2 Chronicles 30 14

2 Chronicles 30:14 kjv

And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.

2 Chronicles 30:14 nkjv

They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the incense altars and cast them into the Brook Kidron.

2 Chronicles 30:14 niv

They removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.

2 Chronicles 30:14 esv

They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the brook Kidron.

2 Chronicles 30:14 nlt

They set to work and removed the pagan altars from Jerusalem. They took away all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.

2 Chronicles 30 verses

2 Chronicles 30 14 Meaning

This verse details a key action during King Hezekiah's reforms, where the people actively participated in purifying Jerusalem. It describes the removal of idolatrous altars and unauthorized altars of worship, specifically those used for incense, from the city and their destruction by casting them into the Kidron Valley. This act signified a widespread rejection of past idolatry and a commitment to restoring proper, centralized worship of Yahweh as commanded in the Mosaic Law.

2 Chronicles 30 14 Context

2 Chronicles 30:14 is situated in the narrative of King Hezekiah's major religious reforms in Judah, following his wicked father Ahaz's reign of apostasy and neglect of the Temple. Hezekiah began his reign by re-opening and cleansing the Temple, sanctifying the priests and Levites (2 Chr 29). This verse specifically follows the nationwide invitation Hezekiah extended for a belated, unprecedented Passover celebration, drawing people even from the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The celebration required the purification of the land to truly honor Yahweh. The act of removing the altars in Jerusalem, especially those for illicit incense and other false worship, signifies the popular response and communal effort to align the physical landscape of the city with the spiritual cleansing initiated in the Temple. It underscores a shift from external royal decree to internal communal conviction and action. The historical context reveals Jerusalem under Ahaz was steeped in idolatry, likely with altars dedicated to Baal, Molech, or Assyrian deities, and unauthorized altars for Yahweh worship that circumvented the singular Temple worship ordained by Mosaic Law. This purging was essential for true worship to resume.

2 Chronicles 30 14 Word analysis

• And they removed (וַיָּקֻ֙מוּ֙ – vayyaqumu): The verb qûm means "to rise," "to stand up," or "to arise." Here, in the Hiphil stem, it signifies "to cause to stand" or "to establish." In context with "removed," it implies a decisive and active motion, almost as if they "stood up" to take down the altars. It emphasizes initiative and collective effort rather than a passive observation. The subject "they" (vayiqaumu) suggests the people of Jerusalem and the participating congregants took this action themselves, likely under royal and priestly guidance. This highlights popular participation in the revival, not just a top-down mandate.
• the altars (הַֽמִּזְבְּח֣וֹת – hammizbechot): This refers to structures for offering sacrifices or incense. In this context, they were illicit, unauthorized altars – likely either pagan altars dedicated to foreign gods introduced during Ahaz's reign or unauthorized altars to Yahweh located outside the centralized Temple worship ordained by the Mosaic Law (Deut 12). The existence of multiple altars within Jerusalem clearly violated the command for a single, legitimate place of worship.
• that were in Jerusalem (אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֗ם – asher bîrushalayim): This specifies the geographical scope of the cleansing. Jerusalem, the capital city and center of legitimate Yahweh worship, had become defiled by these numerous unauthorized altars, showing the depth of the apostasy during Ahaz's reign. This defilement within the holy city made the Passover impure.
• and all the altars for incense (וְכָל־מִזְבְּח֥וֹת הַקְּטֹ֖רֶת – vechol-mizbechot haq’toret): This specifically identifies altars used for offering incense. While legitimate incense altars existed within the Temple (Exod 30:1), these refer to unauthorized altars. Incense offerings to false gods were a particularly abhorrent form of idolatry (Jer 19:13; Ezek 8:11), symbolizing illicit prayers and devotion directed away from Yahweh. Their removal highlights the severity of the purification.
• removed they (הֵסִ֑ירוּ – hesiru): This is a repeat of the act, using the Hiphil of sûr, meaning "to remove," "to turn aside," or "to purge." It strongly implies the act of completely clearing away or making something disappear. Its repetition reinforces the thoroughness and active nature of the cleansing.
• and cast them (וַיַּשְׁלִ֥יכוּ – vayyashliku): This verb means "to throw," "to cast," or "to hurl." It conveys an act of finality and utter rejection, signifying that these objects of idolatry were not merely moved but violently discarded. This action symbolically underscores their defilement and utter worthlessness.
• into the brook Kidron (לְנַ֖חַל קִדְרֽוֹן – lenachal Qidron): The Kidron Valley (or Brook) is a wadi east of Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives. Historically, it served as a defiled place where idolatrous objects and the ashes of burnt offerings or idols were cast and ceremonially purged. Other righteous kings like Asa and Josiah also disposed of abominable things here (1 Kgs 15:13; 2 Kgs 23:6). Casting these altars into Kidron symbolized their complete defilement and utter rejection, ensuring they would not be used again and emphasizing their worthlessness in God's sight. This act completed the ritual and practical purification of the city.

2 Chronicles 30 14 Bonus section

The act described in this verse mirrors similar purifications carried out by other reforming kings like Asa and Josiah, creating a thematic thread of recurrent back-and-forth between apostasy and repentance in Judah's history. This repeated motif underscores God's persistent call for exclusive devotion and His people's often wavering obedience. The specific attention to "altars for incense" might also imply a correction to the human tendency to attempt to worship God in their own unauthorized ways, or to blend practices, which remains a timeless challenge to true, biblical worship. The purification of Jerusalem through these actions was foundational to making the Passover celebration truly acceptable and efficacious, demonstrating that outward cleansing often precedes and enables genuine spiritual fellowship with God.

2 Chronicles 30 14 Commentary

2 Chronicles 30:14 marks a critical point in Hezekiah's religious reformation. Following the Temple's internal cleansing, the external purification of Jerusalem became paramount, signifying a deep commitment to restoring exclusive worship of Yahweh. The focus on "altars" signifies a direct confrontation with the pervasive idolatry and syncretism of the preceding reign. The mention of "altars for incense" points to particularly offensive practices, as illicit incense offerings often symbolized prayers to false deities. The involvement of "they" (the people) in this removal, rather than solely royal servants, is highly significant; it indicates genuine popular repentance and engagement with the revival. The final act of casting these defiled objects into the Kidron Valley was not merely a physical removal but a symbolic public declaration of their complete defilement and utter rejection, consigning them to a place associated with impurity and discard, reflecting a communal purging of spiritual impurities from the heart of the kingdom.