Josiah took bold and uncompromising steps to cleanse the land, emphasizing the seriousness of remaining faithful to the Lord.
In this passage, we read how “All the priests of the high places who were there he slaughtered on the altars and burned human bones on them; then he returned to Jerusalem” (2 Kings 23:20). With these strong actions, King Josiah confronted the entrenched idolatrous practices that had lured the people of Judah away from worshipping the one true God. The harsh measure of destroying the false priests on their very altars underscores the complete eradication of pagan worship in his realm, fulfilling God’s command to purge the land of its corrupt influences (Deuteronomy 12:2-3).
In historical context, Josiah was the king of Judah from approximately 640-609 BC. He was known for initiating sweeping reforms to restore proper worship, as recorded in 2 Kings 22-23. At this time, Samaria (to the north of Judah in a region often called the Hill Country of Samaria), founded by King Omri around 880 BC, had long been a center of idol worship in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Josiah’s removal of idols and priests of the high places in the broader region, including those once tied to Samaria’s legacy of idolatry, illustrates his dedicated effort to unite all Israelites under the worship of the Lord alone.
The removal of misguided spiritual leaders also resonates with the broader biblical theme of cleansing and renewal—an idea later fulfilled when Jesus, in His own ministry, addressed corrupt religious practices and called people back to genuine worship (Matthew 21:12-13). Josiah’s actions, though executed with startling severity, demonstrate a determined obedience and zeal for God’s holiness. This obedience foreshadows the New Testament’s invitation to spiritual purity, reminding believers that God’s people must continually resist idolatry and falsehood in every form (1 John 5:21).
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2 Kings 23:20 meaning
In this passage, we read how “All the priests of the high places who were there he slaughtered on the altars and burned human bones on them; then he returned to Jerusalem” (2 Kings 23:20). With these strong actions, King Josiah confronted the entrenched idolatrous practices that had lured the people of Judah away from worshipping the one true God. The harsh measure of destroying the false priests on their very altars underscores the complete eradication of pagan worship in his realm, fulfilling God’s command to purge the land of its corrupt influences (Deuteronomy 12:2-3).
In historical context, Josiah was the king of Judah from approximately 640-609 BC. He was known for initiating sweeping reforms to restore proper worship, as recorded in 2 Kings 22-23. At this time, Samaria (to the north of Judah in a region often called the Hill Country of Samaria), founded by King Omri around 880 BC, had long been a center of idol worship in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Josiah’s removal of idols and priests of the high places in the broader region, including those once tied to Samaria’s legacy of idolatry, illustrates his dedicated effort to unite all Israelites under the worship of the Lord alone.
The removal of misguided spiritual leaders also resonates with the broader biblical theme of cleansing and renewal—an idea later fulfilled when Jesus, in His own ministry, addressed corrupt religious practices and called people back to genuine worship (Matthew 21:12-13). Josiah’s actions, though executed with startling severity, demonstrate a determined obedience and zeal for God’s holiness. This obedience foreshadows the New Testament’s invitation to spiritual purity, reminding believers that God’s people must continually resist idolatry and falsehood in every form (1 John 5:21).