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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Kings 23:16 And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_kings/23-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/12_2Ki_23_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Kings 23:16 - Josiah Destroys Idolatry" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/2_kings/23-16.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/2_kings/23-16.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/2_kings/">2 Kings</a> > <a href="/2_kings/23.htm">Chapter 23</a> > Verse 16</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad16.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm" title="2 Kings 23:15">◄</a> 2 Kings 23:16 <a href="/2_kings/23-17.htm" title="2 Kings 23:17">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/2_kings/23.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/2_kings/23.htm">New International Version</a> Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile it, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things. <a href="/nlt/2_kings/23.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then Josiah turned around and noticed several tombs in the side of the hill. He ordered that the bones be brought out, and he burned them on the altar at Bethel to desecrate it. (This happened just as the LORD had promised through the man of God when Jeroboam stood beside the altar at the festival.) Then Josiah turned and looked up at the tomb of the man of God who had predicted these things. <a href="/esv/2_kings/23.htm">English Standard Version</a> And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mount. And he sent and took the bones out of the tombs and burned them on the altar and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD that the man of God proclaimed, who had predicted these things. <a href="/bsb/2_kings/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things. <a href="/kjv/2_kings/23.htm">King James Bible</a> And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words. <a href="/nkjv/2_kings/23.htm">New King James Version</a> As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs that were there on the mountain. And he sent and took the bones out of the tombs and burned them on the altar, and defiled it according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words. <a href="/nasb_/2_kings/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Now when Josiah turned, he saw the graves that were there on the mountain, and he sent men and took the bones from the graves, and burned them on the altar and defiled it in accordance with the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, the one who proclaimed these things. <a href="/nasb/2_kings/23.htm">NASB 1995</a> Now when Josiah turned, he saw the graves that were there on the mountain, and he sent and took the bones from the graves and burned them on the altar and defiled it according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. <a href="/nasb77/2_kings/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Now when Josiah turned, he saw the graves that were there on the mountain, and he sent and took the bones from the graves and burned them on the altar and defiled it according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. <a href="/lsb/2_kings/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then Josiah turned, and he saw the graves that were there on the mountain, and he sent and took the bones from the graves and burned them on the altar and defiled it according to the word of Yahweh which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. <a href="/amp/2_kings/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And as Josiah turned, he saw the graves that were there on the mountain, and he sent men and had the bones taken from the graves, and burned them on the altar and [thereby] desecrated it, in accordance with the word of the LORD which the man of God prophesied, who proclaimed these things [about this altar, naming Josiah before he was born]. <a href="/csb/2_kings/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mountain. He sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar. He defiled it according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who proclaimed these things. <a href="/hcsb/2_kings/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mountain. He sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar. He defiled it according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who proclaimed these things. <a href="/asv/2_kings/23.htm">American Standard Version</a> And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount; and he sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Jehovah which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. <a href="/cev/2_kings/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> As he looked around, he saw graves on the hillside. He had the bones in them dug up and burned on the altar, so that it could no longer be used. This happened just as God's prophet had said when Jeroboam was standing at the altar, celebrating a festival. Then Josiah saw the grave of the prophet who had said this would happen <a href="/erv/2_kings/23.htm">English Revised Version</a> And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount; and he sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. <a href="/gwt/2_kings/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> When Josiah turned and saw the tombs on the hill there, he sent men to take the bones out of the tombs and burn them on the altar to make it unclean. This fulfilled the word of the LORD announced by the man of God. <a href="/gnt/2_kings/23.htm">Good News Translation</a> Then Josiah looked around and saw some tombs there on the hill; he had the bones taken out of them and burned on the altar. In this way he desecrated the altar, doing what the prophet had predicted long before during the festival as King Jeroboam was standing by the altar. King Josiah looked around and saw the tomb of the prophet who had made this prediction. <a href="/isv/2_kings/23.htm">International Standard Version</a> As Josiah turned around, he observed the graves located there on the mountain, so he sent for and recovered the bones from the graves and burned them on the altar to defile it, in keeping with the message from the LORD that the godly man had proclaimed when he was declaring these things. <a href="/msb/2_kings/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things. <a href="/net/2_kings/23.htm">NET Bible</a> When Josiah turned around, he saw the tombs there on the hill. So he ordered the bones from the tombs to be brought; he burned them on the altar and defiled it. This fulfilled the LORD's announcement made by the prophet while Jeroboam stood by the altar during a festival. King Josiah turned and saw the grave of the prophet who had foretold this. <a href="/nheb/2_kings/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And as Josiah turned himself, he saw the tombs that were there in the mountain. And he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, when Jeroboam stood by the altar at the feast. And he turned and raised his eyes to the tomb of the man of God who proclaimed these things. <a href="/wbt/2_kings/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And as Josiah turned himself, he espied the sepulchers that were there on the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchers, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words. <a href="/web/2_kings/23.htm">World English Bible</a> As Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain; and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to Yahweh’s word which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/2_kings/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Josiah turns, and sees the graves that [are] there on the mountain, and sends and takes the bones out of the graves, and burns [them] on the altar, and defiles it, according to the word of YHWH that the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. <a href="/ylt/2_kings/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Josiah turneth, and seeth the graves that are there in the mount, and sendeth and taketh the bones out of the graves, and burneth them on the altar, and defileth it, according to the word of Jehovah that the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. <a href="/slt/2_kings/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Josiah will turn and see the tombs which were there in the mount, and he will send and take the bones from the tombs and burn upon the altar, and he will defile it according to the word of Jehovah which the man of God called who called these words.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/2_kings/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And as Josias turned himself, he saw there the sepulchres that were in the mount: and he sent and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burnt them upon the altar, and defiled it according to the word of the Lord, which the man of God spoke, who had foretold these things. <a href="/cpdv/2_kings/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And in that place Josiah, turning, saw the sepulchers which were on the mount. And he sent and took the bones from the sepulchers. And he burned them upon the altar, and he defiled it in accord with the word of the Lord, which was spoken by the man of God, who had predicted these events. <a href="/nabre/2_kings/23.htm">New American Bible</a> When Josiah turned and saw the graves there on the mountainside, he ordered the bones taken from the graves and burned on the altar, and thus defiled it, according to the LORD’s word proclaimed by the man of God as Jeroboam stood by the altar on the feast day. When the king looked up and saw the grave of the man of God who had proclaimed these words, <a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mount; and he sent and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD that the man of God proclaimed, when Jeroboam stood by the altar at the festival; he turned and looked up at the tomb of the man of God who had predicted these things.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And as Josiah returned, he saw the sepulchres that were there on the mount, and he sent and took the bones out of the sepulchres and burned them upon the altar and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD which the prophet of God proclaimed, who predicted these things. <a href="/hpbt/2_kings/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Yoshiah returned and he saw the tombs there on the mountain, and he sent and he took the bones from the tombs, and he burned on the altar and defiled it according to the word of LORD JEHOVAH that the Prophet of God spoke who had cried out these words.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/2_kings/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount; and he sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. <a href="/sep/2_kings/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And Josias turned aside, and saw the tombs that were there in the city, and sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burnt them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of the Lord which the man of God spoke, when Jeroboam stood by the altar at the feast: and he turned and raised his eyes to the tomb of the man of God that spoke these words. <a href="/parallel/2_kings/23-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=8080" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/2_kings/23.htm">Josiah Destroys Idolatry</a> …15He 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. 16<a href="/hebrew/2977.htm" title="2977: yō·šî·yā·hū (N-proper-ms) -- Yah supports, two Isr. Or; from the same root as 'ashuwyah and Yahh; founded of Jah; Joshijah, the name of two Israelites.">And as Josiah</a> <a href="/hebrew/6437.htm" title="6437: way·yi·p̄en (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To turn. A primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. Appear, look, etc.">turned,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: way·yar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">he saw</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6913.htm" title="6913: haq·qə·ḇā·rîm (Art:: N-mp) -- A grave, sepulcher. Or qibrah; from qabar; a sepulchre.">the tombs</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">there</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: bā·hār (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">on the hillside,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7971.htm" title="7971: way·yiš·laḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To send. A primitive root; to send away, for, or out.">and he sent</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: way·yiq·qaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">someone to take</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6106.htm" title="6106: hā·‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ (Art:: N-fp) -- Bone, substance, self. From atsam; a bone; by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. Selfsame.">the bones</a> <a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: min- (Prep) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses.">out of</a> <a href="/hebrew/6913.htm" title="6913: haq·qə·ḇā·rîm (Art:: N-mp) -- A grave, sepulcher. Or qibrah; from qabar; a sepulchre.">the tombs,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8313.htm" title="8313: way·yiś·rōp̄ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To burn. A primitive root; to be on fire.">and he burned them</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/4196.htm" title="4196: ham·miz·bê·aḥ (Art:: N-ms) -- An altar. From zabach; an altar.">the altar</a> <a href="/hebrew/2930.htm" title="2930: way·ṭam·mə·’ê·hū (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms:: 3ms) -- To be or become unclean. A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense.">to defile it,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: kiḏ·ḇar (Prep-k:: N-msc) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause.">according to the word</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: qā·rā (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">proclaimed</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-msc) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">by the man</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of God</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: qā·rā (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">had foretold</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: hā·’êl·leh (Art:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those.">these</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: had·də·ḇā·rîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause.">things.</a> 17Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?” And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and pronounced these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/1_kings/13-2.htm">1 Kings 13:2</a> 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.’” <a href="/1_kings/13-32.htm">1 Kings 13:32</a> for the message that he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and against all the shrines on the high places in the cities of Samaria will surely come to pass.” <a href="/2_chronicles/34-5.htm">2 Chronicles 34:5</a> Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. <a href="/jeremiah/7-31.htm">Jeremiah 7:31-32</a> They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind. / So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth and the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. For they will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. <a href="/jeremiah/19-6.htm">Jeremiah 19:6</a> So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. <a href="/amos/3-14.htm">Amos 3:14</a> On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground. <a href="/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8</a> The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!” <a href="/isaiah/30-33.htm">Isaiah 30:33</a> For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze. <a href="/jeremiah/19-13.htm">Jeremiah 19:13</a> The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like that place, Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.” <a href="/jeremiah/32-35.htm">Jeremiah 32:35</a> They have built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Ben-hinnom to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech—something I never commanded them, nor had it ever entered My mind, that they should commit such an abomination and cause Judah to sin. <a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Matthew 23:29-32</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. / And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ / So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. ... <a href="/luke/11-47.htm">Luke 11:47-51</a> Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them. / So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. / Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’ ... <a href="/matthew/23-35.htm">Matthew 23:35</a> And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. <a href="/luke/13-34.htm">Luke 13:34</a> O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! <a href="/acts/7-52.htm">Acts 7:52</a> Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchers that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchers, and burned them on the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.burned.<a href="/1_kings/13-1.htm">1 Kings 13:1,2,32</a> And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense… <a href="/matthew/24-35.htm">Matthew 24:35</a> Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.<a href="/john/10-35.htm">John 10:35</a> If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;who proclaimed.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm">Altar</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-14.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm">Burned</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-10.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/genesis/42-27.htm">Espied</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-14.htm">Josiah</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-13.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-13.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Polluted</a> <a href="/2_kings/11-12.htm">Proclaimed</a> <a href="/genesis/23-6.htm">Sepulchers</a> <a href="/genesis/23-6.htm">Sepulchres</a> <a href="/2_kings/13-21.htm">Spied</a> <a href="/1_samuel/13-6.htm">Tombs</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-2.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-20.htm">Word</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-3.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_kings/23-17.htm">Altar</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-18.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-20.htm">Burned</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/5-1.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/ezekiel/20-6.htm">Espied</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-19.htm">Josiah</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/4-42.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/5-23.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/5-1.htm">Polluted</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-17.htm">Proclaimed</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/16-14.htm">Sepulchers</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/16-14.htm">Sepulchres</a> <a href="/exodus/2-11.htm">Spied</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/16-14.htm">Tombs</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-25.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-17.htm">Word</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-24.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 23</div>1. <a href="/2_kings/23-1.htm">Josiah causes the book to be read in a solemn assembly.</a> 3. <a href="/2_kings/23-3.htm">He renews the covenant of the Lord.</a> 4. <a href="/2_kings/23-4.htm">He destroys idolatry.</a> 15. <a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm">He burns dead men's bones upon the altar of Bethel, as was prophesied.</a> 21. <a href="/2_kings/23-21.htm">He keeps a most solemn Passover.</a> 24. <a href="/2_kings/23-24.htm">He puts away witches and all abomination.</a> 26. <a href="/2_kings/23-26.htm">God's final wrath against Judah.</a> 29. <a href="/2_kings/23-29.htm">Josiah, provoking Pharaoh Neco, is slain at Megiddo.</a> 31. <a href="/2_kings/23-31.htm">Jehoahaz, succeeding him,</a> 33. <a href="/2_kings/23-33.htm">is imprisoned by Pharaoh Neco, who makes Jehoiakim king.</a> 36. <a href="/2_kings/23-36.htm">Jehoiakim's wicked reign.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_kings/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>And as Josiah turned Josiah, the king of Judah, was known for his religious reforms and efforts to restore the worship of Yahweh. His turning here signifies a moment of action and decision, reflecting his commitment to eradicating idolatry from the land. This action is part of a broader narrative where Josiah is actively purging the land of pagan practices.he saw the tombs there on the hillside The tombs on the hillside likely belonged to the idolatrous priests and individuals who had been involved in pagan worship. In ancient Israel, tombs were often located outside city limits, on hillsides or in caves. The visibility of these tombs to Josiah underscores the pervasive nature of idolatry that had infiltrated the land.and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs Removing bones from tombs was a significant act of desecration. In the ancient Near East, disturbing a grave was considered a severe violation, reflecting Josiah's determination to cleanse the land of its idolatrous past. This act symbolically breaks the power and memory of those who led Israel astray.and he burned them on the altar to defile it Burning bones on an altar was a deliberate act to render it unclean and unusable for worship. This action was a direct affront to the pagan practices that had been conducted there, ensuring that the altar could no longer be used for idolatrous sacrifices. It reflects the biblical principle of destroying objects associated with false worship (<a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Deuteronomy 12:3</a>).according to the word of the LORD This phrase emphasizes that Josiah's actions were in obedience to divine command. The reforms he enacted were not merely political or personal but were rooted in fulfilling God's will as revealed through His prophets. This obedience highlights the importance of aligning actions with God's word.proclaimed by the man of God The "man of God" refers to a prophet who had previously spoken against the idolatrous practices in Israel. Prophets in the Old Testament served as God's messengers, often calling the people back to covenant faithfulness. This reference underscores the continuity of God's message and the fulfillment of prophecy.who had foretold these things The fulfillment of prophecy is a recurring theme in the Bible, demonstrating God's sovereignty and faithfulness. The specific prophecy referenced here is found in <a href="/1_kings/13-2.htm">1 Kings 13:2</a>, where a man of God from Judah prophesied that a king named Josiah would defile the altar at Bethel. This fulfillment serves as a testament to the reliability of God's word and His control over history.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/josiah.htm">Josiah</a> The King of Judah who initiated religious reforms to restore the worship of Yahweh and eliminate idolatry from the land. 2. <a href="/topical/t/tombs_on_the_hillside.htm">Tombs on the Hillside</a> Burial sites that Josiah encountered, which were associated with idolatrous practices. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_altar.htm">The Altar</a> A pagan altar that Josiah defiled by burning bones on it, fulfilling a prophecy. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_man_of_god.htm">The Man of God</a> A prophet who had previously foretold the defilement of the altar, as recorded in <a href="/bsb/1_kings/13.htm">1 Kings 13</a>. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_word_of_the_lord.htm">The Word of the LORD</a> The divine prophecy that was fulfilled through Josiah's actions, demonstrating God's sovereignty and the reliability of His word.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_word.htm">Obedience to God's Word</a> Josiah's actions demonstrate the importance of obeying God's commands, even when they require difficult or radical measures. <a href="/topical/f/fulfillment_of_prophecy.htm">Fulfillment of Prophecy</a> The fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Josiah underscores the reliability and sovereignty of God's word. Believers can trust that God's promises will come to pass. <a href="/topical/z/zeal_for_purity_in_worship.htm">Zeal for Purity in Worship</a> Josiah's zeal for purifying worship serves as a model for Christians to remove idolatry and sin from their lives, ensuring that their worship is pleasing to God. <a href="/topical/c/courage_in_leadership.htm">Courage in Leadership</a> Josiah's bold actions as a leader show the importance of courage and conviction in leading others toward righteousness. <a href="/topical/l/legacy_of_faithfulness.htm">Legacy of Faithfulness</a> Josiah's legacy is one of faithfulness to God, reminding believers of the impact their obedience can have on future generations.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 23</a> <a href="/q/what_does_an_asherah_pole_represent.htm">What does an Asherah pole represent?</a> <a href="/q/does_the_damascus_altar_conflict_with_exodus.htm">Does the altar design brought from Damascus (2 Kings 16:10-11) conflict with earlier temple instructions in Exodus and Leviticus?</a> <a href="/q/evidence_of_solomon's_pagan_altars.htm">1 Kings 11:7 - Is there any archaeological evidence of the pagan altars and high places that Solomon supposedly built?</a> <a href="/q/bible's_view_on_separation.htm">What does the Bible say about separation?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16-18) These verses are supposed by Stahelin to be a fictitious addition of the compiler's. Thenius does not go so far as this, but assumes that the proper sequel of <a href="/context/1_kings/13-1.htm" title="And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.">1Kings 13:1-32</a>, has been transferred to this place. He argues that it must be an interpolation here, because (1) the "moreover" of <a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm" title="Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he broke down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.">2Kings 23:15</a> (w?gam) corresponds to the "and . . . also" (w?gam) of <a href="/2_kings/23-19.htm" title="And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the Lord to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.">2Kings 23:19</a>, which does not prove much; and because (2) Josiah could not pollute the altar (<a href="/2_kings/23-16.htm" title="And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchers that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchers, and burned them on the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.">2Kings 23:16</a>) after he had already shattered it in pieces (<a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm" title="Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he broke down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.">2Kings 23:15</a>). This reasoning is not conclusive, because it is obvious that, as is so often the case, the writer has first told in brief what was done to the altar and high place at Bethel, and then related at length an interesting incident that occurred at the time. In short, the statement of <a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm" title="Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he broke down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.">2Kings 23:15</a> is anticipatory. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 16. - And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchers that were there in the mount. The Israelite sepulchers, excavated in the reeky sides of hills, are everywhere conspicuous. Those of Bethel may have been in the low hill on which the town stands, or in the sides of the Wady Suweinit, a little further to the south. His accidentally "spying the sepulchers" gave Josiah the thought of completing his desecration of Bethel by having bones brought from them and burnt upon the altar - whereby he exactly accomplished the old prophecy (<a href="/1_kings/13-2.htm">1 Kings 13:2</a>), which was not at all in his mind. And sent, end took the bones out of the sepulchers, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it (see the comment on ver. 14), according to the word of the Lord which the men of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words; rather, who prophesied these things. The reference is to <a href="/1_kings/13-2.htm">1 Kings 13:2</a>, and the meaning is, not that Josiah acted as he did in order to fulfill the prophecy, but that in thus acting he unconsciously fulfilled it. <a href="/commentaries/2_kings/23-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>And as Josiah יֹאשִׁיָּ֗הוּ (yō·šî·yā·hū) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2977.htm">Strong's 2977: </a> Josiah -- 'Yah supports', two Israelites turned, וַיִּ֣פֶן (way·yi·p̄en) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6437.htm">Strong's 6437: </a> To turn, to face, appear, look he saw וַיַּ֨רְא (way·yar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> To see the tombs הַקְּבָרִ֤ים (haq·qə·ḇā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6913.htm">Strong's 6913: </a> A grave, sepulcher there שָׁם֙ (šām) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> There, then, thither on the hillside, בָּהָ֔ר (bā·hār) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> Mountain, hill, hill country and he sent וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח (way·yiš·laḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7971.htm">Strong's 7971: </a> To send away, for, out someone to take וַיִּקַּ֤ח (way·yiq·qaḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> To take the bones הָֽעֲצָמוֹת֙ (hā·‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6106.htm">Strong's 6106: </a> A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame out of מִן־ (min-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4480.htm">Strong's 4480: </a> A part of, from, out of the tombs, הַקְּבָרִ֔ים (haq·qə·ḇā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6913.htm">Strong's 6913: </a> A grave, sepulcher and he burned וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף (way·yiś·rōp̄) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8313.htm">Strong's 8313: </a> To be, on fire them on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4196.htm">Strong's 4196: </a> An altar to defile it, וַֽיְטַמְּאֵ֑הוּ (way·ṭam·mə·’ê·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2930.htm">Strong's 2930: </a> To be or become unclean according to the word כִּדְבַ֣ר (kiḏ·ḇar) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1697.htm">Strong's 1697: </a> A word, a matter, thing, a cause the LORD יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel proclaimed קָרָא֙ (qā·rā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> To call, proclaim, read by the man אִ֣ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person of God הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative who אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that had foretold קָרָ֔א (qā·rā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> To call, proclaim, read these הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (hā·’êl·leh) Article | Pronoun - common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_428.htm">Strong's 428: </a> These, those things. הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1697.htm">Strong's 1697: </a> A word, a matter, thing, a cause <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-16.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 23:16 As Josiah turned himself he spied (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 23:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 23:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/23-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 23:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 23:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>