2 Kings 23:20

Translations

Modern

On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Traditional

And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.

Literal

And he slaughtered all the priests of the high places who were there on the altars, and he burned the bones of man on them. And he returned to Jerusalem.

Latin

Et occidit universos sacerdotes excelsorum qui erant ibi super altaria, et combussit ossa humana super ea: reversusque est Jerusalem.

Original

Hebrew

English

On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Notes

2 Kings 23:19–20

Samaria … high places: Josiah's religious reforms reached the former northern kingdom (see also 2 Chronicles 34:6–7). Josiah's ability to make these changes shows his power and Assyria's decline (see study note on 2 Kings 23:29).

Theme notes and profiles

Josiah The Collapse of Culture

Events

Reign of Josiahc. 641 BC

Related verses

2 Kings 11:18
So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. And Jehoiada the priest posted guards for the house of the LORD.
Exodus 22:20
If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
2 Chronicles 34:5
Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Kings 10:25
When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.” So the guards and officers put them to the sword, threw the bodies out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.
1 Kings 18:40
Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.
1 Kings 13:2
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.’”
Deuteronomy 13:5
Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you.
Zechariah 13:2–3
And on that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.
Isaiah 34:6
The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Parallels

1 Kings 13:1–10 2 Chronicles 34:3–7

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Bethel (Place), Bethelite Book of the Covenant Josiah Kings, Books of First and Second Kohath, Kohathites

Topics

Beth-El: A City North of Jerusalem: Prophecies Against the Idolatrous Altars At Calf: Altars of, Destroyed Cremation: General Scriptures Concerning Iconoclasm: Destroyed by Josiah Josiah: King of Judah: Destroys the Altar and High Places of Idolatry Prophecies Concerning Israel: Josiah Succeeds Amon Prophecy: Miscellaneous, Fulfilled: The Birth and Zeal of Josiah Religious Zeal in Punishing Evil People: Josiah Zeal: Holy: Josiah

2 Kings 23:20

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