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.

And when he had broken down {H5422} the altars {H4196} and the groves {H842}, and had beaten {H3807} the graven images {H6456} into powder {H1854}, and cut down {H1438} all the idols {H2553} throughout all the land {H776} of Israel {H3478}, he returned {H7725} to Jerusalem {H3389}.

He broke down the altars, beat the sacred poles and carved images to powder and chopped down the pillars for sun-worship throughout all the land of Isra'el. Then he returned to Yerushalayim.

He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

And he brake down the altars, and beat the Asherim and the graven images into powder, and hewed down all the sun-images throughout all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 34:7 KJV Commentary: King Josiah's Zealous Reformation

Context

This verse provides a snapshot of King Josiah's zealous and thorough reformation of Judah. Having begun his reign at the tender age of eight, Josiah distinguished himself as one of Judah's most righteous kings, walking in the ways of his ancestor David. By the time he was sixteen (in his eighth year of reign), he began to seek the God of his father David (2 Chronicles 34:3). This verse, from his twelfth year, highlights the widespread and aggressive nature of his campaign against idolatry, not just in Judah but "throughout all the land of Israel," indicating his influence extended beyond the southern kingdom.

Key Themes

  • Radical Purity and Reformation: Josiah's actions were not superficial. He didn't merely remove the idols; he "broken down the altars," "beaten the graven images into powder," and "cut down all the idols." This demonstrates an uncompromising commitment to purging the land of every vestige of false worship, reflecting God's command for complete eradication of idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:5).
  • Zeal for God's Glory: Josiah's proactive and energetic destruction of pagan altars and images showcases a profound zeal for the Lord and His exclusive worship. His actions stood in stark contrast to many previous kings who tolerated or even promoted idolatry.
  • Confronting Idolatry's Deep Roots: The widespread nature of his reforms, extending throughout "all the land of Israel," underscores how deeply entrenched idolatry had become, requiring such a drastic and thorough response from a godly leader.

Linguistic Insights

The term "groves" in the KJV text refers to the Hebrew word Asherim (plural of Asherah). These were not simply natural groves of trees, but rather sacred poles or cultic wooden images dedicated to Asherah, a Canaanite goddess often associated with Baal. These Asherim were central to pagan worship practices and frequently stood alongside altars of Baal. Josiah's act of cutting them down was a direct assault on the very heart of the idolatrous system that had corrupted Israel for centuries (2 Kings 23:4 provides additional details of his extensive reforms).

Practical Application

Josiah's comprehensive cleansing of the land from idolatry offers a powerful spiritual lesson for believers today. While we may not worship physical statues, modern-day "idols" can take many forms: anything that replaces God as the supreme object of our affection, trust, or devotion (e.g., career, money, relationships, self-image, comfort). This verse challenges us to emulate Josiah's zeal by conducting a thorough spiritual cleansing in our own lives, identifying and decisively removing anything that hinders our complete devotion to God. It calls for an uncompromising commitment to spiritual purity and a fervent pursuit of true worship.

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Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 31:1

    ¶ 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.

  • 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.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:1

    ¶ Josiah [was] eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.
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