This verse shows how thoroughly King Josiah extirpated idolatry to honor the LORD.
When the Bible states “He brought out the Asherah from the house of the LORD outside Jerusalem to the brook Kidron, and burned it there, and ground it to dust, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.” (v.6), it describes a significant moment of purification led by King Josiah, who reigned over Judah from about 640 to 609 BC. King Josiah is known for initiating major religious reforms that sought to rid the land of idolatry and renew obedience to the covenant with God. The Asherah was a pagan object of worship associated with the Canaanite fertility goddess, and its presence in the temple was a direct violation of the commandment to have no other gods before the LORD (Exodus 20:3). By removing and destroying this idol, Josiah demonstrated his zeal to restore proper worship.
The verse also provides a geographical reference to Jerusalem, the capital city of the Kingdom of Judah, situated in the Judean highlands. The passage explains that the idol was taken to the brook Kidron, which flows on the eastern side of Jerusalem, between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. This brook served as a place of disposal, further emphasizing the total removal of idolatrous practices from the holy city. Burning the Asherah and grinding it to dust underscored Josiah’s determination to obliterate every trace of pagan worship. Scattering its remains on the graves of the common people added a symbolic note that even in death, idolatry would be disgraced and shunned within the land of Judah.
In a broader sense, the destruction of the Asherah foreshadows the New Testament message to remove any “idols” from our own hearts (Colossians 3:5). Just as Josiah took decisive action, believers today are likewise encouraged to confront and remove any influences, habits, or objects that challenge the supremacy of God in their lives (Matthew 6:24). Through this dramatic event, 2 Kings 23:6 offers a timeless reminder that devotion to the Lord requires a complete commitment to holiness and the rejection of all other allegiances.
Set to dark mode
2 Kings 23:6 meaning
When the Bible states “He brought out the Asherah from the house of the LORD outside Jerusalem to the brook Kidron, and burned it there, and ground it to dust, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.” (v.6), it describes a significant moment of purification led by King Josiah, who reigned over Judah from about 640 to 609 BC. King Josiah is known for initiating major religious reforms that sought to rid the land of idolatry and renew obedience to the covenant with God. The Asherah was a pagan object of worship associated with the Canaanite fertility goddess, and its presence in the temple was a direct violation of the commandment to have no other gods before the LORD (Exodus 20:3). By removing and destroying this idol, Josiah demonstrated his zeal to restore proper worship.
The verse also provides a geographical reference to Jerusalem, the capital city of the Kingdom of Judah, situated in the Judean highlands. The passage explains that the idol was taken to the brook Kidron, which flows on the eastern side of Jerusalem, between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. This brook served as a place of disposal, further emphasizing the total removal of idolatrous practices from the holy city. Burning the Asherah and grinding it to dust underscored Josiah’s determination to obliterate every trace of pagan worship. Scattering its remains on the graves of the common people added a symbolic note that even in death, idolatry would be disgraced and shunned within the land of Judah.
In a broader sense, the destruction of the Asherah foreshadows the New Testament message to remove any “idols” from our own hearts (Colossians 3:5). Just as Josiah took decisive action, believers today are likewise encouraged to confront and remove any influences, habits, or objects that challenge the supremacy of God in their lives (Matthew 6:24). Through this dramatic event, 2 Kings 23:6 offers a timeless reminder that devotion to the Lord requires a complete commitment to holiness and the rejection of all other allegiances.