2 Chronicles 34:2 kjv
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.
2 Chronicles 34:2 nkjv
And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
2 Chronicles 34:2 niv
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
2 Chronicles 34:2 esv
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
2 Chronicles 34:2 nlt
He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.
2 Chronicles 34 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 15:5 | "Because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD..." | David's overall faithfulness despite one fall. |
| 2 Chr 17:3 | "The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David..." | Another king following David's example. |
| Deut 5:32 | "You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." | Command to stay on God's path. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law...not turning from it to the right hand or to the left..." | Steadfast obedience to the Law. |
| Ps 23:3 | "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." | God guiding towards righteousness. |
| Prov 4:27 | "Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil." | Wisdom's call for straight path. |
| Is 30:21 | "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." | Divine guidance against deviation. |
| Heb 11:7 | "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." | Example of righteousness by faith. |
| 1 Pet 3:12 | "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer." | God's approval and attention on the righteous. |
| Ps 101:3 | "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes..." | Reflection of divine scrutiny in conduct. |
| Jer 22:15 | "Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him." | Judah's earlier kings were just. |
| 2 Chr 29:2 | "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done." | Hezekiah also followed David's example. |
| 2 Ki 22:2 | (Parallel verse for Josiah) "And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD..." | Confirms Josiah's righteousness. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." | Emphasizes adherence to a narrow, righteous path. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Call to action beyond just hearing. |
| Rom 12:2 | "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." | Contrast to worldly ways; divine approval. |
| Deut 6:18 | "And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD..." | Explicit command for righteous conduct. |
| Ps 1:1-2 | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked...but his delight is in the law of the LORD..." | Describes the blessed righteous person. |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Link between love for God and obedience. |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..." | Designed for living in righteousness. |
| Luke 1:6 | "And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord." | Example of New Testament believers. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..." | Source for discerning and following righteousness. |
2 Chronicles 34 verses
2 Chronicles 34 2 Meaning
King Josiah of Judah was characterized by a life lived in accordance with God's commands. He did what was morally and spiritually correct, not in human opinion, but under the divine scrutiny and approval of the Lord. His conduct mirrored the integrity and faithfulness that marked the early reign and overall disposition of King David, his ancestral father. Josiah's commitment was unwavering, showing no deviation from the path of righteousness, neither to the right nor to the left.
2 Chronicles 34 2 Context
This verse introduces King Josiah, marking a significant turning point after a period of profound spiritual decline in Judah under his grandfather Manasseh and father Amon. Manasseh's reign was characterized by extensive idolatry, child sacrifice, and the widespread practice of pagan rites, actively undoing the reforms of his father Hezekiah. Amon continued this wickedness. Therefore, Josiah ascends to the throne as a young boy, inheriting a nation steeped in spiritual corruption. His personal righteousness and subsequent reform efforts stand in stark contrast to his immediate predecessors and are critically important for the nation's spiritual direction. The mention of David's "early ways" is a precise and nuanced detail, acknowledging David as an ideal monarch while subtly implying that even David, in his later life, made grave errors. Josiah, however, maintained an unwavering path of righteousness throughout his reign.
2 Chronicles 34 2 Word analysis
- He did (וַיַּעַשׂ, wayya‘as): From the verb ‘asah, meaning "to make, to do, to perform." Implies active, deliberate conduct, not merely passive assent. Josiah was an agent of righteousness.
- what was right (הַיָּשָׁר, hayyāšār): From yashar, meaning "straight, upright, righteous, equitable." It speaks of moral rectitude, conformity to a correct standard, particularly God's standard, in opposition to that which is twisted or corrupt.
- in the eyes of the Lord (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה, b'eyney YHVH): Signifies divine assessment and approval. Actions were not judged by human opinion, societal norms, or personal preference, but by God's perfect standard. This contrasts sharply with nations doing "what was right in their own eyes" (Jdg 17:6, 21:25), highlighting a key polemic against humanistic or idolatrous morality.
- and walked (וַיֵּלֶךְ, wayyelekh): From halakh, "to walk, go, live, behave." Refers to a lifestyle, a continuous course of conduct, rather than isolated acts. It denotes one's habitual manner of life.
- in the ways (בְּדַרְכֵי, b'darkhei): From derekh, meaning "way, path, road, manner of life." It represents the sum total of one's conduct, principles, and moral direction. This includes religious practices, ethical decisions, and leadership style.
- David his father (דָּוִיד אָבִיו, Dawid aviv): This highlights the lineage and a specific ideal. David served as the standard for later kings; to follow David was generally to walk in faithfulness. However, the next phrase qualifies this.
- did not turn aside (לֹא סָר, lo sar): From sur, "to turn aside, deviate, depart." This emphasizes an unswerving commitment. Josiah showed steadfastness and undivided loyalty to God, contrasting with kings who wavered or adopted foreign practices.
- to the right hand or to the left (יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול, yāmîn ûsmo'l): A common Hebrew idiom signifying strict adherence to a prescribed path, without deviation or compromise. It underlines the completeness and purity of Josiah's obedience. This phrase is often used in the Torah concerning obedience to God's commandments (Deut 5:32, Josh 1:7).
2 Chronicles 34 2 Bonus section
The chronicler often evaluated kings based on their adherence to the "ways of David." However, the explicit mention of "early ways" is a nuanced detail often highlighted by scholars. It recognizes that even the revered King David had personal moral failings (such as the Bathsheba affair and the census) in his later life, which had negative consequences. By stating that Josiah followed David's early ways, the text implies that Josiah avoided these specific later errors or deviations that David experienced, thus setting an even higher standard of steadfast purity. This phrase is unique to Josiah in Chronicles and Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 29:2, setting these two reform kings apart as models of exemplary and consistent devotion, without the compromise or moral failures that plagued even otherwise "good" kings. It underscores the extraordinary depth of Josiah's personal commitment and his complete spiritual integrity.
2 Chronicles 34 2 Commentary
2 Chronicles 34:2 succinctly captures the essence of Josiah's reign. Amidst profound spiritual apostasy and a succession of wicked kings, Josiah stands out as a beacon of righteousness. His actions were aligned with God's will, not merely adhering to religious ritual, but manifesting an inner integrity that God alone could fully perceive and approve. By comparing his conduct to David's "early ways," the text makes a crucial, subtle distinction: David was generally righteous but had significant moral failures. Josiah's virtue, however, was without such blemishes, illustrating an even higher degree of unwavering faithfulness. This strict adherence, without deviating "to the right hand or to the left," indicates a life completely dedicated to the Law of God, foreshadowing the comprehensive reforms he would undertake. It sets the stage for a period of national repentance and revival driven by the king's pure heart.