2 Kings 23:2 kjv
And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.
2 Kings 23:2 nkjv
The king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem?the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. 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 Kings 23:2 niv
He went up to the temple of the LORD with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets?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 Kings 23:2 esv
And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. 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 Kings 23:2 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 prophets ? all the people from the least to the greatest. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the LORD's Temple.
2 Kings 23 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery of the Law | ||
| 2 Ki 22:8 | Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan... “I have found the Book of the Law...” | Hilkiah finds the forgotten law |
| 2 Chr 34:14 | When they were bringing out the money... Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law | Parallel account of finding |
| 2 Ki 22:10 | Shaphan read it before the king. | Initial reading to the king |
| 2 Chr 34:18 | Shaphan read it before the king. | Parallel account of reading to king |
| Response & Repentance | ||
| 2 Ki 22:11 | When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. | King's immediate remorse and repentance |
| 2 Ki 22:13 | “Go inquire of the Lord for me and for the people... for great is the wrath of the Lord...” | King seeks divine counsel |
| 2 Chr 34:19 | When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. | Parallel to King Josiah's distress |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "Return to me with all your heart... Rend your hearts and not your garments." | Call for genuine national repentance |
| Covenant Renewal & The Law's Centrality | ||
| Ex 24:7 | Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people... | Moses reading covenant at Sinai |
| Deut 31:10-12 | At the end of every seven years... you shall read this law before all Israel... | Command for periodic public reading of law |
| Josh 8:34-35 | Afterward Joshua read all the words of the law... there was not a word... | Joshua reads law to all Israel |
| Josh 24:1-25 | Joshua gathered all the tribes... and they presented themselves before God... | Joshua's covenant renewal at Shechem |
| Neh 8:1-8 | And Ezra the scribe stood... He read from it... so that all could understand. | Ezra reads the Law publicly post-exile |
| Deut 6:6-7 | And these words... shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently... | Emphasizing continuous teaching of the Law |
| Psa 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's Word as guide and illuminator |
| Rom 15:4 | Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction... | OT scriptures written for believers' learning |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God... profitable for teaching... | Divine inspiration and utility of Scripture |
| Righteous Leadership | ||
| Deut 17:18-19 | When he sits on the throne... he shall write for himself a copy... and it shall be with him, and he shall read it... | King's responsibility to know the Law |
| Psa 78:70-72 | He chose David his servant... and appointed him to be shepherd over Jacob... | Divine choice of shepherd leaders |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | Shepherd the flock of God... not domineering over those in your charge... | Exhortation for humble leadership |
| 2 Chr 17:7-9 | In the third year of his reign he sent his officials... to teach in the cities of Judah. | King Jehoshaphat sending teachers |
| Jer 23:2-4 | Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! | Condemnation of negligent shepherds |
2 Kings 23 verses
2 Kings 23 2 Meaning
This verse describes a pivotal moment in Judah's spiritual renewal under King Josiah. Following the rediscovery of the Book of the Covenant, Josiah convenes the entire nation – every man of Judah, all inhabitants of Jerusalem, including the priests, prophets, and people of every status – at the Temple. There, he publicly reads aloud the complete contents of this divine book, initiating a profound corporate understanding and re-engagement with God's Law and covenant obligations, signifying a collective turning back to the Lord after generations of spiritual decline.
2 Kings 23 2 Context
2 Kings 23:2 stands as a crucial moment in Josiah's comprehensive reform. The immediate preceding context (2 Ki 22) describes the unexpected discovery of the "Book of the Law" (identified in v. 8) during renovations of the Temple. This discovery profoundly impacts King Josiah, who, recognizing the nation's severe deviation from God's commands, immediately rends his clothes in repentance and sends to inquire of the Lord. The prophetess Huldah confirms the authenticity of the book, prophesying impending judgment due to the nation's idolatry, but also promises that Josiah will be spared from experiencing the full severity of this judgment because of his humble heart and repentance. Armed with this knowledge and divine confirmation, Josiah's first public act is not to immediately destroy the idols, but to call the entire nation together for a collective hearing of the divine word that prompted his own transformation. This sets the stage for the drastic reforms and covenant renewal detailed in the subsequent verses (2 Ki 23:3ff), where the people commit to obey what they have heard. Historically, this event took place after decades of rampant idolatry, particularly under kings Manasseh and Amon, whose reigns had thoroughly corrupted Judah's religious practices. Josiah, being a righteous king who began to seek the Lord early in his reign (2 Chr 34:3), now had the definitive basis for purifying the nation's worship and reinstituting the covenant.
2 Kings 23 2 Word analysis
- The king: Refers to Josiah (Hebrew: יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, Yo'shiyahu), highlighting his decisive leadership and role as mediator between God and the people. His authority is used to bring the nation back to God.
- went up: Implies a journey, an intentional act of leadership, often with a spiritual ascent. It refers to going from the palace to the Temple, which was geographically higher in Jerusalem.
- to the house of the Lord: The Temple in Jerusalem, the designated central place of worship and divine presence. Gathering there emphasizes the sacredness of the occasion and the centrality of authentic worship.
- and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Stresses the comprehensive, national scope of the assembly. It indicates the entire community, not just leaders, participated in this spiritual revival.
- and the priests and the prophets: The designated religious functionaries and spiritual spokespeople. Their presence signifies institutional endorsement and the necessary spiritual guidance for interpreting and applying the Law. Their neglect of the Law had contributed to the nation's spiritual decline.
- and all the people, both small and great: An emphatic repetition ensuring inclusivity. Every demographic, regardless of age, status, or influence, was present and held accountable to the covenant. This underlines the corporate responsibility of the nation before God.
- And he read in their hearing: The active and public declaration of the Word. It highlights that the divine word is meant to be proclaimed audibly and directly to the people, so they can hear, understand, and respond. It moves beyond private piety to public engagement with God's will.
- all the words: Emphasizes the completeness and authority of the message. Josiah did not pick and choose but presented the entire rediscovered text, underscoring its wholeness and the comprehensive nature of God's demands.
- of the Book of the Covenant: (Hebrew: סֵפֶר הַבְּרִית, Sefer HaB'rit). This term specifically designates the Law as a covenant document, a binding agreement between God and His people, entailing blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. It connects this event back to the foundational covenant at Sinai. Scholars widely believe this book was likely a form of Deuteronomy, or at least a significant portion of it, emphasizing faithfulness to YHWH alone, proper worship, and social justice. Its rediscovery meant a return to foundational principles that had been long forgotten or ignored.
- that had been found: A crucial detail implying divine orchestration and miraculous rediscovery. It underscores that God was actively at work in making His forgotten word available again to bring about revival. Its "lostness" reflects the nation's spiritual neglect, and its "finding" signals hope and a call to return.
2 Kings 23 2 Bonus section
The act of reading "all the words" contrasts sharply with the selective or forgotten religious practices of previous reigns, highlighting a commitment to unfiltered divine truth. The immediate impact of the Book upon Josiah himself (2 Ki 22:11) showcases the transformative power of God's Word on an individual, which then, through his leadership, extends to the entire nation. This scene also emphasizes the concept of corporate responsibility within the covenant—the destiny of the nation was tied to the obedience of its people, both individually and collectively. Furthermore, Josiah's decision to gather everyone from "small to great" highlights that the Law applies universally, bridging social strata and ensuring accountability across society. This event laid the theological foundation for the subsequent extensive reforms, illustrating that proper action flows from profound exposure to, and reverence for, the revealed will of God.
2 Kings 23 2 Commentary
2 Kings 23:2 describes Josiah's strategic and righteous leadership in national spiritual revival. He recognized that true reform must be rooted in God's revealed Word. By assembling all the people in the very heart of worship—the Temple—and personally reading all the words of the rediscovered Book of the Covenant, Josiah established the supremacy of God's Law as the guiding principle for both the king and the common person. This was not a mere legal formality but a spiritual summons, confronting a nation steeped in generations of idolatry and disregard for divine standards. The public, audible reading underscored the personal and corporate responsibility to hear, understand, and obey the divine covenant. It demonstrates that authentic spiritual transformation for a nation begins with a humble submission to and broad dissemination of God's complete and authoritative Word, thereby laying the groundwork for repentance, purification, and renewed covenant fidelity.