2 kings 23:19 - All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Yahweh to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
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What does "2 kings 23:19" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 23:19 describes King Josiah's religious reforms in the northern kingdom of Israel, specifically targeting idolatrous places of worship. Let's break it down:
"All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria...": "High places" were typically elevated locations (often hills or mounds) where idolatrous altars and shrines were built. Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, and this verse indicates that these high places existed throughout the cities within that region. These places were dedicated to gods other than Yahweh (the Lord).
"...which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Yahweh to anger...": This explains the reason for Josiah's actions. Previous kings of the northern kingdom had deliberately established these idolatrous sites. The phrase "to provoke Yahweh to anger" is a strong condemnation, suggesting that these acts were a direct offense to God. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had a long history of idolatry following its split from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and its kings were consistently called out for leading the people astray.
"...Josiah took away...": This signifies King Josiah's active dismantling and destruction of these idolatrous sites. He didn't just ignore them; he actively removed them.
"...and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.": This is a key link to another significant event. Earlier in the chapter (specifically 2 Kings 23:15-18), Josiah desecrated and destroyed the altar at Bethel, a major site of idolatry in the northern kingdom. He burned the bones of the priests who had served there on the altar, defiling it and making it unfit for worship. This verse implies that Josiah treated the high places in Samaria in a similar manner to what he did in Bethel. The parallel suggests a thorough and ruthless eradication of idolatrous practices. He likely destroyed the altars, sacred objects, and structures associated with these high places.
In summary, the verse means:
King Josiah extended his religious reforms beyond Judah (the southern kingdom) into the territory of the former northern kingdom of Israel. He destroyed all the idolatrous shrines and high places in the cities of Samaria, which had been built by previous Israelite kings to worship other gods. He did so in a manner consistent with the thorough and forceful destruction he had carried out at the idolatrous shrine in Bethel, showing no tolerance for the worship of any god other than Yahweh. The actions demonstrate his commitment to eradicating idolatry and restoring pure worship of Yahweh throughout the land.
2 kings 23:19 - All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Yahweh to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
What does "2 kings 23:19" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 23:19 describes King Josiah's religious reforms in the northern kingdom of Israel, specifically targeting idolatrous places of worship. Let's break it down:
"All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria...": "High places" were typically elevated locations (often hills or mounds) where idolatrous altars and shrines were built. Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, and this verse indicates that these high places existed throughout the cities within that region. These places were dedicated to gods other than Yahweh (the Lord).
"...which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Yahweh to anger...": This explains the reason for Josiah's actions. Previous kings of the northern kingdom had deliberately established these idolatrous sites. The phrase "to provoke Yahweh to anger" is a strong condemnation, suggesting that these acts were a direct offense to God. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had a long history of idolatry following its split from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and its kings were consistently called out for leading the people astray.
"...Josiah took away...": This signifies King Josiah's active dismantling and destruction of these idolatrous sites. He didn't just ignore them; he actively removed them.
"...and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.": This is a key link to another significant event. Earlier in the chapter (specifically 2 Kings 23:15-18), Josiah desecrated and destroyed the altar at Bethel, a major site of idolatry in the northern kingdom. He burned the bones of the priests who had served there on the altar, defiling it and making it unfit for worship. This verse implies that Josiah treated the high places in Samaria in a similar manner to what he did in Bethel. The parallel suggests a thorough and ruthless eradication of idolatrous practices. He likely destroyed the altars, sacred objects, and structures associated with these high places.
In summary, the verse means:
King Josiah extended his religious reforms beyond Judah (the southern kingdom) into the territory of the former northern kingdom of Israel. He destroyed all the idolatrous shrines and high places in the cities of Samaria, which had been built by previous Israelite kings to worship other gods. He did so in a manner consistent with the thorough and forceful destruction he had carried out at the idolatrous shrine in Bethel, showing no tolerance for the worship of any god other than Yahweh. The actions demonstrate his commitment to eradicating idolatry and restoring pure worship of Yahweh throughout the land.