly this reformation of the 18th year (ch. 34:33), but tells of the earlier campaign against idolatry in the 12th year (ch. 34:3–7), gives a few additional details concerning the repair of the Temple and the war with Necho, but dwells at length on the celebration of the Passover (ch. 35:1–19). Both writers give almost identical accounts of the finding of the law and the renewal of the covenant (2 Chron. 34:14–32; 2 Kings 22:8 to 23:3). 2 Kings 22:1 adds the name of Josiah’s mother, Jedidah.

2. Neither to the right hand. See also 2 Kings 22:2. This is the only ruler concerning whom this statement is made. Thus Josiah fulfilled the specifications laid down by Moses for Israel’s future king (Deut. 17:20; cf. Deut. 5:32; 28:14).

3. The eighth year. Josiah was only 16 years of age (see v. 1) when he began to consider seriously his responsibility.

The twelfth year. The record does not place the entire reformation in the 12th year, but only its beginning. The first campaign resulted in the destruction of idolatrous objects throughout the country, but the reform was not complete. The 18th year found idolatry still firmly entrenched in the popular mind (see PK 392, 397, 398, 400, 401).

High places. See on ch. 33:17.

4. Brake down. The narrative of Josiah’s measures against idolatry in the 12th year is similar to the account of 2 Kings 23, which, however, places the events in the 18th year. Perhaps the Kings account covers the whole period of reform since its beginning in the 12th year.

Made dust of them. As was also done to the golden calf set up by Aaron in the wilderness (Ex. 32:20).

5. Of the priests. Not necessarily of all the idolatrous priests; for many seem to have been left till Josiah’s 18th year, when the king moved the priests of Judah to Jerusalem and slew the priests of Israel (2 Kings 23:5, 8, 9, 19, 20). The latter were not Levites (2 Chron. 11:14, 15).

6. Cities of Manasseh. Josiah was at this time exercising a measure of control in the former territory of the northern kingdom, where Assyrian power had begun to weaken. Before Josiah’s 18th year Assyria was in the last stages of decline, and Babylon had become an independent state. Josiah destroyed the altar that had been set up at Bethel and the high places in Samaria (2 Kings 23:15, 19).

With their mattocks. Probably literally, “in their ruins.” The meaning of the Hebrew is not clear. The LXX reads “in their places.” The whole verse should perhaps be connected with the following verse, thus: “even unto Naphtali, with their ruins [regions] round about, he broke down the altars and the Asherim.” Much of the northern nation must at this time have been in a state of ruin, having fallen to Assyria in the early part of Hezekiah’s reign (2 Kings 18:9–11).

8. The eighteenth year. This year, reckoned back from the fourth year of Jehoiakim as the first of Nebuchadnezzar and from Josiah’s death in his 31st year, in 609 b.c. (date based on the new Babylonian chronicle; see Vol. II, p. 95), was 623/22.

Purged the land. After cleansing the Temple Josiah was ready to begin his work of repair.

Sent Shaphan. Shaphan was the scribe (2 Kings 22:3, 10), one of the chief officers of the king. The other officers here listed are not mentioned in the parallel account in Kings.

9. Of the hand. Levites had collected funds for the repair of the Temple from the inhabitants of the territory of the former northern kingdom as well as from those of Judah.

10. Amend the house. Evidently the Temple had suffered much from neglect.

12. Faithfully. According to 2 Kings 22:7 no reckoning was made of the funds that had been delivered into their hands, because they did their work faithfully.

14. Book of the law. During the apostasy that took place in the reign of Manasseh, the Temple copy of the book of the law had been lost sight of. Possibly it had been lost through indifference, or hidden by some faithful priest during Manasseh’s persecution (see 2 Kings 21:16).

15. To Shaphan. The parallel passage adds, “and he read it” (2 Kings 22:8).

17. Gathered together. Literally, “poured out.” They poured out the money that was found in the chests.

19. Rent his clothes. Josiah was deeply stirred as he listened to the word of the Lord. The law pointed out that only in the pathway of obedience would blessing be found, and that disobedience would bring desolation and ruin. Well did he know that his nation by its transgressions had brought itself face to face with doom.

22. To Huldah. See on 2 Kings 22:14.

Wardrobe. Literally, “garments.” Perhaps the vestments of the priest, or the royal garments, are referred to.

The college. Literally, “second,” probably the second quarter of the city. The translation “college” is obtained from the Targums (see on 2 Kings 22:14).

23. Answered them. Concerning Huldah’s message, see on 2 Kings 22:16–20.

28. In peace. This prophecy was conditional, and because Josiah did not heed the warnings given, but rashly insisted on war with the king of Egypt, he died, not in peace, but of battle wounds (2 Chron. 35:20–24; see EGW, Supplementary Material on 2 Kings 23:29, 30). Nor was it the privilege of his successors to pass their years in peace: Jehoahaz was taken to Egypt, where he died a captive (2 Kings 23:34); Jehoiakim was to be “buried with the burial of an ass,” to be “cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem” (Jer. 22:19); Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon, where he was released from prison in the 37th year of his captivity (2 Kings 25:27); and Zedekiah saw his sons slain before his eyes, and was then blinded and carried to Babylon (2 Kings 25:7).

29. Gathered together See on 2 Kings 23:1–3, with which 2 Chron. 34:29–31 is almost identical.

30. And the Levites. The parallel passage has “and the prophets” (2 Kings 23:2). Evidently Josiah was accompanied by priests, Levites, and prophets, with Chronicles mentioning the priests and Levites, Kings, the priests and prophets.

32. Jerusalem and Benjamin. The usual phrase is “Judah and Benjamin” (chs 11:3, 23; 15:2, 9; etc.).

33. Took away. The parallel passage is more complete (see 2 Kings 23:4–20).

All his days. Josiah accomplished much good through his reformation. During his lifetime his faithful example and his inspiring and energetic leadership caused the people outwardly to walk in the ways of the Lord. Actually, however, there was no lasting reform. Evil had become so deeply rooted in the lives of the people that they refrained from open apostasy only as long as the king himself was present to set the right example. In the 13th year of Josiah (Jer. 1:2), Jeremiah began his ministry, calling upon the people to follow the Lord, but they would not hearken. They did not turn unto the Lord with a “whole heart, but feignedly” (Jer. 3:10).

Ellen G. White comments

1–33DA 216; PK 384, 392–401

3–5PK 396

6, 7 PK 397

14–19PK 393

21 PK 398

23–28PK 399

29, 30 DA 216

29–31PK 400

32, 33 PK 401