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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 23:14 He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and covered the sites with human bones.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_kings/23-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/12_2Ki_23_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Kings 23:14 - Josiah Destroys Idolatry" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and covered the sites with human bones." /><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> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><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/23-14.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/23-14.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 14</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="/ad14.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/23-13.htm" title="2 Kings 23:13">◄</a> 2 Kings 23:14 <a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm" title="2 Kings 23:15">►</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"><b>Verse</b><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"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/2_kings/23.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Josiah smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/2_kings/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. Then he desecrated these places by scattering human bones over them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/2_kings/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he broke in pieces the pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with the bones of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and covered the sites with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/2_kings/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.<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 broke in pieces the <i>sacred</i> pillars and cut down the wooden images, and filled their places with the bones of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/2_kings/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He also smashed to pieces the memorial stones and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/2_kings/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/2_kings/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he broke in pieces the <i>sacred</i> pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/2_kings/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he broke in pieces the <i>sacred</i> pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/2_kings/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He broke in pieces the <i>sacred</i> pillars (cultic memorial stones, images) and cut down the Asherim and replaced them with human bones [to desecrate the places forever].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/2_kings/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He broke the sacred pillars into pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, then filled their places with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/2_kings/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He broke the sacred pillars into pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, then filled their places with human bones. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/2_kings/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he brake in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with the bones of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/2_kings/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />He tore down the stone images of foreign gods and cut down the sacred pole used in the worship of Asherah. Then he had the whole area covered with human bones. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/2_kings/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he brake in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with the bones of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/2_kings/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Josiah crushed the sacred stones, cut down the poles dedicated to Asherah, and filled their places with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/2_kings/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />King Josiah broke the stone pillars to pieces, cut down the symbols of the goddess Asherah, and the ground where they had stood he covered with human bones. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/2_kings/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He broke the pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherim, and filled their locations with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/2_kings/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He smashed the sacred pillars to bits, cut down the Asherah pole, and filled those shrines with human bones. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/2_kings/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with the bones of men.<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 broke in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/2_kings/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and covered the sites with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/2_kings/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He broke in pieces the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and filled their places with men’s bones. <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 has broken the standing-pillars in pieces, and cuts down the Asherim, and fills their place with bones of men;<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 hath broken in pieces the standing-pillars, and cutteth down the shrines, and filleth their place with bones of men;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/2_kings/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />He brake in pieces the statues and he will cut off the images, and fill their places with bones of man.<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 broke in pieces the statues, and cut down the groves: and he filled their places with the bones of dead men. <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 crushed the statues, and he cut down the sacred groves. And he filled their places with the bones of the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/2_kings/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He broke to pieces the pillars, cut down the asherahs, and filled the places where they had been with human bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the sacred poles, and covered the sites with human bones.<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 broke in pieces the images and cut down the idols and filled their places with the bones of men.<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 shattered the monuments and cut off the idols and filled their place with the bones of the sons of men.<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 broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with the bones of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/2_kings/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he broke in pieces the pillars, and utterly destroyed the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/2_kings/23-14.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=8055" 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">13</span>The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4676.htm" title="4676: ham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·wṯ (Art:: N-fp) -- A pillar, stump. Feminine participle of natsab; something stationed, i.e. A column or; by analogy, an idol.">He smashed the sacred pillars</a> <a href="/hebrew/7665.htm" title="7665: wə·šib·bar (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To break, break in pieces. A primitive root; to burst.">to pieces,</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/3772.htm" title="3772: way·yiḵ·rōṯ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To cut off, cut down. A primitive root; to cut; by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant.">cut down</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/842.htm" title="842: hā·’ă·šê·rîm (Art:: N-fp) -- Or masheyrah; from 'ashar; happy; Asherah a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same.">the Asherah poles,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4390.htm" title="4390: way·mal·lê (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To be full, to fill. Or malae; a primitive root, to fill or be full of, in a wide application.">and covered</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/4725.htm" title="4725: mə·qō·w·mām (N-msc:: 3mp) -- Or maqom; also mqowmah; or mqomah; from quwm; properly, a standing, i.e. A spot; but used widely of a locality; also of a condition.">the sites</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: ’ā·ḏām (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">with human</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.">bones.</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>He 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.…<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="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Deuteronomy 12:3</a></span><br />Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24</a></span><br />You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/31-1.htm">2 Chronicles 31:1</a></span><br />When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/34-4.htm">2 Chronicles 34:4-7</a></span><br />Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. / Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. / Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm">Leviticus 26:1</a></span><br />“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/27-9.htm">Isaiah 27:9</a></span><br />Therefore Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for, and the full fruit of the removal of his sin will be this: When he makes all the altar stones like crushed bits of chalk, no Asherah poles or incense altars will remain standing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/1-7.htm">Micah 1:7</a></span><br />All her carved images will be smashed to pieces; all her wages will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy all her idols. Since she collected the wages of a prostitute, they will be used again on a prostitute.<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="/hosea/10-2.htm">Hosea 10:2</a></span><br />Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/6-3.htm">Ezekiel 6:3-6</a></span><br />You are to say: ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. / Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will cast down your slain before your idols. / I will lay the corpses of the Israelites before their idols and scatter your bones around your altars. ...<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/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23</a></span><br />They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/15-13.htm">1 Kings 15:13</a></span><br />He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/16-32.htm">1 Kings 16:32-33</a></span><br />First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. / Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/21-26.htm">1 Kings 21:26</a></span><br />He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he broke in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.</p><p class="hdg">he brake.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24</a></b></br> Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/33-52.htm">Numbers 33:52</a></b></br> Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5,25,26</a></b></br> But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire… </p><p class="hdg">images.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/23-16.htm">2 Kings 23:16</a></b></br> And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that <i>were</i> there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned <i>them</i> upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/19-16.htm">Numbers 19:16,18</a></b></br> And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/8-1.htm">Jeremiah 8:1,2</a></b></br> At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_kings/23-7.htm">Asherah</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Asherahs</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Asherim</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Ashe'rim</a> <a href="/2_samuel/18-11.htm">Bits</a> <a href="/2_kings/13-21.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-12.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-12.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-25.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Columns</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-6.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-6.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-6.htm">Cutteth</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-16.htm">Filled</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-23.htm">Filleth</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-4.htm">Groves</a> <a href="/judges/16-11.htm">Human</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-4.htm">Images</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-3.htm">Josiah</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-4.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-16.htm">Pillars</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-13.htm">Places</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Poles</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">rs</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Sacred</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-32.htm">Shrines</a> <a href="/judges/7-20.htm">Smashed</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Standing-Pillars</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-6.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-6.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-6.htm">Wood</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm">Asherah</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">Asherahs</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">Asherim</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">Ashe'rim</a> <a href="/job/16-12.htm">Bits</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-16.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/2_kings/25-4.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">Columns</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/28-18.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/2_kings/24-13.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/19-4.htm">Cutteth</a> <a href="/2_kings/24-4.htm">Filled</a> <a href="/2_kings/24-4.htm">Filleth</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">Groves</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-20.htm">Human</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/14-12.htm">Images</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-16.htm">Josiah</a> <a href="/2_kings/24-13.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/2_kings/25-13.htm">Pillars</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-19.htm">Places</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/15-15.htm">Poles</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/15-18.htm">rs</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/16-42.htm">Sacred</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">Shrines</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">Smashed</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">Standing-Pillars</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/22-2.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/12-2.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/14-1.htm">Wood</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 = 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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>He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces</b><br>This phrase refers to King Josiah's reform efforts to eradicate idolatry from Judah. Sacred pillars, or "standing stones," were often associated with pagan worship practices, particularly those of the Canaanites. These pillars were erected as symbols of deities and were considered abominations in the eyes of the Lord (<a href="/deuteronomy/16-22.htm">Deuteronomy 16:22</a>). Josiah's actions fulfilled the commands given in <a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24</a> and <a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Deuteronomy 12:3</a>, which instructed the Israelites to destroy such objects of idolatry. His zeal for purifying worship in Judah is reminiscent of the actions of earlier reformers like Hezekiah (<a href="/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4</a>).<p><b>cut down the Asherah poles</b><br>Asherah poles were wooden symbols representing the goddess Asherah, a consort of Baal in Canaanite religion. These poles were often placed near altars and were integral to the fertility rites associated with Asherah worship. The cutting down of these poles was a direct attack on the syncretism that had infiltrated Israelite worship. This act aligns with the command in <a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5</a> to break down altars and cut down Asherah poles. Josiah's reforms were a return to the covenantal faithfulness demanded by God, emphasizing exclusive worship of Yahweh.<p><b>and covered the sites with human bones</b><br>Defiling a site with human bones was a way to desecrate it, making it ritually unclean and unsuitable for worship (<a href="/numbers/19-16.htm">Numbers 19:16</a>). This act was a symbolic gesture to ensure that these sites could never again be used for idolatrous practices. The use of human bones, possibly from the graves of idolatrous priests or common burial sites, was a fulfillment of prophecy, as seen in <a href="/1_kings/13-2.htm">1 Kings 13:2</a>, where a man of God prophesied that Josiah would defile the altar at Bethel with human bones. This act also prefigures the ultimate desecration of sin and death that Jesus Christ would conquer through His resurrection, bringing life and purity to those who believe.<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 from the land.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/sacred_pillars.htm">Sacred Pillars</a></b><br>These were stone structures associated with pagan worship, often dedicated to false gods.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/asherah_poles.htm">Asherah Poles</a></b><br>Wooden symbols representing the goddess Asherah, commonly used in Canaanite religious practices.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/sites_covered_with_human_bones.htm">Sites Covered with Human Bones</a></b><br>This act was a form of desecration, rendering the sites ritually unclean and unsuitable for future worship.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/z/zeal_for_purity.htm">Zeal for Purity</a></b><br>Josiah's actions demonstrate a commitment to purifying worship and removing idolatry. Believers today are called to examine their lives for anything that detracts from pure worship of God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>Josiah's reforms were in direct obedience to God's commands in the Law. Christians are encouraged to live in obedience to God's Word, even when it requires difficult changes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_idolatry.htm">The Consequences of Idolatry</a></b><br>The desecration of the sites with human bones serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of idolatry. Believers should be vigilant against modern forms of idolatry that can creep into their lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_influence.htm">Leadership and Influence</a></b><br>Josiah's leadership had a profound impact on the nation. This highlights the importance of godly leadership and the influence it can have on others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_repentance.htm">The Importance of Repentance</a></b><br>Josiah's actions were part of a broader movement of repentance and returning to God. Christians are called to regularly repent and turn back to God in areas where they have strayed.<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/will_the_death_covenant_end.htm">What are the Sacred Pillars?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_sacred_pillars.htm">What are the Sacred Pillars?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_joab's_ruse_reveal_a_plot_hole.htm">2 Samuel 14:2-3: Does Joab's use of a disguised woman to deceive David suggest a narrative hole, since such a ruse seems unlikely to fool a king?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_amaziah's_reign_timeline.htm">How do we reconcile the timeline of Amaziah's reign in 2 Kings 14:2-3 with conflicting data in other historical sources?</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>(14) <span class= "bld">The images . . . the groves.</span>--<span class= "ital">The pillars . . . the ash</span>?<span class= "ital">rahs</span>. These pillars and sacred trees may have been set up at the high places mentioned in the last verse; but the Hebrew construction does not <span class= "ital">prove</span> this, for comp. <a href="/2_kings/23-10.htm" title="And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.">2Kings 23:10</a>. The reference is probably general.<p><span class= "bld">Their places.</span>--<span class= "ital">Their place</span> or<span class= "ital"> station</span>; a technical term for the position of an idol (the Heb. <span class= "ital">m</span>?<span class= "ital">q</span>o<span class= "ital">m</span>, equivalent to Sabaean <span class= "ital">maqamum</span>. and Arabic <span class= "ital">muqam</span>, which is still the common designation of holy sites in Palestine.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he brake in pieces the images</span> - or, <span class="accented">pillars</span> (see the comment on 1 Kings 14:23) - <span class="cmt_word">and out down the groves</span> - <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the <span class="accented">asherirn</span>, or "sacred trees" - <span class="cmt_word">and filled their places with the bones of men.</span> Whatever spoke of death and dissolution was a special defilement to shrines where the gods worshipped were deities of productivity and generation. Bones of men had also the actual taint of corruption about them. The "uncleanness" of dead bodies arose first out of man's natural shrinking from death, and was then further confirmed by the horrors accompanying decay. The notion was probably coeval with death itself. It received a sanction from the Law, which made it a legal defilement to touch a corpse (<a href="/numbers/19-11.htm">Numbers 19:11, 16</a>), and placed under a sentence of uncleanness all that was in the tent where a man died (<a href="/numbers/19-14.htm">Numbers 19:14, 15</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/2_kings/23-14.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">He smashed the sacred pillars</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמַּצֵּב֔וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4676.htm">Strong's 4676: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something stationed, a column, an idol</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to pieces,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשִׁבַּר֙</span> <span class="translit">(wə·šib·bar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7665.htm">Strong's 7665: </a> </span><span class="str2">To break, break in pieces</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cut down</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּכְרֹ֖ת</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiḵ·rōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3772.htm">Strong's 3772: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the Asherah poles,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֲשֵׁרִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ă·šê·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_842.htm">Strong's 842: </a> </span><span class="str2">A Phoenician goddess, also an image of the same</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and covered</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְמַלֵּ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(way·mal·lê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4390.htm">Strong's 4390: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fill, be full of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the sites</span><br /><span class="heb">מְקוֹמָ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(mə·qō·w·mām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4725.htm">Strong's 4725: </a> </span><span class="str2">A standing, a spot, a condition</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with human</span><br /><span class="heb">אָדָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bones.</span><br /><span class="heb">עַצְמ֥וֹת</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 /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/2_kings/23-14.htm">2 Kings 23:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/2_kings/23-14.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 23:14 He broke in pieces the pillars (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/23-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 23:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 23:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 23:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 23:15" /></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>