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2 Kings 23:16

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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.

And as Josiah {H2977} turned {H6437} himself, he spied {H7200} the sepulchres {H6913} that were there in the mount {H2022}, and sent {H7971}, and took {H3947} the bones {H6106} out of the sepulchres {H6913}, and burned {H8313} them upon the altar {H4196}, and polluted {H2930} it, according to the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} which the man {H376} of God {H430} proclaimed {H7121}, who proclaimed {H7121} these words {H1697}.

Then, as Yoshiyahu was turning around, he noticed the burial caves that were there on the mountain; so he sent and had the bones taken out of the burial caves and burned them on the altar, thus desecrating it, in keeping with the word of ADONAI which the man of God had proclaimed, foretelling that these things would happen.

And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things.

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

Commentary

2 Kings 23:16 describes a pivotal moment in King Josiah's widespread religious reforms, highlighting his zeal in eradicating idolatry and the remarkable fulfillment of ancient prophecy.

Historical and Cultural Context

King Josiah, reigning in Judah during a period of deep spiritual decline, initiated a profound spiritual awakening after the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:8). His reforms were comprehensive, targeting every vestige of pagan worship that had infiltrated the kingdom, particularly during the reigns of his grandfather Manasseh and father Amon.

This specific verse details Josiah's actions concerning an altar likely located near Bethel, a significant site associated with idolatry since the time of Jeroboam I, who set up golden calves there. The "sepulchres" (tombs) on "the mount" would have contained the bones of priests who served these idolatrous altars. By taking their bones and burning them upon the altar, Josiah performed an act of extreme ritual defilement. According to Mosaic Law, contact with dead bodies rendered one unclean, and burning bones on an altar would make it utterly polluted and unfit for any sacred use, even by pagan standards. This was a symbolic and practical act to ensure the permanent cessation of pagan worship at that site.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The most striking aspect of this verse is the direct reference to "the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed." This refers to a prophecy uttered over 300 years earlier by an unnamed prophet against Jeroboam's altar at Bethel (1 Kings 13:2). Josiah's actions precisely fulfilled that ancient word, demonstrating God's sovereign control over history and the infallible nature of His prophetic declarations.
  • Thoroughness of Reform: Josiah's actions illustrate his unwavering commitment to purging idolatry from the land. He wasn't content with merely tearing down altars; he went further, making them ritually unusable through extreme desecration, leaving no room for their revival.
  • God's Abhorrence of Idolatry: The severity of Josiah's actions underscores God's deep displeasure with idolatry. The defilement of the altars symbolized the spiritual defilement that idolatry brought upon the land and its people.

Linguistic Insights

The word "polluted" (KJV) comes from the Hebrew root ṭāmēʾ (טָמֵא), meaning "to be unclean" or "defiled." In the Old Testament, this term often carries a strong ritualistic connotation, referring to a state of impurity that renders a person or object unfit for holy purposes or presence. By burning human bones on the altar, Josiah rendered it supremely ṭāmēʾ, making it an abomination to any who might consider using it for worship, whether to Yahweh or pagan deities.

Practical Application

The account of Josiah's actions in 2 Kings 23:16 offers several powerful lessons for believers today:

  • The Certainty of God's Word: Just as the ancient prophecy against Jeroboam's altar came to pass centuries later, so too will all of God's promises and warnings be fulfilled. This should strengthen our faith in the reliability of Scripture.
  • Thoroughness in Spiritual Cleansing: Josiah's radical approach to removing idolatry challenges us to be equally thorough in identifying and removing anything in our lives that takes God's rightful place or hinders our devotion to Him. This might involve attitudes, habits, or relationships that subtly become idols.
  • Zeal for Righteousness: Josiah's passion for God's glory and the purity of worship serves as an example for us to pursue righteousness and oppose spiritual compromise in our own lives and communities.
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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 13:1 (11 votes)

    ¶ And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

  • 1 Kings 13:2 (11 votes)

    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.

  • Matthew 24:35 (3 votes)

    Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

  • 1 Kings 13:32 (3 votes)

    For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which [are] in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.

  • John 10:35 (3 votes)

    If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;