2 Chronicles 34 3

2 Chronicles 34:3 kjv

For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

2 Chronicles 34:3 nkjv

For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images.

2 Chronicles 34:3 niv

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols.

2 Chronicles 34:3 esv

For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images.

2 Chronicles 34:3 nlt

During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images.

2 Chronicles 34 verses

2 Chronicles 34 3 Meaning

At a youthful age, King Josiah embarked on a sincere personal pursuit of God, following the example of his righteous ancestor David. Four years later, this inner commitment blossomed into widespread public action as he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the pervasive idolatry, including high places, Asherah poles, carved images, and molten idols.

2 Chronicles 34 3 Context

Josiah became king of Judah at the tender age of eight (2 Chr 34:1), inheriting a kingdom deeply entrenched in idolatry, following the lengthy and highly apostate reign of his grandfather Manasseh and his father Amon. This verse, 2 Chronicles 34:3, is crucial as it describes the turning point in Josiah's life and reign. It highlights his personal decision, independent of external pressure or discovery of the Law, to seek God. This inward spiritual transformation in his "eighth year" (age 16) is presented as the prerequisite for the public, national reformation he initiated four years later, in his "twelfth year" (age 20). The Chronicler emphasizes Josiah's adherence to the righteous legacy of David, framing him as a faithful Davidic king in contrast to many of his predecessors, providing a model for the post-exilic audience of how to prevent future judgment.

2 Chronicles 34 3 Word analysis

• For in the eighth year of his reign: This marks a precise point in Josiah's life. He began his rule at eight years old, so his "eighth year of his reign" signifies when he was sixteen years old, reaching adolescence.
• while he was yet young (Hebrew: na'ar, נַעַר): The term na'ar indicates a youth or adolescent. This highlights Josiah's genuine, early personal commitment to God, occurring at an impressionable age and before significant external events like the rediscovery of the Law. It emphasizes God working in his heart without overt instruction, perhaps contrasting with the ungodly environment of his upbringing.
• he began to seek after the God of David his father:
  • began to seek (Hebrew: dārash, דָרַשׁ): This verb signifies a diligent, intentional, and persistent search, inquire, or pursue. It's not a casual interest but an earnest endeavor for knowledge, guidance, and relationship. It implies more than ritualistic worship; it means seeking God's will and presence.
  • the God of David his father: This phrase points to a specific understanding of God as revealed to David, who was the archetype of a righteous king and "a man after God's own heart." It indicates a desire to follow in David's faithful steps and uphold the covenant, serving Yahweh exclusively as the true and only God of Israel, in direct opposition to the rampant idolatry of the time.
• and in the twelfth year: This marks another significant temporal point, four years after Josiah began to personally seek God. This gap suggests a period of deepening conviction and preparation for the monumental task of nationwide reform. The reform was not impulsive but flowed from a sustained period of spiritual seeking.
• he began to purge: The action here is systematic cleansing and removal. This signifies the active implementation of the Law's demands against idolatry, indicating the internal seeking had led to external action.
• Judah and Jerusalem: This specifies the geographic scope of his initial cleansing efforts, starting with the capital and its surrounding region, the heart of the kingdom.
• from the high places (Hebrew: bāmōt, בָּמֹות): These were elevated altars and shrines, often on hills or artificial mounds, used for worship outside the central sanctuary. While some were dedicated to Yahweh, many became sites for syncretistic or outright pagan worship, explicitly forbidden by the Law. Their destruction indicated a move towards centralized, exclusive worship of Yahweh.
• and the groves (Hebrew: asherim, אֲשֵׁרִים): These were cult objects, likely wooden poles or carved images, representing the Canaanite goddess Asherah. They were symbols of pagan fertility cults and were abhorrent to Yahweh, representing deep-seated apostasy and sexual immorality.
• and the carved images (Hebrew: pesîlîm, פְּסִילִים): Graven or sculpted idols, usually made of wood or stone, often coated with precious metals. These were direct violations of the second commandment, representing false gods.
• and the molten images (Hebrew: massēkôt, מַסֵּכֹת): Idols cast from metal. These signify another prevalent form of idol worship, indicating the variety and pervasiveness of the false gods Josiah was confronting.

Words-group analysis:

• "For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father:" This phrase powerfully underscores the internal, personal, and intentional nature of Josiah's early piety. It portrays a young ruler making a conscious, deliberate choice to follow the righteous example of his royal ancestor, initiating a spiritual revival from within his own heart, even amidst prevailing wickedness. This sets Josiah apart and marks the starting point of his extraordinary reform.
• "and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images." This section highlights the transformative power of his prior seeking. After four years of personal devotion, his faith matured into concrete, visible action. The comprehensive list of idolatrous objects emphasizes the thoroughness of his initial purge, attacking the core elements of the pervasive pagan worship that had defiled the land, illustrating how personal righteousness directly impacts public and national morality.

2 Chronicles 34 3 Bonus section

The Chronicler deliberately emphasizes Josiah's age ("yet young" and specified years of reign) to showcase God's ability to work powerfully in youthful hearts and to highlight that true devotion is not limited by age or environment. This initial cleansing (aged 20-26) would be followed by an even more comprehensive purge and covenant renewal (aged 26-31), especially after the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Chron 34:8-28). However, this verse specifically stresses that Josiah's commitment and reform preceded that pivotal discovery. This sequence underscores Josiah's innate and early desire to seek God, perhaps influenced by the few prophets like Zephaniah or Jeremiah who were active during this period, calling Judah to repentance. His actions served as a counter-polemic to the apostasy of his grandfather Manasseh, portraying God's redemptive power even in a seemingly hopeless situation for the Davidic line and the nation of Judah.

2 Chronicles 34 3 Commentary

2 Chronicles 34:3 stands as a pivotal verse, revealing the inner workings of a young king chosen by God to spearhead a profound religious reformation. It details two distinct yet interconnected phases of Josiah's early life. Firstly, his personal spiritual awakening at age sixteen: "he began to seek after the God of David his father." This was a genuine, diligent pursuit of Yahweh, directly mirroring David's faithful heart, and happening during a period when idolatry was rampant. This early personal piety highlights that true spiritual transformation often begins inwardly, with a heartfelt decision to seek God above all else. Secondly, this internal seeking led to external, national action. Four years later, at age twenty, he "began to purge Judah and Jerusalem" of all the detestable forms of idolatry. This demonstrated that his faith was not merely intellectual but led to practical obedience and decisive action. The Chronicler emphasizes Josiah's personal conviction as the driving force behind his systematic cleansing of the land from the widespread high places, Asherah poles, and various images. The delay between his personal seeking and public action underscores that true reform is often progressive, stemming from a deepening relationship with God. Josiah's example serves as a powerful reminder that impactful leadership, especially in matters of faith, begins with individual devotion and results in courageous action to align society with God's will.