2 Chronicles 31:1

KJV

¶ Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now when all this was finished {H3615}, all Israel {H3478} that were present {H4672} went out {H3318} to the cities {H5892} of Judah {H3063}, and brake {H7665} the images {H4676} in pieces {H7665}, and cut down {H1438} the groves {H842}, and threw down {H5422} the high places {H1116} and the altars {H4196} out of all Judah {H3063} and Benjamin {H1144}, in Ephraim {H669} also and Manasseh {H4519}, until they had utterly destroyed {H3615} them all. Then all the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} returned {H7725}, every man {H376} to his possession {H272}, into their own cities {H5892}.

Complete Jewish Bible

After all this was over, all Isra'el who were there went out to the cities of Y'hudah and smashed the standing-stones, chopped down the sacred poles, and broke down the high places and altars throughout Y'hudah, Binyamin, Efrayim and M'nasheh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Isra'el returned to their own cities, each to his own possession.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, and brake down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following a monumental and unifying Passover celebration orchestrated by King Hezekiah, 2 Chronicles 31:1 records the spontaneous and widespread action of the assembled Israelites. Driven by renewed zeal for Yahweh, they embarked on a comprehensive campaign to purge the land of idolatry, systematically dismantling pagan images, sacred poles, high places, and altars across Judah, Benjamin, and even parts of the northern territories of Ephraim and Manasseh. This verse marks a pivotal transition from corporate worship to tangible obedience, demonstrating a profound transformation of heart that led to the thorough eradication of spiritual defilement before the people returned to their homes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the extraordinary national Passover celebration described in [2 Chronicles 30](/2_chronicles/30 "2 Chronicles 30 - The Great Passover"). King Hezekiah had initiated a profound spiritual revival, beginning with the cleansing and re-consecration of the Temple in [2 Chronicles 29](/2_chronicles/29 "2 Chronicles 29 - Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple"). The Passover, which saw participation from both Judah and a significant remnant of the northern tribes, culminated in an unprecedented outpouring of joy and a renewed covenant commitment to God. [2 Chronicles 30:26](/2_chronicles/30-26 "2 Chronicles 30:26 - Unprecedented Joy") explicitly states that "since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem." The actions described in 2 Chronicles 31:1 are thus the direct, immediate, and Spirit-empowered fruit of this profound spiritual renewal, demonstrating that genuine worship leads to radical obedience and purification.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Hezekiah reigned in Judah (c. 715–686 BC) during a period of significant political and spiritual turmoil. His father, Ahaz, had promoted widespread idolatry, even sacrificing his own son ([2 Kings 16:3](/2_kings/16-3 "2 Kings 16:3 - Ahaz's Idolatry")). Consequently, the land was rife with pagan cult sites, including "high places" (often elevated altars for various deities), "images" (stone pillars or cultic statues), and "groves" (sacred poles or trees dedicated to the Canaanite goddess Asherah). These practices were explicitly forbidden by the Mosaic Law, which commanded their destruction (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:5](/deuteronomy/7-5 "Deuteronomy 7:5 - Command to Destroy Idols")). The participation of people from Ephraim and Manasseh highlights the historical context of the divided kingdom; while the northern kingdom of Israel had largely fallen to Assyria, a remnant remained, and Hezekiah's invitation to the Passover aimed to unify all Israel under Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes central to the book of Chronicles and biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **spiritual revival and national cleansing**, showing how a return to God results in immediate and decisive action against sin, particularly idolatry. The thoroughness ("utterly destroyed them all") emphasizes the **necessity of complete obedience** and the eradication of anything that competes with God's rightful place. Secondly, it highlights **unity in worship and action**, as "all Israel" participated in this widespread purification, transcending the political divisions between Judah and the northern tribes. This collective effort demonstrates the **transformative power of corporate worship** and a renewed covenant, leading to tangible societal change and a commitment to exclusive devotion to Yahweh, as mandated throughout the Law (e.g., [Exodus 20:3-5](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3-5 - The First Commandment")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Images (Hebrew, _matstsebah'_):** This term refers to standing stone pillars or monuments. While sometimes used for legitimate memorials (e.g., [Genesis 28:18](/genesis/28-18 "Genesis 28:18 - Jacob's Pillar")), in the context of idolatry, _matstsebah_ denotes cultic pillars dedicated to pagan deities, often associated with Canaanite fertility cults. Their destruction symbolized the dismantling of false worship systems.
* **Groves (Hebrew, _asherim'_):** This plural term specifically refers to sacred wooden poles or trees, often carved or decorated, that were central to the worship of Asherah, a prominent Canaanite goddess of fertility and motherhood. These poles were frequently erected alongside altars to Baal or other deities, representing a direct affront to Yahweh's exclusive claim on Israel's worship.
* **High places (Hebrew, _bamoth'_):** These were elevated sites, often natural hills or constructed platforms, used for religious worship. While some "high places" were used for legitimate worship of Yahweh before the Temple became the central place, many became centers for syncretistic or purely pagan worship, complete with altars for sacrifice to false gods. Their widespread presence indicated deep-seated idolatry in the land, and their destruction was a crucial step in restoring pure worship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now when all this was finished":** This phrase serves as a crucial temporal connector, linking the actions of 2 Chronicles 31:1 directly to the conclusion of the great Passover celebration and subsequent seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread described in [2 Chronicles 30](/2_chronicles/30 "2 Chronicles 30 - The Great Passover"). It emphasizes that the cleansing was an immediate and spontaneous response to the spiritual renewal experienced during the feast, not a delayed or commanded action.
* **"all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars":** This clause describes the unified and vigorous action of the people. "All Israel that were present" signifies not just the people of Judah and Benjamin, but also the significant number of participants from the northern tribes who had humbled themselves and come to Jerusalem for the Passover ([2 Chronicles 30:11](/2_chronicles/30-11 "2 Chronicles 30:11 - Northern Tribes Respond to Hezekiah's Invitation")). The four distinct actions—breaking, cutting down, throwing down—indicate a systematic and thorough dismantling of the physical manifestations of idolatry.
* **"out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all":** This specifies the extensive geographical reach and the uncompromising nature of the cleansing. It extended beyond the southern kingdom (Judah and Benjamin) into the territories of the northern tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh), demonstrating a national, unified commitment to purification. The phrase "until they had utterly destroyed them all" highlights the completeness and thoroughness of their obedience, leaving no remnant of pagan worship.
* **"Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities":** This final clause marks the conclusion of this extraordinary act of national purification. After fulfilling their collective duty to cleanse the land, the people returned to their homes, signifying a return to order and normalcy, now in a land purged of its spiritual defilement.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several effective literary devices to convey its powerful message. The use of **Merism** is evident in the phrase "out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh," which encompasses the entire land, symbolizing the unified effort of both southern and northern Israel in this cleansing. The cumulative effect of the verbs "brake," "cut down," and "threw down" creates a sense of **Energeia** or vividness, portraying the intense and decisive action of the people. The phrase "until they had utterly destroyed them all" functions as a form of **Hyperbole** or emphatic exaggeration, underscoring the completeness and thoroughness of the purification, leaving no room for partial obedience or lingering pagan influence. Furthermore, the entire verse serves as a powerful **Narrative Transition**, moving from the internal spiritual renewal of the Passover to its external, tangible manifestation in the land, illustrating the principle that genuine worship inevitably leads to radical obedience and purification.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a powerful theological statement about the relationship between genuine spiritual revival and practical obedience. It demonstrates that true repentance and renewed covenant commitment are not merely internal states but inevitably lead to tangible actions of purification and separation from anything that dishonors God. The spontaneous and thorough nature of the cleansing highlights God's desire for exclusive worship and the people's renewed zeal to obey His commands to eradicate idolatry from the land. This act of national purification reflects the principle that God's people are called to be holy, set apart for Him, and to actively remove spiritual hindrances from their lives and communities. It underscores the truth that worship without subsequent transformation is incomplete.

* [Deuteronomy 7:5](/deuteronomy/7-5 "Command to Destroy Idols")
* [Exodus 34:13](/exodus/34-13 "Command to Break Down Idols")
* [2 Corinthians 6:16-17](/2_corinthians/6-16 "Separation from Idolatry")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The actions of the Israelites in 2 Chronicles 31:1 provide a timeless model for believers today. Just as their profound spiritual renewal during the Passover led to an immediate and widespread purging of physical idols, so too should our encounters with God's grace and truth lead to a decisive dismantling of "idols" in our own lives. While we may not worship physical images, modern idolatry often manifests as anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts—be it material possessions, career ambitions, relationships, self-reliance, comfort, or even our own opinions. This verse challenges us to identify these spiritual hindrances and, with the same zeal and thoroughness as the Israelites, "utterly destroy them all." True repentance and revival are evidenced not just by emotional experiences but by tangible actions of obedience and a radical commitment to purity, both personally and corporately.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "idols" (whether tangible or intangible) might be subtly or overtly competing for God's rightful place in my life today?**
* **In what specific areas of my life am I called to act with the same "utter destruction" as the Israelites, removing anything that hinders my devotion to Christ?**
* **How does genuine spiritual renewal, whether personal or communal, manifest in tangible actions and a pursuit of holiness in my life or in my church community?**

### FAQ
**Why did the people, and not just King Hezekiah, take part in destroying the idols?**

Answer: While King Hezekiah initiated the reforms and the Passover celebration ([2 Chronicles 29:3](/2_chronicles/29-3 "2 Chronicles 29:3 - Hezekiah's Reforms")), 2 Chronicles 31:1 describes a spontaneous, grassroots movement by "all Israel that were present." This indicates that the profound spiritual renewal experienced during the Passover was not merely an external command from the king but had deeply impacted the hearts of the people. Their participation was a direct, zealous response to their renewed covenant with God, demonstrating a genuine transformation that moved them to actively purify the land. It signifies that true revival leads to personal and collective ownership of God's commands.

**What is the significance of the cleansing extending to Ephraim and Manasseh, given the divided kingdom?**

Answer: The fact that the cleansing extended into the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh (northern tribes) is highly significant. Historically, the northern kingdom of Israel had largely fallen to Assyria by this time, and its people were in exile or under Assyrian control. However, Hezekiah's invitation to the Passover in [2 Chronicles 30:1-12](/2_chronicles/30-1 "2 Chronicles 30:1-12 - Hezekiah Invites All Israel to Passover") explicitly included the remnant of the northern tribes. While many mocked, a significant number from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. Their participation in the cleansing of their former territories demonstrates a powerful moment of spiritual unity across the historical divide, foreshadowing a future restoration of "all Israel" under God's righteous rule. It underscores the chronicler's theme of a unified Israel, even in division.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The zealous actions of the Israelites in 2 Chronicles 31:1, purging the land of physical idols, find their ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as the people were moved to cleanse their land after a profound encounter with God, so too does Christ's redemptive work provide the ultimate purification. He is the true Temple, and His cleansing of the physical temple in Jerusalem ([John 2:13-17](/john/2-13 "John 2:13-17 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple")) was a prophetic act foreshadowing the spiritual cleansing He would accomplish. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus "takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), dismantling the spiritual strongholds of sin and idolatry that enslave humanity ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). In the New Covenant, believers are called to be living temples of the Holy Spirit ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "Your Body a Temple of the Holy Spirit")) and are empowered by the Spirit to put off the "old self" with its "idolatry" and "covetousness" ([Colossians 3:5-10](/colossians/3-5 "Put Off the Old Self")) and to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" ([Romans 12:2](/romans/12-2 "Transformed by the Renewal of Your Mind")). The thoroughness of the Israelites' destruction of idols points to the radical, complete transformation that Christ effects in the hearts of those who follow Him, leading to a life of true worship and holiness, free from the dominion of sin and false gods.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 18:4

He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

2 Chronicles 32:12

Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

Deuteronomy 7:5

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.

Esther 4:16

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

2 Kings 17:2

And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.

2 Chronicles 14:3

For he took away the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

2 Chronicles 23:17

Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.