Josiah eradicated the high places to restore pure worship and lead the people back to faithfulness under God’s covenant.
When we reach 2 Kings 23:13, we read how King Josiah took action against the centers of idol worship near Jerusalem: “The high places which were before Jerusalem, which were on the right of the mount of destruction which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth…for Chemosh…and for Milcom…Josiah defiled” (v.13). Josiah, who reigned from about 640 to 609 BC, inherited a kingdom marred by idolatry—practices established generations earlier, including by King Solomon (970-931 BC) who built these high places. Solomon, although he was gifted with wisdom, permitted temples and shrines for foreign deities, a decision that contributed to Israel’s spiritual decline. Under Josiah’s renewed passion for God’s law, these forbidden worship sites were destroyed to bring the people back to the true God.
The text says that Josiah invoked God’s righteous anger on these shrines by making them ceremonially unclean: “He broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones” (v.14). This graphic action underscores Josiah’s determination to put an end to the abominations that had dishonored the LORD. Ashtoreth was worshiped by the Sidonians, Chemosh by the Moabites, and Milcom by the Ammonites; all of these false gods had drawn the hearts of the people away from the one true God. Josiah’s reforms were part of a broader revival, fueled by his discovery of the Book of the Law, leading the kingdom into a deeper obedience to their covenant with the LORD.
From a broader scriptural viewpoint, Josiah’s actions foreshadow a cleansing that Christ ultimately brings through His sacrifice, removing every barrier that hinders the proper worship of God (Hebrews 10:10). Just as Josiah physically destroyed idols, Jesus provides the power for believers to remove any spiritual idols in their hearts, calling them toward true devotion (Colossians 3:5). The zeal Josiah displayed in ridding his land of paganism echoes forward to the New Testament’s call for holiness, reminding faithful followers of all generations that God deserves their exclusive loyalty.
Set to dark mode
2 Kings 23:13 meaning
When we reach 2 Kings 23:13, we read how King Josiah took action against the centers of idol worship near Jerusalem: “The high places which were before Jerusalem, which were on the right of the mount of destruction which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth…for Chemosh…and for Milcom…Josiah defiled” (v.13). Josiah, who reigned from about 640 to 609 BC, inherited a kingdom marred by idolatry—practices established generations earlier, including by King Solomon (970-931 BC) who built these high places. Solomon, although he was gifted with wisdom, permitted temples and shrines for foreign deities, a decision that contributed to Israel’s spiritual decline. Under Josiah’s renewed passion for God’s law, these forbidden worship sites were destroyed to bring the people back to the true God.
The text says that Josiah invoked God’s righteous anger on these shrines by making them ceremonially unclean: “He broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones” (v.14). This graphic action underscores Josiah’s determination to put an end to the abominations that had dishonored the LORD. Ashtoreth was worshiped by the Sidonians, Chemosh by the Moabites, and Milcom by the Ammonites; all of these false gods had drawn the hearts of the people away from the one true God. Josiah’s reforms were part of a broader revival, fueled by his discovery of the Book of the Law, leading the kingdom into a deeper obedience to their covenant with the LORD.
From a broader scriptural viewpoint, Josiah’s actions foreshadow a cleansing that Christ ultimately brings through His sacrifice, removing every barrier that hinders the proper worship of God (Hebrews 10:10). Just as Josiah physically destroyed idols, Jesus provides the power for believers to remove any spiritual idols in their hearts, calling them toward true devotion (Colossians 3:5). The zeal Josiah displayed in ridding his land of paganism echoes forward to the New Testament’s call for holiness, reminding faithful followers of all generations that God deserves their exclusive loyalty.