2 Kings 23 28

2 Kings 23:28 kjv

Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

2 Kings 23:28 nkjv

Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

2 Kings 23:28 niv

As for the other events of Josiah's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

2 Kings 23:28 esv

Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

2 Kings 23:28 nlt

The rest of the events in Josiah's reign and all his deeds are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

2 Kings 23 verses

2 Kings 23 28 Meaning

This verse serves as a standard concluding formula for the account of King Josiah's reign in the book of 2 Kings. It signifies that the biblical narrative has not presented every single detail of Josiah's actions and directs the reader to another existing historical record, "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah," for a more exhaustive account of his life and rule. It functions as a precise internal reference, validating the narrative's basis in wider historical records.

2 Kings 23 28 Context

This verse stands at a pivotal point in the book of 2 Kings. It follows a detailed account of King Josiah's widespread religious reforms, the rediscovery of the Book of the Law, his solemn covenant renewal, the national celebration of Passover, and the ultimate, tragic account of his death in battle at Megiddo against Pharaoh Necho of Egypt. While Josiah was arguably Judah's most righteous king, his death is immediately preceded by the Deuteronomistic author's stark declaration (2 Kings 23:26-27) that despite Josiah's faithfulness, the Lord's fierce anger against Judah due to Manasseh's idolatry would not turn away. This judgment meant the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of Judah. Verse 28 thus serves as the narrative closure to Josiah's reign within 2 Kings, transitioning the reader to the next phase of Judah's decline through the reigns of his successors, even as it directs them to an external historical source for more information on the righteous king's comprehensive acts. Historically, Judah in Josiah's time experienced a brief period of religious revival and political autonomy due to the decline of Assyrian power, before being caught between the rising powers of Egypt and Babylon. The "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" refers to official court records, separate from the canonical Books of Chronicles, underscoring the claimed historicity of the 2 Kings narrative.

2 Kings 23 28 Word analysis

• Now: (וְ) Wĕ- (Hebrew conjunction 'waw') - functions as a simple conjunction, meaning "and," but here marks a transition in the narrative, introducing the concluding summary of Josiah's reign. It connects the account of his death to the general summary statement.
• the rest of the acts: (יֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי) yeter dibre - Literally "the remainder of the words/matters." This formulaic phrase signifies that the preceding narrative in 2 Kings is a selective account, not an exhaustive record. It indicates that further, more comprehensive information regarding Josiah's reign can be found elsewhere. This phrasing is common in Deuteronomistic history for almost every king.
• of Josiah: (יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ) Yō’šiyyāhû - King Josiah, whose name means "YHWH supports" or "YHWH heals." His reign (640-609 BCE) was marked by unprecedented religious reforms. The mention of his name here serves as the explicit subject of the summary.
• and all that he did: (וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה) wəḵol-'ăšer ‘āśāh - This phrase emphasizes the breadth and totality of Josiah's actions during his reign, indicating that even beyond what 2 Kings narrates, there was much more performed by this active monarch. Despite its comprehensiveness, the Bible implicitly states its own account is selective.
• are they not written: (הֲלֹא כְתוּבִים) Hălō’ kəṯûbîm - This is a rhetorical question that functions as an emphatic affirmative statement, asserting, "Indeed, they are written!" It strongly affirms the existence and accessibility of the source material. This rhetorical device adds weight and authority to the reference, grounding the biblical narrative in external historical records, thus strengthening its claim to historical accuracy and reliability.
• in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah: (עַל־סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה) ‘al-sēp̄er divrê hayyāmîm ləmalḵê Yəhûḏâ - "upon the book of the words/matters of the days of the kings of Judah." This specific designation refers to a non-canonical, official royal archive or court chronicle that existed at the time the Deuteronomistic History was compiled. It is distinct from the canonical Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. This explicit citation reinforces the historical veracity claimed by the biblical author and suggests reliance on, or knowledge of, administrative records for the details provided. It serves to assure the original audience that the account is verifiable through existing royal documents.