2 Chronicles 34:4

And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that [were] on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust [of them], and strowed [it] upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

And they brake down {H5422} the altars {H4196} of Baalim {H1168} in his presence {H6440}; and the images {H2553}, that were on high above them {H4605}, he cut down {H1438}; and the groves {H842}, and the carved images {H6456}, and the molten images {H4541}, he brake in pieces {H7665}, and made dust {H1854} of them, and strowed {H2236} it upon {H6440} the graves {H6913} of them that had sacrificed {H2076} unto them.

In his presence they broke down the altars of the ba'alim, and he chopped down the pillars for sun-worship mounted above them. He smashed the sacred poles and the carved and cast metal images, grinding them to dust, which he threw on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

And they brake down the altars of the Baalim in his presence; and the sun-images that were on high above them he hewed down; and the Asherim, and the graven images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 34:4 (KJV)

2 Chronicles 34:4 is a pivotal verse in the account of King Josiah's reign, detailing his vigorous and comprehensive efforts to cleanse the land of Judah from widespread idolatry. It vividly describes the physical destruction of pagan worship sites and objects, underscoring his deep commitment to restoring true worship of the Lord.

Context

This verse is part of the narrative of King Josiah's early reforms. Having ascended to the throne at just eight years old, Josiah began to seek the Lord when he was sixteen (2 Chronicles 34:3). By his twelfth year, he initiated a systematic purification of Judah and Jerusalem. This period predates the finding of the Book of the Law, highlighting Josiah's inherent zeal for God even before a full rediscovery of the Mosaic covenant. The land had been steeped in syncretistic practices and outright paganism under his predecessors, particularly Manasseh and Amon, making Josiah's actions a dramatic reversal.

Key Themes

  • Thorough Reformation: Josiah's actions were not superficial. He didn't just remove idols; he utterly destroyed them, breaking them into pieces and grinding them to dust. This thoroughness reflects God's command to completely abolish pagan worship (Deuteronomy 7:5).
  • Zeal Against Idolatry: The active demolition of "altars of Baalim," "images," "groves," "carved images," and "molten images" demonstrates an uncompromising stand against anything that diverted worship from the one true God. This zeal was a hallmark of Josiah's reign and a stark contrast to many previous kings of Judah.
  • Desecration and Humiliation: The act of "strowed [it] upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them" was a deliberate act of desecration. It rendered the sacred sites of idolaters unclean and humiliated the memory of those who participated in such worship, further emphasizing the complete rejection of these practices. This also fulfills a prophecy from 1 Kings 13:2.

Linguistic Insights

  • Baalim: This is the plural form of "Baal," referring to various local manifestations of the Canaanite storm god. Worship of Baal often involved fertility rites and child sacrifice, making it particularly offensive to Yahweh.
  • Groves: The Hebrew term is Asherim (plural), referring to sacred poles or trees erected in honor of Asherah, a Canaanite goddess. These sites were often associated with immoral and idolatrous rituals.

Practical Application

While we may not have physical altars to Baal in our homes, this verse serves as a powerful reminder for believers today to engage in a similar spiritual cleansing. We are called to identify and utterly destroy anything in our lives that takes the place of God – whether it be materialism, self-reliance, unhealthy relationships, or even good things that have become ultimate things. Josiah's example encourages a complete and uncompromising commitment to purging spiritual idols from our hearts and lives, ensuring that our worship and devotion are solely directed towards the Lord.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 32:20

    And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt [it] in the fire, and ground [it] to powder, and strawed [it] upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink [of it].

  • 2 Kings 23:4

    ¶ And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.

  • 2 Kings 23:6

    And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped [it] small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.

  • Leviticus 26:30

    And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.

  • 2 Kings 10:26

    And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.

  • 2 Kings 10:27

    And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

  • Deuteronomy 9:21

    And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, [and] ground [it] very small, [even] until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back