2 Chronicles 34:5

And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

And he burnt {H8313} the bones {H6106} of the priests {H3548} upon their altars {H4196}, and cleansed {H2891} Judah {H3063} and Jerusalem {H3389}.

He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, thus cleansing Y'hudah and Yerushalayim.

Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 34:5 describes a decisive act of King Josiah's religious reforms in Judah. Following his early commitment to seek God (as noted in 2 Chronicles 34:3), Josiah embarks on a thorough purification of the land from the widespread idolatry that had flourished under his predecessors, particularly Manasseh and Amon.

Context

Josiah became king of Judah at the tender age of eight (2 Chronicles 34:1). By his twelfth year, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, and carved images. This verse details one of the most drastic and symbolic actions of this cleansing: the burning of the bones of the idolatrous priests upon their very altars. This act was not merely destructive; it was a profound declaration of judgment and desecration, making the altars ceremonially unclean and unfit for any form of worship, even pagan. This action parallels the account in 2 Kings 23:20.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Radical Purification: Josiah’s actions demonstrate an uncompromising commitment to eradicating all forms of idolatry. He went beyond mere destruction of idols to defile the instruments and symbols of false worship, reflecting the Mosaic law's commands to destroy pagan altars.
  • Desecration of Idolatry: Burning human bones, especially those of priests who served false gods, on their altars was an ultimate act of dishonor and defilement. It rendered the altars utterly unclean and unusable, symbolizing the utter contempt for the false deities and their practices. This act strikingly fulfills a prophecy made centuries earlier against the altar at Bethel (1 Kings 13:2), highlighting God's long-term plan for justice.
  • Restoration of True Worship: This thorough cleansing was a necessary precursor to the restoration of proper worship of the Lord God of Israel, central to Josiah's broader spiritual revival.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cleansed" (taher) implies a comprehensive process of purification, making something ritually clean and acceptable. In this context, it signifies not just a physical removal of objects but a spiritual and religious purification of the land and its people from the defilement of idolatry, restoring them to a state where they could properly worship God.

Practical Application

Josiah's zealous actions serve as a powerful reminder for believers today about the need for a radical and thorough cleansing of anything in our lives that takes the place of God. Just as Josiah removed the physical idols from Judah, we are called to identify and eliminate spiritual idols—be they possessions, ambitions, relationships, or anything else—that divert our devotion from the Lord. This verse encourages us to pursue holiness and purity, ensuring that our lives are truly dedicated to God's glory and not defiled by competing affections or practices.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 13:2

    And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.

  • Jeremiah 3:10

    And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

  • 2 Kings 23:16

    And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that [were] there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned [them] upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

  • Ezekiel 22:24

    Son of man, say unto her, Thou [art] the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.

  • 2 Kings 23:20

    And he slew all the priests of the high places that [were] there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.

  • Jeremiah 4:14

    O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

  • 2 Chronicles 34:7

    And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
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