2 Chronicles 34:24

KJV

Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, [even] all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, Behold, I will bring {H935} evil {H7451} upon this place {H4725}, and upon the inhabitants {H3427} thereof, even all the curses {H423} that are written {H3789} in the book {H5612} which they have read {H7121} before {H6440} the king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}:

Complete Jewish Bible

that ADONAI says this: 'I am going to bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses written in the scroll they read to the king of Y'hudah;

Berean Standard Bible

that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah,

American Standard Version

Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 34:24 records the solemn divine pronouncement delivered by the prophetess Huldah to King Josiah, confirming God's impending judgment upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants. This verse underscores the severe consequences of Judah's persistent and widespread rebellion against the Mosaic covenant, affirming that the calamities about to befall the nation are the direct fulfillment of the curses explicitly detailed in the recently rediscovered Book of the Law, which had been read before the king. It serves as a stark reminder of God's unwavering justice and faithfulness to His declared word, both in promise and in warning.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This prophecy is situated at a pivotal moment in Judah's history, during the eighteenth year of King Josiah's righteous reign. While overseeing the repair of the Temple, the high priest Hilkiah discovered the [Book of the Law](/2_chronicles/34-14 "2 Chronicles 34:14 - Discovery of the Book of the Law"), likely a copy of Deuteronomy. Upon hearing its contents read, Josiah was deeply convicted, tearing his clothes in profound repentance and recognizing the nation's egregious deviation from God's commands, as detailed in [2 Chronicles 34:19](/2_chronicles/34-19 "2 Chronicles 34:19 - Josiah's Reaction to the Book of the Law"). In response to this spiritual crisis, Josiah immediately dispatched a delegation, including Hilkiah and Shaphan, to inquire of the LORD. Their inquiry led them to Huldah the prophetess, whose message in [2 Chronicles 34:23-28](/2_chronicles/34-23 "2 Chronicles 34:23-28 - Huldah's Prophecy to Josiah") confirmed the impending divine wrath upon Judah for their idolatry and disobedience, while also granting Josiah a personal reprieve due to his humble repentance.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Josiah's reign (640-609 BC) followed decades of severe apostasy under his grandfather Manasseh and father Amon, during which idolatry, child sacrifice, and pagan worship had deeply permeated Judahite society. The discovery of the Book of the Law was a watershed moment, revealing the extent of the nation's spiritual decline in stark contrast to the covenant stipulations. Culturally, the concept of a covenant, with its blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, was foundational to Israelite identity, as outlined in books like [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). Huldah's role as a prophetess, consulted by the king and high priest, highlights the respect given to prophetic authority in ancient Israel, even amidst widespread spiritual decline. Geographically, Jerusalem was the spiritual and political heart of Judah, making the pronouncement of judgment "upon this place" particularly significant, indicating the impending destruction of the city and its Temple.

* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully articulates several core themes prevalent in 2 Chronicles and the broader Deuteronomistic history. Firstly, **Divine Judgment** is unequivocally declared, emphasizing God's righteous response to chronic sin and covenant infidelity. The "evil" is not random misfortune but a direct, punitive consequence. Secondly, the theme of **Covenant Curses** is central; the judgment is not arbitrary but precisely "all the curses that are written in the book," directly referencing the stipulations of the Mosaic Law, particularly those found in [Leviticus 26](/leviticus/26 "Leviticus 26 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience") and [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). This highlights God's **Faithfulness to His Word**, demonstrating that His warnings are as binding as His promises. Finally, the passage underscores the **Consequences of Persistent Disobedience**, illustrating that while individual repentance (like Josiah's) can bring personal reprieve, a nation's collective and systemic rejection of God's commands inevitably leads to severe repercussions, ultimately culminating in the Babylonian exile, which is foreshadowed here.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **evil (Hebrew, _ra'ah'_):** In this context, _ra'ah_ does not denote moral evil or wickedness, but rather calamity, disaster, misfortune, or affliction. It refers to the punitive consequences brought by God as a righteous judgment against sin. This distinguishes God's action from human malevolence, emphasizing that the "evil" is a just and deserved outcome for Judah's covenant breaking.
* **curses (Hebrew, _'alah'_):** This term specifically refers to the solemn pronouncements of judgment, misfortune, or divine retribution outlined within the covenant for disobedience. These are not mere threats but divinely ordained penalties that God, in His justice and faithfulness to His covenant, is bound to execute when His people persistently violate His commands. The use of _'alah_ here directly links the impending disaster to the specific legal stipulations of the Mosaic Law.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus saith the LORD,":** This is a classic prophetic formula, establishing the divine authority and origin of the message. It signals that the words that follow are not Huldah's personal opinion but a direct, unadulterated revelation from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This phrase lends immense weight and certainty to the prophecy.
* **"Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof,":** This clause declares God's active intention to initiate judgment. "This place" refers specifically to Jerusalem, the capital and spiritual center of Judah, and by extension, the entire kingdom. The "inhabitants thereof" signifies the people of Judah, collectively responsible for the nation's apostasy. The declaration of "I will bring" emphasizes God's sovereign agency in executing judgment, not merely allowing it to happen.
* **"[even] all the curses that are written in the book":** This clarifies the nature and source of the "evil." It is not random misfortune but the precise fulfillment of the covenant curses. The phrase "all the curses" indicates the comprehensive and exhaustive nature of the impending judgment, leaving no aspect of the promised consequences unfulfilled. This directly links the prophecy to the Mosaic Law, particularly the extensive lists of curses in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Curses for Disobedience") and [Leviticus 26](/leviticus/26 "Leviticus 26 - Consequences of Disobedience").
* **"which they have read before the king of Judah:":** This final phrase underscores the immediate context and the undeniable culpability of the people. The "book" (the Book of the Law) had just been discovered and read publicly, making its contents, and therefore the covenant's stipulations and curses, known to the king and, by extension, to the nation's leadership. This highlights that the judgment is not arbitrary but a righteous response to a known and willfully violated covenant.

#### Literary Devices
2 Chronicles 34:24 primarily employs **Divine Oracle**, a common prophetic literary device where a message is presented as a direct utterance from God, often introduced by phrases like "Thus saith the LORD." This device imbues the message with absolute authority and certainty. The verse also functions as a powerful **Prophecy**, foretelling future events (the bringing of "evil" and "curses") as a direct consequence of past and present actions. Furthermore, there is an element of **Foreshadowing**, as Huldah's words explicitly anticipate the coming Babylonian exile and the destruction of Jerusalem, which would indeed fulfill "all the curses" written in the Law. The specific reference to "the book" and its reading creates a strong sense of **Irony** and **Accountability**, as the very words that condemn Judah are those they had neglected for generations, now brought to light at the precipice of their destruction.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, demonstrating that His warnings are as certain as His promises. It reveals a God who is both merciful (as seen in Josiah's reprieve) and perfectly just, who cannot overlook persistent sin and rebellion without compromising His own holy character. The "evil" brought upon Judah is not an act of arbitrary wrath but a righteous consequence, a necessary outworking of the covenant curses that had been neglected for generations. This judgment serves as a powerful testament to the seriousness of God's law and the profound implications of rejecting His revealed will. It underscores the principle that national and corporate sin has tangible, devastating consequences, even when individuals within that nation strive for righteousness.

* [Leviticus 26:14-39](/leviticus/26-14 "Leviticus 26:14-39 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Extensive List of Curses")
* [Jeremiah 19:3-9](/jeremiah/19-3 "Jeremiah 19:3-9 - Prophecy of Jerusalem's Destruction")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
2 Chronicles 34:24 serves as a sobering reminder of the gravity of God's word and the reality of divine justice. For us today, it highlights that God's character is consistent: He is both gracious and righteous. While we live under the new covenant, the principles of sowing and reaping, and the seriousness of sin, remain. This passage calls us to a profound reverence for Scripture, not merely as historical text but as the living word of God that reveals His will and warns of the consequences of disobedience. It urges us to examine our own lives and communities, asking if we are truly living in alignment with God's commands or if we are, like ancient Judah, drifting into spiritual apathy and rebellion. The impending judgment on Judah, despite Josiah's personal piety, also reminds us that corporate sin can have far-reaching consequences that affect generations, prompting us to pray for and actively seek righteousness in our societies and churches. Ultimately, it compels us to respond to God's word with humility, repentance, and a renewed commitment to obedience, trusting in His mercy while respecting His justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How seriously do I take the warnings and commands found in God's Word in my daily life?**
* **In what ways might my community or nation be experiencing consequences similar to the "evil" described here, due to collective disobedience to God's principles?**
* **How does understanding God's justice in this verse deepen my appreciation for His mercy and grace?**
* **What specific actions can I take to respond with greater humility and obedience to God's revealed will?**

### FAQ
**What was "the book" mentioned in this verse, and why was its reading so significant?**

Answer: The "book" refers to the [Book of the Law](/2_chronicles/34-14 "2 Chronicles 34:14 - Discovery of the Book of the Law"), which was discovered by the high priest Hilkiah during the Temple repairs initiated by King Josiah. While its exact contents are debated, it is widely believed to be a copy of Deuteronomy, or at least a significant portion of it. Its reading was profoundly significant because it revealed to Josiah and the people the full extent of their covenant violations and the severe curses promised for disobedience, as detailed in passages like [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). This discovery sparked Josiah's immediate repentance and initiated a widespread religious reform, although Huldah's prophecy confirmed that the national judgment was still inevitable due to generations of ingrained sin.

**Why did God still bring judgment ("evil") upon Judah despite King Josiah's righteous reforms?**

Answer: While King Josiah's reforms were extensive and sincere, leading to a personal reprieve for him (as seen in [2 Chronicles 34:28](/2_chronicles/34-28 "2 Chronicles 34:28 - Josiah's Personal Reprieve")), the prophecy in [2 Chronicles 34:24](/2_chronicles/34-24 "2 Chronicles 34:24 - Huldah's Prophecy of Judgment") indicates that the collective and systemic sin of Judah over generations had reached a point of no return. The nation's idolatry and rebellion were deeply ingrained, and even Josiah's efforts, while commendable, could not fully reverse the spiritual trajectory of a people whose hearts were largely unrepentant. God's judgment was a righteous response to a long history of covenant breaking, demonstrating His faithfulness to His warnings and the principle that persistent sin, both individual and corporate, has inevitable consequences.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Chronicles 34:24, with its pronouncement of curses and impending "evil" due to covenant disobedience, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "curses that are written in the book" (the Law) were a heavy burden that humanity, specifically Israel, could not bear or escape through their own efforts. However, the New Testament reveals that Christ became a curse for us, redeeming us from the curse of the Law (as explicitly stated in [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law")). On the cross, Jesus absorbed the full weight of God's righteous judgment against sin, taking upon Himself the "evil" (calamity, punishment) that was due to humanity. Through His atoning sacrifice, He not only fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law but also inaugurated a new covenant, where forgiveness and reconciliation are offered not based on perfect adherence to the Law, but on faith in Him ([Hebrews 9:15](/hebrews/9-15 "Hebrews 9:15 - Christ, Mediator of a New Covenant")). Thus, while 2 Chronicles 34:24 highlights the just consequences of sin, it ultimately points to the greater redemptive work of Christ, who delivers those who believe from the ultimate "evil" of eternal separation from God, offering instead the blessing of eternal life and reconciliation ([Romans 8:1-4](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1-4 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")).

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.