2 Kings 23 13

2 Kings 23:13 kjv

And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.

2 Kings 23:13 nkjv

Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon.

2 Kings 23:13 niv

The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption?the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the people of Ammon.

2 Kings 23:13 esv

And the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, to the south of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

2 Kings 23:13 nlt

The king also desecrated the pagan shrines east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, where King Solomon of Israel had built shrines for Ashtoreth, the detestable goddess of the Sidonians; and for Chemosh, the detestable god of the Moabites; and for Molech, the vile god of the Ammonites.

2 Kings 23 verses

2 Kings 23 13 Meaning

This verse details King Josiah’s reform efforts in Jerusalem, specifically the dismantling and defiling of pagan altars and high places established by King Solomon on a prominent mountain east of Jerusalem. These abominable sites were dedicated to the deities of Sidon (Ashtoreth), Moab (Chemosh), and Ammon (Milcom), symbolizing the long-standing religious syncretism and rebellion against the exclusive worship of the Lord that had plagued Judah for centuries.

2 Kings 23 13 Context

2 Kings chapter 23 describes the sweeping religious reforms initiated by King Josiah of Judah (640-609 BC) following the discovery of the "Book of the Law" (likely a form of Deuteronomy) in the Temple during its repair (2 Kgs 22). This discovery revealed the extent of Judah's departure from God's covenant, provoking Josiah to repentance and decisive action. His reform aimed to purge the land of all forms of idolatry, restoring exclusive worship of Yahweh. The preceding reigns, particularly those of Manasseh and Amon, had plunged Judah into deep spiritual apostasy, reintroducing pagan practices that even Solomon had initially established centuries earlier. Josiah’s actions are characterized by thoroughness and zeal. Verse 13 specifically addresses the destruction of cultic sites associated with foreign deities that were disgracefully built by Solomon and perpetuated in the heart of the kingdom, illustrating the profound corruption that had rooted itself at the very gates of Jerusalem. This act serves as a direct polemic against syncretism, asserting Yahweh's sole supremacy over all rival gods and challenging the notion that the worship of these detestable deities could coexist with the worship of the one true God.

2 Kings 23 13 Word analysis

• the high places (הַבָּמוֹת - ha-bamot): Refers to cultic sites, often on hills or raised platforms, used for pagan worship. While some were initially for Yahweh worship, they became defiled through syncretism and idolatrous practices. Here, they are specifically tied to foreign gods.
• that were before Jerusalem (אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי יְרוּשָׁלִַם - asher al-penei Yerushalayim): Signifies their prominent and visible location, highlighting the blatant and unchallenged presence of idolatry even directly opposite the holy city.
• on the right hand of the mount of corruption (לִימִין הַר הַמַּשְׁחִית - liy’min har ha-mashchit):
  • right hand (לִימִין - liy’min): Refers to the south side, indicating the specific orientation of these altars on the mountain.
  • mount of corruption (הַר הַמַּשְׁחִית - har ha-mashchit): This unique term is often identified by scholars with the Mount of Olives (Har ha-Zeitim) due to its location east of Jerusalem. It received the epithet "Mount of Corruption" precisely because it was defiled by such idolatrous practices, indicating a theological renaming that reflects its spiritual state due to Solomon's sins.
• which Solomon the king of Israel had built (אֲשֶׁר בָּנָה שְׁלֹמֹה מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל - asher banah Shlomoh melekh Yisrael): Directly implicates King Solomon, whose unparalleled wisdom was tragically overshadowed by his unfaithfulness. His building of these high places for his foreign wives was a foundational sin that facilitated later widespread idolatry in Judah, showing the long-lasting consequences of disobedience from even the most blessed figures.
• for Ashtoreth (לְעַשְׁתֹּרֶת - le-Ashterot): The chief goddess of the Sidonians (Phoenicians), a major fertility goddess often associated with war, sexual rites, and astral worship. Her worship involved sacred prostitution and child sacrifice.
• the abomination of the Sidonians (שִׁקֻּץ צִידֹנִים - shiqutz Tzidnim):
  • abomination (שִׁקּוּץ - shiqutz): A strong term indicating something detestable or loathsome in the eyes of God, often associated with idolatry and impure practices. It highlights the depth of Yahweh's disgust with these foreign gods and their worship.
  • Sidonians (צִידֹנִים - Tzidnim): People from the Phoenician city of Sidon.
• for Chemosh (לִכְמוֹשׁ - li-Chemosh): The national god of Moab, a deity frequently associated with human, particularly child, sacrifice.
• the abomination of Moab (שִׁקֻּץ מוֹאָב - shiqutz Mo'av): Reiterates the detestable nature of this worship from God’s perspective.
• and for Milcom (וּלְמִלְכֹּם - u-le-Milkom): The national god of the Ammonites, often used interchangeably with Molech, infamous for the practice of child sacrifice by fire.
• the abomination of the people of Ammon (שִׁקּוּץ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן - shiqutz b'nei Ammon): Another strong declaration of the offensive nature of this worship to God.
• And the king defiled them (וְטִמֵּא הַמֶּלֶךְ - ve-timme’ ha-melekh): Josiah made these sites ceremonially unclean and unfit for worship. This act symbolically invalidated the pagan cults and asserted Yahweh's sovereignty by ritually polluting their altars, rendering them abhorrent and unusable according to Israelite law. This defilement involved actions like burning bones or breaking altars.

2 Kings 23 13 Bonus section

The mention of the "Mount of Corruption" (Mount of Olives) has significant implications beyond this verse. This mountain, ironically a place of Israel's earliest betrayal of God through idolatry by Solomon, later became a place of profound biblical significance for Christ. It was from the Mount of Olives that Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-12), and it is prophesied as the location where His feet will stand at His second coming (Zech 14:4). This contrast between its historical corruption and its future divine association highlights God's redemptive plan and His ultimate triumph over all forms of spiritual corruption. Josiah's act was a temporal cleansing, but the prophetic future reveals an eternal purification tied to this very mountain.

2 Kings 23 13 Commentary

2 Kings 23:13 stands as a powerful testament to King Josiah's zealous commitment to restoring the purity of Yahweh's worship in Judah. By specifically targeting the high places built by Solomon on the "Mount of Corruption," Josiah directly confronted a foundational source of national idolatry, one that traced back to the kingdom's early history and its seemingly "wise" beginnings. The use of "abomination" three times underscores the Lord's utter contempt for these foreign deities and their practices, particularly the horrific rites of child sacrifice associated with Chemosh and Milcom/Molech. Josiah's act of defilement was not merely physical destruction; it was a deliberate and symbolic desecration, rendering these places ritually impure and thus unusable for pagan worship, a powerful declaration of God's victory over the gods of the surrounding nations and the re-establishment of His exclusive claim over Israel. It demonstrates the profound and lasting impact of unfaithful leadership (Solomon) and the necessary, drastic measures required to turn a nation back to the Lord when apostasy is deeply entrenched.