Bible Chapter Summary
2 Chronicles 34 Summary
Josiah's Reforms and Book of the Law
Josiah becomes king at age eight and walks in the ways of David without turning aside. In his eighth year he seeks the God of David, and in his twelfth year he begins a thorough purge of Judah and Jerusalem, destroying altars of Baalim, beating graven images to powder, and burning the bones of priests upon their altars throughout all the northern tribes. In the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah sends officials to repair the house of the LORD and its vessels. During repairs, Hilkiah the high priest discovers the book of the law of the LORD given by Moses. When Josiah hears the words of the law, he tears his clothes, and through inquiry to the prophetess Huldah learns that judgment will come upon Judah for forsaking God, yet Josiah himself will be gathered to his grave in peace. Josiah then gathers all the people, reads the book of the covenant, makes a covenant before the LORD to keep all His commandments, and causes all Israel to serve the LORD their God.
Key themes
Key verses
2 Chronicles 34:3-5
“For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.”
2 Chronicles 34:14-15
“And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.”
2 Chronicles 34:31-33
“And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.”
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