2 Chronicles 34 5

2 Chronicles 34:5 kjv

And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:5 nkjv

He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:5 niv

He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:5 esv

He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:5 nlt

He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34 verses

2 Chronicles 34 5 Meaning

This verse describes King Josiah's zealous action to eradicate idolatry in Judah and Jerusalem. He burned the bones of the pagan priests who officiated at illicit worship sites, specifically upon their own altars. This act was a profound desecration, rendering the altars ritually unclean and unusable, symbolizing the utter nullification and rejection of the false worship. The purpose and outcome of this decisive act was to thoroughly cleanse the land and its capital from the pervasive defilement of idolatry that had gripped the nation for generations.

2 Chronicles 34 5 Context

2 Chronicles 34 describes King Josiah's reign, emphasizing his fervent religious reforms. At only eight years old, he began seeking the Lord, and by his twelfth year (v. 3), he embarked on a widespread purge of idolatry throughout Judah and Jerusalem. This verse, 2 Chronicles 34:5, details a specific, shocking, and potent action within this broader campaign: the desecration of the pagan altars by burning the bones of their priests upon them. This was not mere destruction, but a calculated act to ritually defile and symbolically nullify the places and practices of false worship. Historically, this act directly fulfilled a prophecy made against the altar at Bethel centuries earlier (1 Ki 13:1-2), signifying Josiah's divine commission and the comprehensive nature of his cleansing efforts after prolonged periods of apostasy under previous kings like Manasseh and Amon.

2 Chronicles 34 5 Word analysis

• And he burnt (וַיִּשְׂרֹף, wayyisróf): This Hebrew term signifies consuming by fire, implying destruction. In this context, it is a deliberate and definitive act of obliterating the instruments of idolatry. Burning here also functions as a powerful act of ritual defilement when applied to human bones on an altar.
• the bones (עַצְמוֹת, ʿatsmôt): Human skeletal remains. According to Mosaic Law, contact with dead bodies, especially bones, rendered one ritually unclean (Num 19:11, 16). By placing human bones on altars meant for sacrifices, Josiah intentionally introduced the highest level of ritual impurity, rendering the altars an abomination.
• of the priests (הַכֹּהֲנִים, hakōhanîm): This specifically refers to the non-Levitical, idolatrous priests who served the pagan deities, not the legitimate priests of Yahweh. The focus is on those who led the apostasy, signifying judgment against them and their lineage. It's a precise targeting of the facilitators of false worship.
• upon their altars (עַל מִזְבְּחוֹתָם, ʿal mizbĕḥôtām): This critical detail emphasizes that the altars belonged to these pagan priests. The very instruments used for pagan worship were desecrated by the remains of those who ministered at them. This act symbolized the ultimate dishonor and stripping of all power from these altars, rendering them perpetually unclean and unusable for any form of worship, false or otherwise.
• and cleansed (וַיְטַהֵר, wayṭaher): From the root טָהֵר (ṭāher), meaning "to be pure, cleanse, purify." This word reveals the divine purpose of Josiah's destructive actions. It wasn't wanton violence but a biblically sanctioned, deliberate ritual purification to remove the pervasive spiritual defilement from the land, restoring its purity in the eyes of God.
• Judah (יְהוּדָה, Yəhûḏâ): The Southern Kingdom, the entire territory over which Josiah reigned. This indicates the broad geographical scope of his reform efforts.
• and Jerusalem (וִירוּשָׁלַם, wîrûšālam): The capital city and the religious and political heart of the kingdom. Its explicit mention indicates that the cleansing reached to the very core of the nation's spiritual and civic life. The dual mention underscores the thorough and complete nature of Josiah's purificatory actions across the entire domain.

Words-group analysis

• "And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars": This phrase describes a deeply symbolic and highly transgressive act. By defiling the "sacred" pagan altars with human bones—which were considered ritually impure—Josiah demonstrated God's utter abhorrence of idolatry and negated the power and efficacy of these false altars. It was a complete inversion of worship, where instruments of perceived sacredness became conduits of impurity, utterly nullifying any legitimacy for their future use. This act serves as a direct fulfillment of prophecy (1 Ki 13:2), showcasing Josiah's alignment with divine will and judgment against pagan practices.
• "and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem": This statement presents the divine rationale and desired outcome of Josiah's otherwise drastic actions. "Cleansing" implies removal of spiritual and ritual defilement. The widespread nature of this defilement is reflected in "Judah and Jerusalem," indicating a comprehensive national purging, affecting both the general populace across the land and the centralized religious and political life in the capital. This purification was aimed at restoring covenant faithfulness and national purity before God.

2 Chronicles 34 5 Bonus section

The extent of Josiah's reforms, vividly depicted in this verse, was unprecedented in Judah, driven not only by righteous zeal but profoundly intensified by the subsequent discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Ch 34:14-21). This finding likely confirmed and deepened his understanding of the specific covenant requirements to eradicate idolatry completely. While verse 5 describes the desecration of altars by burning bones on them, the parallel account in 2 Kings 23 adds that the ashes were then scattered on the graves of those who sacrificed, further compounding the act of defilement and dishonor (2 Ki 23:14). This holistic approach underscored Josiah's intention to leave no remnant of the pervasive idolatrous practices that had plagued his ancestors and deeply corrupted the land. His thoroughness distinguished him from previous reformers who often failed to completely abolish the high places.

2 Chronicles 34 5 Commentary

2 Chronicles 34:5 illustrates King Josiah's uncompromising zeal in purifying Judah from deeply ingrained idolatry. By burning the bones of idolatrous priests directly upon their false altars, he performed an act of extreme desecration, systematically fulfilling prophecy and nullifying the supposed power and sacredness of these pagan sites. This decisive action was not merely destructive; it was an act of "cleansing," demonstrating his commitment to remove all spiritual impurity and restore the land and its people to covenant faithfulness with God, marking a profound shift from decades of apostasy. It highlights the drastic measures necessary to sever ties with spiritual corruption and establish true worship.