2 Chronicles 34 8

2 Chronicles 34:8 kjv

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

2 Chronicles 34:8 nkjv

In the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

2 Chronicles 34:8 niv

In the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the LORD his God.

2 Chronicles 34:8 esv

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

2 Chronicles 34:8 nlt

In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purified the land and the Temple, Josiah appointed Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of Jerusalem, and Joah son of Joahaz, the royal historian, to repair the Temple of the LORD his God.

2 Chronicles 34 verses

2 Chronicles 34 8 Meaning

This verse details a significant moment in King Josiah's reign, occurring in his eighteenth year. Following an extensive spiritual and physical cleansing of idolatry throughout the land of Judah and within the Jerusalem Temple itself, Josiah takes the proactive step of commissioning a comprehensive repair and restoration of "the house of the Lord his God." He dispatches three high-ranking and trusted officials—Shaphan the scribe, Maaseiah the city governor, and Joah the recorder—to oversee this crucial undertaking, emphasizing the importance of dedicated resources and official sanction for the work of God. This act marks a turning point from destruction of evil to positive reconstruction for worship.

2 Chronicles 34 8 Context

This verse serves as a crucial bridge within Josiah's reforms. Its immediate context, 2 Chronicles 34:3-7, details Josiah's systematic purging of idolatry throughout Judah and even into former northern territories, demolishing altars, burning images, and defiling pagan worship sites. This extensive cleansing, initiated years prior at ages eight and twelve of his reign, culminates in his eighteenth year with a focus on the defiled Jerusalem Temple. Historically, this action reverses the long-standing apostasy under his grandfather Manasseh and father Amon, under whom the Temple itself was filled with foreign altars and idols, becoming a monument to sacrilege rather than divine worship. Josiah's command to repair signifies a national repentance and a return to Yahweh worship. It providentially sets the stage for the rediscovery of the Book of the Law (2 Chr 34:14), which would further deepen and accelerate his religious reforms and renew the nation's covenant with God.

2 Chronicles 34 8 Word analysis

• Now in the eighteenth year of his reign:
  • Significance: Specifies a precise and mature stage of Josiah's leadership. Having ascended the throne at age eight, he would be twenty-six years old, indicating a period of seasoned authority. This marks a strategic transition from the active, sometimes violent, phase of purging idolatry (which consumed his prior years) to the deliberate act of rebuilding and reordering. This temporal marker is paralleled in 2 Kings 22:3, underscoring its historical importance.
• when he had purged the land and the temple:
  • "purged" (Hebrew: כְּכַלֹּתוֹ, _kəkhallōtō_, meaning "when he finished," "when he had made an end of it," related to בָּעַר _ba'ar_ which often means "to consume" or "burn"): This refers to the prior comprehensive acts of cleansing documented in 2 Chr 34:3-7, which involved demolishing altars, hewing down Asherim, breaking idols, and grinding them to powder. The "purging" was not merely a physical removal but a decisive act against spiritual corruption, designed to eradicate pagan worship. It reflects a zealous obedience to the Mosaic Law's prohibition against idolatry.
  • "land": Encompasses not just Judah but also parts of the former Northern Kingdom (Ephraim, Manasseh, Simeon, and even Naphtali), demonstrating Josiah's ambition to unite all Israel under Yahweh and cleanse the entire covenant territory.
  • "temple" (Hebrew: הַבָּיִת, _haBayit_, "the House"): Specifically refers to the House of the Lord in Jerusalem. This sacred space had been thoroughly desecrated by Manasseh, who built altars to Baal and all the host of heaven within its courtyards (2 Chr 33:4-5), and had an Asherah pole there. Its purification was paramount for restoring pure worship.
  • Significance: This phrase highlights the proper sequence of restoration: spiritual cleansing and removal of obstacles (idols) must precede physical rebuilding and renewed worship. One cannot genuinely "repair" God's house if it remains filled with detestable things. This also acts as a polemic against the contemporary syncretism of his forefathers.
• he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder:
  • "he sent": Demonstrates Josiah's active, decisive leadership. He delegates critical tasks to trusted and high-ranking officials.
  • Shaphan the son of Azaliah:
    • Significance: A prominent royal scribe (secretary of state or chancellor). Scribes were often highly educated and entrusted with vital administrative and legal duties. Shaphan later plays a pivotal role in presenting the rediscovered Book of the Law to Josiah (2 Chr 34:15-18), showing his trustworthiness and proximity to the king. His family members (e.g., Ahikam, Gemariah, Micaiah) were significant figures, often involved in diplomatic and prophetic affairs (e.g., Jer 26:24; 36:10-12).
  • Maaseiah the governor of the city:
    • Significance: Chief administrative official of Jerusalem. His involvement indicates that the temple repair was a major civic project with the full backing of the city's government. His presence would ensure logistical support, public cooperation, and effective management of resources within the capital.
  • Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder:
    • Significance: The royal annalist or chronicler. This role involved recording significant events and decisions of the kingdom. His inclusion ensures accountability, official documentation of expenditures and progress, and the preservation of historical detail regarding this crucial endeavor.
  • Significance of the group: The selection of these three officials (chief scribe, city governor, royal recorder) shows Josiah's meticulous planning and commitment. It represents a combination of royal administration, urban governance, and official documentation, ensuring the project's authority, oversight, and integrity. This highlights the holistic nature of the reform.
• to repair the house of the Lord his God:
  • "to repair" (Hebrew: לְחַזֵּק, _ləḥazzeq_, infinitive of חָזַק _ḥazaq_): Meaning "to strengthen," "to make firm," "to reinforce," or "to mend." This suggests the temple was in disrepair, not just ceremonially defiled but physically dilapidated due to neglect during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon. It needed structural work, not merely a clean-up. This term implies making the building usable and fit for worship again.
  • "house of the Lord his God": This phrase emphatically identifies the specific object of repair as the sacred dwelling place of Yahweh. The possessive "his God" emphasizes Josiah's personal devotion and covenant relationship with Yahweh, aligning his reign with the divine will. It reinforces the Deuteronomic principle of a centralized worship site dedicated exclusively to the one true God. This also echoes the idea of God desiring a consecrated space (Exod 25:8).

• "when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent... to repair...": This flow illustrates a foundational principle: true worship and service to God cannot effectively proceed until sin and idols are removed. The act of "purging" sets the stage for "repair," indicating a spiritual priority that leads to physical action. It's a progression from demolition of evil to reconstruction for good. This emphasizes that divine cleansing is a prerequisite for blessed service.
• "Shaphan... Maaseiah... Joah... to repair": This delegation showcases Josiah's effective leadership and administrative wisdom. He utilized distinct high-ranking functions (clerical/spiritual liaison, civil management, historical recording) to ensure the repair project was well-organized, supported by the state, and accurately documented. It models wise and diverse delegation in matters of significant kingdom-level, spiritual importance.

2 Chronicles 34 8 Bonus section

• The extensive state of neglect and desecration of the Jerusalem Temple is implicitly highlighted by the need for such a comprehensive "repair," going beyond simple maintenance. It had become a den for idols under Manasseh and Amon (2 Chr 33:4-7), necessitating a complete overhaul to make it fit for Yahweh's worship again.
• This act of initiating temple repair without being prompted by prophecy (as in Hezekiah's case, 2 Chr 29) demonstrates Josiah's innate devotion and his understanding of spiritual priorities derived from his early seeking of God (2 Chr 34:3).
• The selection of Shaphan the scribe, in particular, proved to be instrumental as he would soon be the one to bring the newly found Book of the Law to the king, highlighting God's providential timing and the interconnectedness of events in the grand plan of restoration.
• Josiah's actions in 2 Chronicles present a consistent picture of a king deeply committed to following God, often contrasting with other rulers of Judah who faltered or only superficially reformed. His determination for true worship foreshadowed later reforms but tragically did not prevent Judah's eventual exile due to generations of hardened hearts.

2 Chronicles 34 8 Commentary

2 Chronicles 34:8 marks a pivotal point in Josiah’s divinely-guided reforms. Having spent years methodically cleansing Judah of pervasive idolatry, he now turns his attention to the very heart of national worship: the defiled and dilapidated Temple. This initiative to "repair" signifies a deeper commitment beyond merely removing the profane; it is an active restoration of the sacred. Josiah's delegation of three high-ranking and trusted officials underscores the project’s immense significance and royal backing. This concerted effort reflects a king zealous for the Lord, ensuring that both the spiritual landscape and the physical center of worship were purified and prepared for God's holy presence, providentially leading to the rediscovery of the Book of the Law that would ignite an even more profound national revival.