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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 23:18 "Let him rest," said Josiah. "Do not let anyone disturb his bones." So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_kings/23-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/12_2Ki_23_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Kings 23:18 - Josiah Destroys Idolatry" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Let him rest, said Josiah. Do not let anyone disturb his bones. 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Don’t disturb his bones.” So they did not burn his bones or those of the old prophet from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/2_kings/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said, “Let him be; let no man move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/2_kings/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/2_kings/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And he said, “Let him alone; let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/2_kings/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And he said, “Leave him alone; no one is to disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/2_kings/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He said, &#8220Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones.&#8221 So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/2_kings/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he said, “Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/2_kings/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he said, “Let him alone; let no one move his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/2_kings/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He said, “Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/2_kings/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he said, “Let him rest. Don’t let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/2_kings/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he said, &#8220Let him rest. Don&#8217t let anyone disturb his bones.&#8221 So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/2_kings/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/2_kings/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Josiah replied, "Then leave it alone. Don't dig up his bones." So they did not disturb his bones or the bones of the old prophet from Israel who had also been buried there. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/2_kings/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/2_kings/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So Josiah said, "Let him rest. Don't disturb his bones." So they left his bones with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/2_kings/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Leave it as it is," Josiah ordered. "His bones are not to be moved." So his bones were not moved, neither were those of the prophet who had come from Samaria. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/2_kings/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Josiah replied, "Leave him alone. No one is to disturb his bones." So they preserved his bones undisturbed, along with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/2_kings/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?Let him rest,? said Josiah. ?Do not let anyone disturb his bones.? So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/2_kings/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The king said, "Leave it alone! No one must touch his bones." So they left his bones undisturbed, as well as the bones of the Israelite prophet buried beside him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/2_kings/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He said, "Let him be. Let no man move his bones." So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/2_kings/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/2_kings/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He said, “Let him be! Let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/2_kings/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he says, “Leave him alone, let no man touch his bones”; and they let his bones escape with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/2_kings/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he saith, 'Let him alone, let no man touch his bones;' and they let his bones escape, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/2_kings/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say, Give rest to him; a man shall not move his bones; and they will let escape his bones and the bones of the prophet who came from Shomeron.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/2_kings/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he said: Let him alone, let no man move his bones. So his bones were left untouched with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/2_kings/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he said: “Permit him. Let no one move his bones.” And his bones have remained untouched, with the bones of the prophet who had arrived from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/2_kings/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />“Let him be,” he said, “let no one move his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed together with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He said, “Let him rest; let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he said, Let him alone; let no man touch his sepulchre, and let no man move his bones, so the bones of the prophet of God spared the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria from being burned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/2_kings/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he said: “Leave him! Do not let a man come to the tomb, and no man shall move his bones!” And they saved his bones, the bones of the Prophet who came from Samaria.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/2_kings/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he said: 'Let him be; let no man move his bones.' So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/2_kings/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he said, Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones. So his bones were spared, together with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/2_kings/23-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=8113" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/23.htm">Josiah Destroys Idolatry</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">17</span>Then 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.” <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5117.htm" title="5117: han·nî·ḥū (V-Hifil-Imp-mp) -- To rest, i.e. settle down">“Let him rest,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said Josiah.</a> <a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: ’al- (Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing.">“Do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">let anyone</a> <a href="/hebrew/5128.htm" title="5128: yā·na‘ (V-Hifil-Imperf.Jus-3ms) -- A primitive root; to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively.">disturb</a> <a href="/hebrew/6106.htm" title="6106: ‘aṣ·mō·ṯāw (N-fpc:: 3ms) -- Bone, substance, self. From atsam; a bone; by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. Selfsame.">his bones.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/6106.htm" title="6106: ‘aṣ·mō·ṯāw (N-fpc:: 3ms) -- Bone, substance, self. From atsam; a bone; by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. Selfsame.">So they left his bones</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (Prep) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4422.htm" title="4422: way·mal·lə·ṭū (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. to escape; causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit sparks.">undisturbed,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6106.htm" title="6106: ‘aṣ·mō·wṯ (N-fpc) -- Bone, substance, self. From atsam; a bone; by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. Selfsame.">along with those</a> <a href="/hebrew/5030.htm" title="5030: han·nā·ḇî (Art:: N-ms) -- A spokesman, speaker, prophet. From naba'; a prophet or inspired man.">of the prophet</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/935.htm" title="935: bā (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">had come</a> <a href="/hebrew/8111.htm" title="8111: miš·šō·mə·rō·wn (Prep-m:: N-proper-fs) -- Capital of N. kingdom of Isr. From the active participle of shamar; watch-station; Shomeron, a place in Palestine.">from Samaria.</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria he removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel who had provoked the LORD to anger.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/34-5.htm">2 Chronicles 34:5</a></span><br />Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/34-7.htm">2 Chronicles 34:7</a></span><br />He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/34-33.htm">2 Chronicles 34:33</a></span><br />And Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the Israelites, and he required everyone in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/13-2.htm">1 Kings 13:2</a></span><br />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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/13-31.htm">1 Kings 13:31-32</a></span><br />After he had buried him, the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones, / 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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/1-1.htm">Jeremiah 1:1-2</a></span><br />These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. / The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6-10</a></span><br />Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. / I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. / She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-30.htm">Jeremiah 7:30-34</a></span><br />For the people of Judah have done evil in My sight, declares the LORD. They have set up their abominations in the house that bears My Name, and so have defiled it. / 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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/8-1.htm">Jeremiah 8:1-2</a></span><br />“At that time,” declares the LORD, “the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of the officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. / They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/26-18.htm">Jeremiah 26:18</a></span><br />“Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Matthew 23:29-32</a></span><br />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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52-53</a></span><br />The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. / After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-47.htm">Luke 11:47-48</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-44.htm">Luke 19:44</a></span><br />They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-20.htm">John 4:20-24</a></span><br />Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem.” / “Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. / You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.</p><p class="hdg">alone.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/13-1.htm">1 Kings 13:1-22,31</a></b></br> 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… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_kings/19-19.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-16.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/galatians/5-12.htm">Disturb</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-31.htm">Escape</a> <a href="/2_kings/13-7.htm">Leave</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-8.htm">Move</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-17.htm">Moved</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-15.htm">Prophet</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-13.htm">Samaria</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-13.htm">Sama'ria</a> <a href="/2_kings/14-27.htm">Saved</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-11.htm">Spared</a> <a href="/2_samuel/23-7.htm">Touch</a> <a href="/judges/8-28.htm">Undisturbed</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_chronicles/17-26.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-20.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/esther/9-24.htm">Disturb</a> <a href="/ezra/9-8.htm">Escape</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/14-12.htm">Leave</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/12-1.htm">Move</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/11-17.htm">Moved</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/17-1.htm">Prophet</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-19.htm">Samaria</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/18-2.htm">Sama'ria</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/11-14.htm">Saved</a> <a href="/job/21-30.htm">Spared</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/16-22.htm">Touch</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/14-1.htm">Undisturbed</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 23</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-1.htm">Josiah causes the book to be read in a solemn assembly.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-3.htm">He renews the covenant of the Lord.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-4.htm">He destroys idolatry.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm">He burns dead men's bones upon the altar of Bethel, as was prophesied.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-21.htm">He keeps a most solemn Passover.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-24.htm">He puts away witches and all abomination.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-26.htm">God's final wrath against Judah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-29.htm">Josiah, provoking Pharaoh Neco, is slain at Megiddo.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-31.htm">Jehoahaz, succeeding him,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-33.htm">is imprisoned by Pharaoh Neco, who makes Jehoiakim king.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/23-36.htm">Jehoiakim's wicked reign.</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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> <br /><br /> </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><b>“Let him rest,” said Josiah.</b><br>Josiah, the king of Judah, is known for his religious reforms and efforts to restore the worship of Yahweh. His command to let the bones rest reflects his respect for the prophets and the sacredness of their mission. This action aligns with Josiah's commitment to purging idolatry and honoring true worship, as seen in his broader reforms (<a href="/2_kings/23-4.htm">2 Kings 23:4-25</a>).<p><b>“Do not let anyone disturb his bones.”</b><br>This phrase underscores the importance of respecting the dead, particularly those who served God faithfully. In ancient Israel, disturbing graves was considered a serious offense, as it violated the sanctity of the deceased. Josiah's directive may also reflect a belief in the future resurrection, a theme that appears in later Jewish thought and is echoed in Christian teachings about the resurrection of the dead (<a href="/daniel/12-2.htm">Daniel 12:2</a>, <a href="/john/5-28.htm">John 5:28-29</a>).<p><b>So they left his bones undisturbed,</b><br>The obedience to Josiah's command indicates the respect and authority he held as king. It also highlights the fulfillment of the prophecy given in <a href="/1_kings/13-2.htm">1 Kings 13:2</a>, where a man of God from Judah prophesied against the altar at Bethel, predicting Josiah's actions. This fulfillment of prophecy serves as a testament to the reliability of God's word.<p><b>along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.</b><br>The prophet from Samaria refers to the man of God who had earlier prophesied against the altar at Bethel (<a href="/1_kings/13.htm">1 Kings 13:1-32</a>). His inclusion in the narrative emphasizes the unity of God's message across the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience, as this prophet was deceived and met an untimely death, yet his bones were honored due to his initial faithfulness. This act of leaving the bones undisturbed can be seen as a type of Christ, who was also a prophet not fully recognized in His time but honored posthumously.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/josiah.htm">Josiah</a></b><br>The king of Judah who initiated religious reforms to restore the worship of Yahweh and eliminate idolatry.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_prophet_from_judah.htm">The Prophet from Judah</a></b><br>A man of God who had previously prophesied against the altar at Bethel, as recorded in <a href="/bsb/1_kings/13.htm">1 Kings 13</a>.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_prophet_from_samaria.htm">The Prophet from Samaria</a></b><br>A prophet who had come from Samaria and was buried alongside the prophet from Judah.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/bethel.htm">Bethel</a></b><br>A significant religious site in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, where Jeroboam had set up a golden calf.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/josiah's_reforms.htm">Josiah's Reforms</a></b><br>The religious reforms led by King Josiah, which included the destruction of idolatrous sites and the restoration of true worship.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/respect_for_god's_servants.htm">Respect for God's Servants</a></b><br>Josiah's command to leave the bones of the prophets undisturbed shows respect for those who faithfully served God, even after their death.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/fulfillment_of_prophecy.htm">Fulfillment of Prophecy</a></b><br>The preservation of the prophets' bones fulfills the prophecy given in <a href="/bsb/1_kings/13.htm">1 Kings 13</a>, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His word.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_true_worship.htm">The Importance of True Worship</a></b><br>Josiah's reforms emphasize the need to worship God in truth, removing any form of idolatry or false worship.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/legacy_of_faithfulness.htm">Legacy of Faithfulness</a></b><br>The account encourages believers to leave a legacy of faithfulness that honors God and impacts future generations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_history.htm">God's Sovereignty in History</a></b><br>The events surrounding Josiah's reforms remind us of God's sovereign control over history and His ability to bring about His purposes.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 23</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_isn't_sacrifice_evidence_consistent.htm">If animal sacrifices were central (Leviticus 17), why does archaeological evidence not consistently support such frequent rituals across the entire region?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_2_chron._35_and_2_kings_23_differ.htm">Why do 2 Chronicles 35 and 2 Kings 23 differ in their accounts of Josiah's death, raising questions about the actual historical events?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_2_kings_23_25_exalt_josiah_over_david.htm">Why does 2 Kings 23:25 suggest Josiah surpassed even David in devotion, seemingly contradicting other texts that exalt David's faithfulness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_key_events_in_2_kings.htm">What are the key events in 2 Kings?</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>(18) <span class= "bld">Let him alone.</span>--Or, <span class= "ital">Let him rest.</span><p><span class= "bld">So they let his bones alone.</span>--A different verb. <span class= "ital">And they suffered his bones to escape</span>, scil., disturbance.<p><span class= "bld">With the bones of the prophet . . .</span>--See <a href="/context/1_kings/13-31.htm" title="And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulcher wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:">1Kings 13:31-32</a>.<p><span class= "bld">That came out of Samaria.</span>--This simply designates the old prophet who deceived the Judaean man of God, as a citizen of the Northern kingdom, which was called Samaria, after its capital.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones.</span> Josiah remembered the circumstances when they were recalled to him, and, in order to show honor to the "man of God" (<a href="/1_kings/13.htm">1 Kings 13</a>, <span class="accented">passim</span>), commanded that his tomb should be undisturbed. <span class="cmt_word">So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> with the bones of the Israelite prophet, who had taken care to be buried with him. The reference is to <a href="/1_kings/13-31.htm">1 Kings 13:31</a>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/2_kings/23-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“Let him rest,”</span><br /><span class="heb">הַנִּ֣יחוּ</span> <span class="translit">(han·nî·ḥū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3240.htm">Strong's 3240: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place, </span><br /><br /><span class="word">said [Josiah].</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Do not</span><br /><span class="heb">אַל־</span> <span class="translit">(’al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_408.htm">Strong's 408: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">let anyone</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֖ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">disturb</span><br /><span class="heb">יָנַ֣ע</span> <span class="translit">(yā·na‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5128.htm">Strong's 5128: </a> </span><span class="str2">To quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his bones.”</span><br /><span class="heb">עַצְמֹתָ֑יו</span> <span class="translit">(‘aṣ·mō·ṯāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6106.htm">Strong's 6106: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame</span><br /><br /><span class="word">So they left his bones</span><br /><span class="heb">עַצְמֹתָ֔יו</span> <span class="translit">(‘aṣ·mō·ṯāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6106.htm">Strong's 6106: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame</span><br /><br /><span class="word">undisturbed,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיְמַלְּטוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·mal·lə·ṭū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4422.htm">Strong's 4422: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks</span><br /><br /><span class="word">along with those</span><br /><span class="heb">עַצְמ֣וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(‘aṣ·mō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6106.htm">Strong's 6106: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the prophet</span><br /><span class="heb">הַנָּבִ֔יא</span> <span class="translit">(han·nā·ḇî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5030.htm">Strong's 5030: </a> </span><span class="str2">A spokesman, speaker, prophet</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁר־</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had come</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּ֖א</span> <span class="translit">(bā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from Samaria.</span><br /><span class="heb">מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃</span> <span class="translit">(miš·šō·mə·rō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8111.htm">Strong's 8111: </a> </span><span class="str2">Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/2_kings/23-18.htm">2 Kings 23:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/2_kings/23-18.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 23:18 He said Let him be (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/23-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 23:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 23:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/23-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 23:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 23:19" /></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>