Bible Chapter Summary
2 Kings 23 Summary
Josiah's Great Reformation and Passover
Josiah gathers all Judah and Jerusalem, reads the book of the covenant before them, and makes a covenant to keep the Lord's commandments with all his heart and soul. He removes all vessels made for Baal and false gods, burns them, and destroys idolatrous practices throughout Judah and Samaria, breaking down high places and defiling altars. Josiah commands the people to keep the Passover, which becomes the greatest Passover since the judges' days; though he is a reformer of unparalleled devotion, the Lord's wrath remains kindled against Judah because of Manasseh's provocations. Josiah dies at Megiddo in battle against Pharaoh-nechoh of Egypt, and is succeeded by his son Jehoahaz.
Key themes
Key verses
2 Kings 23:3
“And the king stood by a pillar, 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 their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.”
2 Kings 23:21-22
“And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.”
2 Kings 23:25
“And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”
2 Kings 23:26
“Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.”
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