Their separate status reflects the thoroughness of Josiah’s reforms and God’s mercy in sustaining them through priestly bread.
When this passage states, “Nevertheless the priests of the high places did not go up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.” (v.9), it shows that these particular priests were set apart from the normal priestly duties of the temple. Although King Josiah (who reigned 640-609 BC) removed idolatrous practices throughout Judah, disqualifying the priests of those forbidden shrines from service at the altar, we see here that these men were still allowed to share in the sacred meals. Jerusalem was the rightful place of worship appointed by the LORD (1 Kings 8:29), making it significant that the text distinguishes these former high place priests from full temple participation—yet they did not starve or remain ostracized entirely. This moment highlights the broader principle of gracious allowance in the midst of national reforms.
The reference to “unleavened bread” evokes the memory of Israel’s covenant identity, as unleavened bread was a recurring element in various sacrificial meals and festivals (Exodus 12:8). For the priests specifically, partaking in sacred meals was a privilege and symbolic of their calling, even if their previous service had been compromised by officiating at unlawful shrines. King Josiah’s reforms, recorded in 2 Kings 23 and in 2 Chronicles 34-35, sought to centralize worship in Jerusalem and restore holiness in the land. By dismantling the high places and forbidding those priests from serving at the altar, Josiah preserved the sanctity of God’s established institution while also continuing to support these priests’ basic provisions.
In the New Testament, the idea of offering true worship centered on God’s appointed means is fulfilled in Jesus, who calls believers to “worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). In a similar way, these priests in 2 Kings 23:9 experienced both restriction and provision—pointing to the seriousness of proper worship before God along with His gracious desire to sustain His people.
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2 Kings 23:9 meaning
When this passage states, “Nevertheless the priests of the high places did not go up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.” (v.9), it shows that these particular priests were set apart from the normal priestly duties of the temple. Although King Josiah (who reigned 640-609 BC) removed idolatrous practices throughout Judah, disqualifying the priests of those forbidden shrines from service at the altar, we see here that these men were still allowed to share in the sacred meals. Jerusalem was the rightful place of worship appointed by the LORD (1 Kings 8:29), making it significant that the text distinguishes these former high place priests from full temple participation—yet they did not starve or remain ostracized entirely. This moment highlights the broader principle of gracious allowance in the midst of national reforms.
The reference to “unleavened bread” evokes the memory of Israel’s covenant identity, as unleavened bread was a recurring element in various sacrificial meals and festivals (Exodus 12:8). For the priests specifically, partaking in sacred meals was a privilege and symbolic of their calling, even if their previous service had been compromised by officiating at unlawful shrines. King Josiah’s reforms, recorded in 2 Kings 23 and in 2 Chronicles 34-35, sought to centralize worship in Jerusalem and restore holiness in the land. By dismantling the high places and forbidding those priests from serving at the altar, Josiah preserved the sanctity of God’s established institution while also continuing to support these priests’ basic provisions.
In the New Testament, the idea of offering true worship centered on God’s appointed means is fulfilled in Jesus, who calls believers to “worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). In a similar way, these priests in 2 Kings 23:9 experienced both restriction and provision—pointing to the seriousness of proper worship before God along with His gracious desire to sustain His people.