2 Chronicles 34:30 kjv
And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 34:30 nkjv
The king went up to the house of the LORD, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem?the priests and the Levites, and all the people, great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 34:30 niv
He went up to the temple of the LORD with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites?all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 34:30 esv
And the king went up to the house of the LORD, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 34:30 nlt
And the king went up to the Temple of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the Levites ? all the people from the greatest to the least. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the LORD's Temple.
2 Chronicles 34 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 34:14-15 | "...Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses." | Discovery of the Law. |
| 2 Kgs 22:8, 10-11 | "...Hilkiah the high priest said... 'I have found the Book of the Law'... King read it, tore his clothes." | Discovery and Josiah's initial response. |
| Deut 31:10-12 | "At the end of every seven years... you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing." | Mosaic command for public reading of the Law. |
| Exod 24:7-8 | "...Moses took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people..." | Mosaic covenant initiation and public reading. |
| Neh 8:1-3 | "Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform... and read from it... in the hearing of all the people." | Ezra's public reading of the Law after the exile. |
| Deut 17:18-19 | "And when he sits on the throne... he shall write for himself... a copy of this law... and read it..." | King's duty to possess and read God's law. |
| 2 Chr 34:31 | "And the king stood... and made a covenant before the LORD... to follow the LORD..." | Josiah's covenant renewal, immediate follow-up. |
| 2 Kgs 23:1-3 | "...king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah... and the king read in their hearing all the words..." | Parallel account of Josiah's actions. |
| Josh 24:25 | "...Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made for them a statute and an ordinance..." | Covenant renewal with all Israel. |
| Jer 1:10 | "...to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." | Prophetic ministry often involved tearing down and rebuilding. |
| Acts 15:21 | "For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read..." | Importance of public reading of Moses in synagogues. |
| Rom 10:17 | "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." | Importance of hearing the Word for spiritual growth. |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty..." | God's word is powerful and accomplishes its purpose. |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | God's Word as guidance and illumination. |
| Deut 4:10 | "...gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me..." | Emphasizes hearing and learning to fear God. |
| Josh 1:8 | "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night..." | Continuous engagement with God's law. |
| Mal 4:4 | "Remember the law of Moses, my servant, the statutes and rules that I commanded him..." | Call to remember God's established law. |
| Ezra 7:10 | "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes..." | Exemplary dedication to God's Law by a scribe. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Hearing must lead to action. |
| Matt 7:24-27 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man..." | Emphasizes the importance of hearing and obeying God's words. |
| Rev 1:3 | "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear..." | Blessing on public reading and hearing of divine words. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." | The inherent power of God's Word to impact lives. |
2 Chronicles 34 verses
2 Chronicles 34 30 Meaning
This verse details King Josiah's pivotal act of national spiritual renewal, bringing together the entire population, from religious leaders to the humblest citizen, at the Temple. There, he publicly read aloud the recently discovered "Book of the Covenant," which contained the divinely inspired laws and stipulations of God's covenant with Israel. This public proclamation was a solemn call to repentance and a re-commitment to God's commands, aiming to restore proper worship and obedience after generations of neglect and idolatry.
2 Chronicles 34 30 Context
Chapter 34 of 2 Chronicles narrates the reign of King Josiah, who began to seek God at a young age. His reign marked a significant period of reform in Judah, characterized by purging idolatry and repairing the Temple. While these reforms were underway, Hilkiah the high priest discovered a "Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses" (2 Chr 34:14) within the Temple. This discovery profoundly impacted Josiah, leading him to tear his clothes in repentance upon realizing the nation's profound deviation from God's commands. The king then consulted Huldah the prophetess, who confirmed the authenticity of the book and prophesied impending judgment due to the nation's idolatry, though promising a period of peace for Josiah himself. Following this, Josiah summoned all the people for this pivotal public reading, serving as a national act of rededication and the precursor to further widespread reforms (2 Chr 34:33). This verse, therefore, represents a climax of initial revelation and communal assembly before the deep reforms truly commenced.
2 Chronicles 34 30 Word analysis
- And the king went up: "Went up" (ya'al) signifies a purposeful ascent, indicating a solemn and ceremonial procession. King Josiah's personal presence and leadership were crucial, symbolizing his genuine commitment and the divine authority he was exercising as God's anointed leader for this religious act. His action sets an example for the entire nation.
- to the house of the LORD: Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, the designated central place of worship and the presence of God among His people. The Temple was the only appropriate venue for such a national convocation and the re-establishment of covenant relationship.
- and all the men of Judah: Represents the general male population, responsible for upholding the covenant. Their inclusion signifies the breadth of the kingdom's commitment.
- and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Specifically denotes the population of the capital city, underscoring the spiritual revival starting from the heart of the nation.
- and the priests and the Levites: These were the spiritual leaders, responsible for teaching the Law and mediating worship. Their presence confirms their re-engagement with their divine duties and highlights the spiritual nature of the assembly.
- and all the people, both great and small: Emphasizes the universal and inclusive nature of the gathering. It signified that God's covenant applied to everyone, regardless of social status or age, ensuring accountability across all segments of society. This unity under God's word mirrored covenant ceremonies throughout Israel's history (e.g., Deut 31:12).
- And he read: The verb vayikra (he called out, proclaimed) implies an audible, public reading. This was not a silent, private study but a declaration intended to be heard and understood by everyone present, fostering shared knowledge and responsibility.
- in their hearing: be'ozneihem (in their ears). This phrase underscores that the message was directly communicated and personally received. It highlights the importance of the Word of God being plainly heard, leaving no room for ignorance regarding their obligations under the covenant.
- all the words: Stresses the completeness and totality of what was read. It implies the full message, not just selective portions, which convicted the people of their widespread departure from God's complete commands. This underlines the authority and comprehensive nature of the discovered scroll.
- of the Book of the Covenant: In Hebrew, Sepher ha-Berith. This is the central object. While the full scope of the discovered scroll is debated, scholarly consensus points strongly to the book of Deuteronomy, or a significant portion thereof, given its strong emphasis on covenant curses and blessings, and its calls for national reform. It contained the divine stipulations and expectations for Israel's relationship with God.
- which had been found in the house of the LORD: This phrase emphasizes the miraculous and providential nature of the book's discovery during the Temple repair. It added divine validation and urgency to Josiah's actions, demonstrating God's initiative in bringing His forgotten Word back to light.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and all...": This opening vividly depicts Josiah's decisive leadership in gathering all societal strata to the spiritual epicenter. It is a visual representation of national unity under God's authority, signaling a momentous event aimed at covenant renewal.
- "...the priests and the Levites and all the people, both great and small.": This phrase collectively captures the entire community, underscoring the covenant's universal applicability within Israel. It shows an intentional, comprehensive inclusion to ensure full understanding and participation in the national recommitment.
- "And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant...": This phrase highlights the profound impact of God's Word proclaimed aloud. The public, audible delivery ensured direct engagement and removed any excuse of ignorance, placing the divine expectations squarely before the entire nation for a direct encounter with truth.
- "...which had been found in the house of the LORD.": This serves as an authoritative statement validating the document's divine origin and the sanctity of its discovery. Its miraculous reappearance underscored the urgency and divine mandate behind Josiah's reform, positioning it as a revelation from God Himself.
2 Chronicles 34 30 Bonus section
The act of reading the "Book of the Covenant" to such a diverse and complete audience served not just as an informational delivery, but as a judicial proceeding and a renewal of vows. The people were being publicly informed of the terms of the covenant and their failure to keep them, much like a grand jury presentation. The expectation following such a hearing was a communal ratification and commitment to obey. This moment profoundly paralleled the original giving of the Law at Sinai and Moses reading the Book of the Covenant in Exodus 24:7, establishing a covenant framework based on listening and obedience. Furthermore, the explicit inclusion of "great and small" can be seen as an intentional echo of God's universal reach, extending His claims over all humanity, but specifically His covenant people, without distinction of rank or wealth. The divine nature of the Book's rediscovery validated Josiah's reforms as being divinely sanctioned rather than merely political expediency, thereby reinforcing his authority as a righteous king aligned with God's will.
2 Chronicles 34 30 Commentary
2 Chronicles 34:30 describes a watershed moment in Judah's spiritual history. King Josiah's initiative to gather everyone, from the most prominent officials to the simplest citizens, signifies the profound gravity and public nature of the rediscovered Law. By assembling all segments of society, Josiah ensured a truly national hearing and acknowledgement of God's Word, mirroring previous covenant renewal ceremonies from Moses and Joshua. The "Book of the Covenant" was not merely a historical document but a living, authoritative text demanding an immediate and corporate response. Josiah's public reading was a declaration of national culpability for neglecting divine truth, intended to spark a widespread reformation rooted in true repentance and obedience. This act emphasized that covenant life required explicit adherence to God's written commands, demonstrating God's continued faithfulness in providing His Word even when His people had strayed. The event underscores the transformative power of engaging directly with God's truth, leading to personal conviction and corporate change.