2 Kings 23:7

And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that [were] by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

And he brake down {H5422} the houses {H1004} of the sodomites {H6945}, that were by the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, where the women {H802} wove {H707} hangings {H1004} for the grove {H842}.

He smashed the houses of the cult prostitutes that were in the house of ADONAI, where the women also wove garments for the asherah.

He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD, where the women had woven tapestries for Asherah.

And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were in the house of Jehovah, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.

Commentary

2 Kings 23:7 describes a crucial act in King Josiah's widespread religious reforms, highlighting the extent of pagan corruption that had infiltrated Judah, even to the very precincts of the Jerusalem Temple.

Context

This verse is part of a detailed account of King Josiah's comprehensive cleansing of idolatry from Judah and Jerusalem. Following the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:8), Josiah initiated a fervent movement to restore the nation's covenant relationship with the LORD. His predecessors, especially Manasseh and Amon, had allowed and even promoted various forms of pagan worship, leading to deep spiritual decay.

Key Themes

  • Radical Purity and Reformation: Josiah's actions demonstrate a zealous commitment to purging all elements of idolatry and immorality from the land. He didn't just remove idols; he destroyed the infrastructure supporting pagan practices, showing the depth of the required spiritual renewal and the serious nature of God's commands against paganism.
  • Defilement of Sacred Space: The presence of "houses of the sodomites" directly "by the house of the LORD" underscores the shocking degree to which paganism had desecrated the sacred space meant for the worship of the one true God. This brazen proximity symbolized the nation's spiritual compromise and disregard for God's holiness.
  • Idolatry and Immorality: The verse explicitly links cultic prostitution ("sodomites") with the worship of "the grove" (Asherah). This highlights how pagan fertility cults often involved immoral sexual practices, which were an abomination to the LORD and a stark contrast to the purity demanded by His law (Leviticus 18:22).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV term "sodomites" translates the Hebrew word qadesh (or qedesha for females), which literally means "holy one" or "consecrated one." However, in this context, it refers to cult prostitutes – male or female individuals consecrated for sexual acts within pagan religious rituals, often associated with fertility cults like Baal or Asherah worship. The "grove" refers to the Asherah pole or image, representing the Canaanite goddess Asherah, whose worship was strictly forbidden by God (Exodus 34:13).

Significance and Application

Josiah's actions in 2 Kings 23:7 serve as a powerful reminder of God's demand for exclusive worship and purity. For ancient Israel, it was a crucial step to return to the covenant and escape divine judgment. For believers today, it emphasizes the need for a radical spiritual cleansing from anything that defiles our lives or draws us away from God. Just as Josiah purged the physical temple, we are called to cleanse our "temple" – our bodies and our hearts – from all forms of spiritual idolatry and immorality (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This verse encourages vigilance against subtle forms of idolatry and compromise that can creep into our lives, even when seemingly close to sacred things or spiritual practices.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 15:12

    And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

  • Ezekiel 16:16

    And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: [the like things] shall not come, neither shall it be [so].

  • 1 Kings 14:24

    And there were also sodomites in the land: [and] they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

  • Exodus 35:25

    And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, [both] of blue, and of purple, [and] of scarlet, and of fine linen.

  • Exodus 35:26

    And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' [hair].

  • Ezekiel 8:14

    Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which [was] toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

  • Romans 1:26

    For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
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