1Acht Jahre war Joschijahu alt, als er König wurde, und einunddreißig Jahre regierte er in Jeruschalaim. 2Und er tat, was recht ist in den Augen des Ewigen, und wandelte in den Wegen seines Vaters Dawid und ging nicht rechts noch links ab. 3Und im achten Jahr seiner Regierung, als er noch ein Knabe war, begann er dem Gott seines Vaters Dawid nachzugehn, und im zwölften Jahr begann er Jehuda und Jeruschalaim von den Kultkammern, den Weihbäumen, den gehauenen und gegossenen Bildern zu reinigen. 4Und sie rissen vor seinem Angesicht die Altäre der Baale nieder, und die Sonnensäulen, die über ihnen waren, hieb er um, die Weihbäume und die gehauenen und gegossenen Bilder zerbrach und zerrieb er und streute es über die Gräber derer, die ihnen opferten. 5Und die Gebeine der Priester verbrannte er auf ihren Altären und reinigte Jehuda und Jeruschalaim, 6sowie in den Städten von Menaschsche, Efraim, Schim'on, bis nach Naftali hin, in ihren Trümmerstätten ringsum. 7Da riß er die Altäre nieder, und die Weihbäume und Bildnisse zerschlug und zerrieb er, und alle Sonnensäulen hieb er um im ganzen Land Jisraël; dann kehrte er nach Jeruschalaim zurück. 8Und im achtzehnten Jahr seiner Regierung, nachdem er das Land und das Haus gereinigt hatte, schickte er Schafan, den Sohn Azaljahus, Maasejahu, den Stadtobersten, und Joah, den Sohn des Joahas, den Vortragenden, um das Haus des Ewigen, seines Gottes, auszubessern. 9Und sie kamen zum Hohenpriester Hilkijahu und gaben das Geld, das ins Haus Gottes gebracht worden war, das die Lewiten, die Schwellenhüter, aus der Hand Menaschsches, Efraims, des ganzen übrigen Jisraël, und aus ganz Jehuda und Binjamin gesammelt, und mit dem sie dann nach Jeruschalaim zurückgekehrt waren, 10das gaben sie in die Hand der Werkführer, die im Haus des Ewigen bestellt waren, und die Werkführer, die im Haus des Ewigen schafften, gaben es, um das Haus zu untersuchen und auszubessern. 11Und sie gaben es den Zimmerleuten und Bauleuten, um behauene Steine und Holz für die Verbindungsbalken zu kaufen und die Häuser, die die Könige von Jehuda hatten verfallen lassen, mit Balken zu versehen. 12Und die Männer schafften in Treuen an dem Werk, und über sie waren bestellt die Lewiten Jahat und Obadjahu von den Söhnen Meraris, sowie Secharja und Meschullam von den Söhnen derer von Kehat, um aufzuspielen, und die Lewiten jeder, der der Musikinstrumente kundig war. 13So auch bei den Lastträgern, und sie waren Begleitspieler für alle Werkleute bei jeder einzelnen Arbeit; und von den Lewiten waren Schreiber und Aufseher und «Tormänner». 14Als sie nun das Geld herausnahmen, das in das Haus des Ewigen gebracht worden war, da hatte der Priester Hilkijahu das Buch der Weisung des Ewigen durch Mosche gefunden. 15Da hob Hilkijahu an und sprach zu Schafan, dem Schreiber: «Das Buch der Weisung habe ich im Haus des Ewigen gefunden!» Und Hilkijahu gab das Buch Schafan. 16Schafan aber brachte das Buch zum König und erstattete ferner dem König Bericht und sprach: «Alles, was in die Hand deiner Knechte gegeben wurde, verarbeiten sie. 17Und sie haben das im Haus des Ewigen vorgefundene Silber umgeschmolzen und es den Beamten und den Werkführern übergeben.» 18Dann berichtete Schafan, der Schreiber, dem König und sprach: «Ein Buch hat mir der Priester Hilkijahu gegeben.» Und Schafan las daraus dem König vor. 19Es war nun, als der König die Worte der Weisung hörte, da zerriß er seine Kleider. 20Dann befahl der König Hilkijahu Ahikam, dem Sohn Schafans, Abdon, dem Sohn Michas, Schafan, dem Schreiber, und Asaja, dem Diener des Königs, und sprach: 21«Geht, befragt den Ewigen für mich und für die Übriggebliebenen in Jisraël und Jehuda wegen der Worte des aufgefundenen Buches; denn groß ist der Grimm des Ewigen, der sich über uns ergossen hat, weil unsere Väter das Wort des Ewigen nicht gewahrt haben, zu tun, ganz wie in diesem Buch geschrieben steht.» 22Da gingen Hilkijahu und die der König (sandte) zu Hulda, der Gottbegeisteten, dem Weib Schallums, des Sohnes Tokhats, des Sohnes Hasras, des Kleiderbewahrers - und sie wohnte in Jeruschalaim im Zweitbezirk - und sie redeten zu ihr demgemäß. 23Da sprach sie zu ihnen: «So spricht der Ewige, der Gott Jisraëls: Sagt dem Mann, der euch zu mir gesandt hat: 24So spricht der Ewige: Sieh, ich bringe Unheil über diesen Ort und über seine Bewohner, alle die Flüche, die in dem Buch geschrieben sind, das man vor dem König von Jehuda verlesen hat, 25dafür, daß sie mich verlassen und anderen Göttern geräuchert haben, um mich zu kränken durch alles Tun ihrer Hände. So hat sich mein Zorn ergossen über diesen Ort und wird nicht erlöschen. 26Und zum König von Jehuda, der euch sendet, um den Ewigen zu befragen, zu ihm sollt ihr so sprechen: So spricht der Ewige, der Gott Jisraëls: Die Worte, die hast du da gehört. 27Weil dein Herz beugsam war und du dich demütigtest vor Gott, als du seine Worte über diesen Ort und seine Bewohner hörtest, du dich vor mir beugtest, deine Kleider zerrissest und vor mir weintest - so habe auch ich dich erhört, ist des Ewigen Spruch. 28Sieh, ich will dich eintun zu deinen Vätern, und du wirst zu deinen Gräbern in Frieden eingetan werden, und deine Augen werden all das Unglück nicht sehen, das ich über diesen Ort und seine Bewohner bringe!» Dann brachten sie dem König Bescheid. 29Da sandte der König und versammelte alle Ältesten Jehudas und Jeruschalaims. 30Dann ging der König in das Haus des Ewigen hinauf, und alle Männer von Jehuda und die Bewohner Jeruschalaims, und die Priester und Lewiten und alles Volk von groß bis klein, und er las vor ihren Ohren alle Worte des Bundesbuches, das im Haus des Ewigen gefunden worden war. 31Und der König trat auf seinen Standort und schloß den Bund vor dem Ewigen, dem Ewigen nachzuwandeln und seine Gebote, Bezeugungen und Satzungen mit ganzem Herzen und ganzer Seele zu wahren, um die Worte des Bundes auszuführen, die in diesem Buch geschrieben sind. 32Dann ließ er alles hintreten, was sich in Jeruschalaim und Binjamin befand, und die Bewohner Jeruschalaims taten nach dem Bund Gottes, des Gottes ihrer Väter. 33Dann entfernte Joschijahu alle Greuel aus allen Landschaften, die den Kindern Jisraël gehörten, und verpflichtete alles, was sich in Jisraël fand, dem Ewigen, ihrem Gott, zu dienen. Alle seine Tage gingen sie nicht ab von dem Ewigen, dem Gott ihrer Väter.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Concerning Josiah we are here told, 1. That he came to the crown when he was very young, only eight years old (yet his infancy did not debar him from his right), and he reigned
thirty-one years (
2Chr 34:1), a considerable time. I fear, however, that in the beginning of his reign things went much as they had done in his father's time, because, being a child, he must have left the management of them to others; so that it was not till his twelfth year, which goes far in the number of his years, that the reformation began,
2Chr 34:3. He could not, as Hezekiah did, fall about it immediately. 2. That he reigned very well (
2Chr 34:2), approved himself to God, trod in the steps of David, and did not decline either
to the right hand of to the left: for there are errors on both hands. 3. That while he was young, about sixteen years old, he
began to seek after God, 2Chr 34:3. We have reason to think he had not so good an education as Manasseh had (it is well if those about him did not endeavour to corrupt and debauch him); yet he thus sought God when he was young. It is the duty and interest of young people, and will particularly be the honour of young gentlemen, as soon as they come to years of understanding, to
begin to seek God; for those that seek him early shall find him. 4. That in the twelfth year of his reign, when it is probable he took the administration of the government entirely into his own hands, he
began to purge his kingdom from the remains of idolatry; he destroyed the high places, groves, images, altars, all the utensils of idolatry, v. 3, 4. He not only cast them out as Manasseh did, but broke them to pieces, and made dust of them. This destruction of idolatry is here said to be in his twelfth year, but it was said (
2Kgs 23:23) to be in his eighteenth year. Something was probably done towards it in his twelfth year; then he began to purge out idolatry, but that good work met with opposition, so that it was not thoroughly done till they had found the book of the law six years afterwards. But here the whole work is laid together briefly which was much more largely and particularly related in the
Kings. His zeal carried him out to do this, not only in Judah and Jerusalem, but in the cities of Israel too, as far as he had any influence upon them.
8 Here, 1. Orders are given by the king for the repair of the temple,
2Chr 34:8. When he had purged the house of the corruptions of it he began to fit it up for the services that were to be performed in it. Thus we must do by the spiritual temple of the heart, get it cleansed from the pollutions of sin, and then renewed, so as to be transformed into the image of God. Josiah, in this order, calls God
the Lord his God. Those that truly love God will
love the habitation of his house. 2. Care is taken about it, effectual care. The Levites went about the country and gathered money towards it, which was returned to the three trustees mentioned,
2Chr 34:8. They brought it to Hilkiah the high priest (
2Chr 34:9), and he and they put it into the hands of workmen, both overseers and labourers, who undertook to do it by the great, as we say, or
in the gross, 2Chr 34:10,
2Chr 34:11. It is observed that the workmen were industrious and honest: They
did the work faithfully (
2Chr 34:12); and workmen are not completely faithful if they are not both careful and diligent, for a confidence is reposed in them that they will be so. It is also intimated that the overseers were ingenious; for it is said that all those were employed to inspect this work who were skilful in
instruments of music; not that their skill in music could be of any use in architecture, but it was an evidence that they were men of sense and ingenuity, and particularly that their genius lay towards the mathematics, which qualified them very much for this trust. Witty men are then wise men when they employ their wit in doing good, in helping their friends, and, as they have opportunity, in serving the public. Observe, in this work, how God dispenses his gifts variously; here were some that were
bearers of burdens, cut out for bodily labour and fit to work. Here were others (made
meliori luto -
of finer materials ) that had skill in music, and they were
overseers of those that laboured, and scribes and officers. The former were the hands: these were the heads. They had need of one another, and the work needed both. Let not the overseers of the work despise the bearers of burdens, nor let those that work in the service grudge at those whose office it is to direct; but let each esteem and serve the other in love, and let God have the glory and the church the benefit of the different gifts and dispositions of both.
14 This whole paragraph we had, just as it is here related, (2Kgs:22:8-20), and have nothing to add here to what was there observed. But, 1. We may hence take occasion to bless God that we have plenty of Bibles, and that they are, or may be, in all hands, - that the book of the law and gospel is not lost, is not scarce, - that, in this sense, the
word of the Lord is not
precious. Bibles are jewels, but, thanks be to God, they are not rarities. The fountain of the waters of life is not a spring shut up or a fountain sealed, but the streams of it, in all places,
make glad the city of our God. Usus communis aquarum -
These waters flow for general use. What a great deal shall we have to answer for if the great things of God's law, being thus made common, should be accounted by us as strange things! 2. We may hence learn, whenever we read or hear the word of God, to affect our hearts with it, and to get them possessed with a holy fear of that wrath of God which is there revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, as Josiah's tender heart was. When he heard the words of the law he
rent his clothes (
2Chr 34:19), and God was well pleased with his doing so,
2Chr 34:27. Were the things contained in the scripture new to us, as they were here to Josiah, surely they would make deeper impressions upon us than commonly they do; but they are not the less weighty, and therefore should not be the less considered by us, for their being well known. Rend the heart therefore, not the garments. 3. We are here directed when we are under convictions of sin, and apprehensions of divine wrath, to enquire of the Lord; so Josiah did,
2Chr 34:21. It concerns us to ask (as they did,
Acts 2:37),
Men and brethren, what shall we do? and more particularly (as the jailor),
What must I do to be saved? Acts 16:30.
If you will thus
enquire, enquire (
Isa 21:12); and, blessed be God, we have the lively oracles to which to apply with these enquiries. 4. We are here warned of the ruin that sin brings upon nations and kingdoms. Those that forsake God bring evil upon themselves (
2Chr 34:24,
2Chr 34:25), and kindle a fire
which shall not be quenched. Such will the fire of God's wrath be when the decree has gone forth against those that obstinately and impenitently persist in their wicked ways. 5. We are here encouraged to humble ourselves before God and seek unto him, as Josiah did. If we cannot prevail thereby to turn away God's wrath from our land, yet we shall deliver our own souls,
2Chr 34:27,
2Chr 34:28. And good people are here taught to be so far from fearing death as to welcome it rather when it
takes them away from the evil to come. See how the property of it is altered by making it the matter of a promise:
Thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, housed in that ark, as Noah, when a deluge is coming.
29 We have here an account of the further advances which Josiah made towards the reformation of his kingdom upon the hearing of the law read and the receipt of the message God sent him by the prophetess. Happy the people that had such a king; for here we find that, 1. They were well taught. He did not go about to force them to do their duty, till he had first instructed them in it. He called all the people together, great and small, young and old, rich and poor, high and low.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear the words of
the book of the covenant; for they are all concerned in those words. To put an honour upon the service, and to engage attention the more, though there were priests and Levites present, the king himself read the book to the people (
2Chr 34:30), and he read it, no doubt, in such a manner as to show that he was himself affected with it, which would be a means of affecting the hearers. 2. They were well fixed. The articles of agreement between God and Israel being read, that they might intelligently covenant with God, both king and people with great solemnity did as it were subscribe the articles. The king in his place covenanted to keep God's commandments with all his heart and soul, according to what was
written in the book (
2Chr 34:31), and urged the people to declare their consent likewise to this covenant, and solemnly to promise that they would faithfully perform, fulfil, and keep, all and every thing that was on their part to be done, according to this covenant: this they did; they could not for shame do otherwise. He caused
all that were present to
stand to it (
2Chr 34:32), and made them all
to serve, even to serve the Lord their God (
2Chr 34:33), to do it and to
make a business of it. he did all he could to bring them to it -
to serve, even to serve; the repetition denotes that this was the only thing his heart was set on; he aimed at nothing else in what he did but to engage them to God and their duty. 3. They were well tended, were honest with good looking to.
All his days they departed not from following the Lord; he kept them, with much ado, from running into idolatry again.
All his days were days of restraint upon them; but this intimated that there was in them a
bent to backslide, a strong inclination to idolatry. Many of them wanted nothing but to have him out of the way, and then they would have their high places and their images up again. And therefore we find that
in the days of Josiah (
Jer 3:6) God charged it upon treacherous Judah that she
had not returned to him with all her heart, but feignedly (
2Chr 34:10), nay, had
played the harlot (
2Chr 34:8) and thereby had even
justified backsliding Israel, 2Chr 34:11. In the twenty-third year of this reign, four or five years after this, they had
gone on to provoke God to anger with the works of their hands (
Jer 25:3-
Jer 25:7); and, which is very observable, it is from the beginning of Josiah's reformation, his twelfth or thirteenth year, that
the iniquity of the house of Judah, which brought ruin upon them, and which the prophet was to bear lying on his right side, was dated (
Ezek 4:6), for thence to the destruction of Jerusalem was just forty years. Josiah was sincere in what he did, but the generality of the people were averse to it and hankered after their idols still; so that the reformation, though well designed and well prosecuted by the prince, had little or no effect upon the people. It was with reluctancy that they parted with their idols; still they were in heart joined to them, and wished for them again. This God saw, and therefore from that time, when one would have thought the foundations had been laid for a perpetual security and peace, from that very time did the decree go forth for their destruction. Nothing hastens the ruin of a people nor ripens them for it more than the baffling of hopeful attempts for reformation and a hypocritical return to God.
Be not deceived, God is not mocked.