2 Kings 23:6

Translations

Modern

He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.

Traditional

And he brought out the grove from the house of the Lord, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.

Literal

And he brought the Asherah pole from the house of YHWH outside Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley, and he burned it in the Kidron Valley, of and he crushed it to a dust, and threw its dust on the graves of the sons of the people.

Latin

Et efferri fecit lucum de domo Domini foras Jerusalem in convalle Cedron, et combussit eum ibi, et redegit in pulverem, et projecit super sepulchra vulgi.

Original

Hebrew

English

He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.

Notes

2 Kings 23:5–7

Josiah removed the priests who led idol worship. He also destroyed the living places of the cult prostitutes. These practices had been allowed by Manasseh and Amon. They continued the prostitution that came from Canaanite religion (see 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:46). Shockingly, this was practiced inside the temple itself.

Theme notes and profiles

Josiah The Collapse of Culture

Events

Reign of Josiahc. 641 BC

Related verses

2 Chronicles 34:4
Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
2 Kings 23:15
He even pulled down the altar at Bethel, the high place set up by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. Then he burned the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole.
2 Kings 21:7
Manasseh even took the carved Asherah pole he had made and set it up in the temple, of which the LORD had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever.
Deuteronomy 7:25
You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
Jeremiah 17:2
Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles by the green trees and on the high hills.
2 Kings 10:27
They also demolished the sacred pillar of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine, which it is to this day.
1 Kings 14:23
They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
Exodus 32:20
Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.
Deuteronomy 9:21
And I took that sinful thing, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust, and I cast it into the stream that came down from the mountain.
1 Kings 16:33
Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.
Judges 3:7
So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.

Parallels

1 Kings 13:1–10 2 Chronicles 34:3–7

People

Asherah: Canaanite goddess; associated with wooden poles, idolatry

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions Kidron: A valley east of Jerusalem, site of significant events

Glossary

Book of the Covenant High Place Josiah Kidron Kings, Books of First and Second Kohath, Kohathites Manasseh (Person) Temple

Topics

Cedron: Idols Destroyed on the Banks of Josiah Iconoclasm: Destroyed by Josiah Josiah: King of Judah: Destroys the Altar and High Places of Idolatry Kidron: Destruction of Idols At, by Asa, Josiah, and the Levites Prophecies Concerning Israel: Josiah Succeeds Amon Prophecy: Miscellaneous, Fulfilled: The Birth and Zeal of Josiah the First Temple: Purified by Josiah Zeal: should be Exhibited: Against Idolatry

2 Kings 23:6

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