2 Kings 23 8

2 Kings 23:8 kjv

And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.

2 Kings 23:8 nkjv

And he brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; also he broke down the high places at the gates which were at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were to the left of the city gate.

2 Kings 23:8 niv

Josiah brought all the priests from the towns of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He broke down the gateway at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua, the city governor, which was on the left of the city gate.

2 Kings 23:8 esv

And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had made offerings, from Geba to Beersheba. And he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on one's left at the gate of the city.

2 Kings 23:8 nlt

Josiah brought to Jerusalem all the priests who were living in other towns of Judah. He also defiled the pagan shrines, where they had offered sacrifices ? all the way from Geba to Beersheba. He destroyed the shrines at the entrance to the gate of Joshua, the governor of Jerusalem. This gate was located to the left of the city gate as one enters the city.

2 Kings 23 verses

2 Kings 23 8 Meaning

(paragraph)2 Kings 23:8 describes King Josiah's widespread and thorough purging of idolatry from Judah. It details his actions of removing priests who served at illicit altars, specifically the "high places" (bāmōṯ), which were sites of syncretistic worship, often combining veneration of the LORD with pagan practices. He desecrated these places to render them unusable, covering the entire breadth of Judah from Geba in the north to Beersheba in the south. Furthermore, he targeted specific high places located at city gates, including a detailed reference to the "gate of Joshua, the governor of the city," demonstrating the meticulous and far-reaching nature of his reformation efforts against entrenched idolatry within the very fabric of daily life in the cities.

2 Kings 23 8 Context

(paragraph)Verse 8 is part of 2 Kings Chapter 23, which details the profound religious reforms enacted by King Josiah in Judah. These reforms were a direct response to the discovery of the Book of the Law (likely a scroll of Deuteronomy) during repairs to the temple (2 Kgs 22:8). Reading this law convicted Josiah of Judah's deep unfaithfulness to God, leading him to renew the covenant (2 Kgs 23:3) and initiate a radical purification of worship throughout his kingdom. This chapter describes Josiah systematically removing all pagan objects, symbols, and practices from the Temple in Jerusalem and then expanding his cleansing efforts throughout Judah, dismantling every remnant of idolatry and dealing with the corrupt priests. The verse in question focuses specifically on the rural and urban idolatry prevalent across the land of Judah, illustrating the thoroughness and wide geographical scope of his reform, from the northern border town of Geba to the southern limit of Beersheba.

2 Kings 23 8 Word analysis

(ul)

• And he brought out: (Hebrew: wayyō·w·ṣêʾ - causative hiphil imperfect of yā·ṣāʾ meaning "to cause to go forth/come out"). This denotes an authoritative, active removal by Josiah, highlighting his royal authority and determination in executing the reform. It implies a forced removal, not a voluntary departure.
• all the priests: (Hebrew: kol-hak·kō·hănîm). These were not the legitimate Levitical priests serving the Jerusalem Temple (2 Kgs 23:9), but rather priests who officiated at the "high places" and other illicit altars, likely syncretistic or fully pagan in their practice, as they "burned incense" there.
• out of the cities of Judah: This signifies that idolatry was not confined to Jerusalem but was pervasive throughout the regional towns and settlements, affecting every aspect of daily life and religious practice outside the centralized Temple worship.
• and defiled: (Hebrew: way·yə·ṭam·mēʾ - piel perfect of ṭāmēʾ). To make ceremonially unclean or ritually impure. This action went beyond mere destruction; it rendered the sites anathema, abhorrent, and unusable for any cultic purpose (pagan or otherwise). Often involved scattering human bones or filth upon them, which made them ceremonially unusable for worship according to Israelite law. This made them "unholy" to the worshippers of false gods.
• the high places: (Hebrew: hab·bā·mō·wṯ - from bāmāh). Raised altars or cult sites, often outdoors on hills or elevated ground, used for worship throughout ancient Israel and Canaan. These were a persistent source of idolatry and syncretism in Israelite history, often incorporating Baal or Asherah worship alongside attempts to worship the LORD. They symbolized the deviation from pure, centralized Yahwistic worship.
• where the priests had burned incense: (Hebrew: qiṭ·ṭə·rū). Incense burning was a common act of worship, but here it indicates a pagan or unauthorized offering at the high places. This specific detail clarifies the nature of the priests' offense and the high places' purpose as idolatrous sites.
• from Geba even to Beersheba: (Hebrew: mig·ge·ḇaʿ ʿaḏ-beʾēr-šā·ḇaʿ). A standard ancient Israelite idiom (like "from Dan to Beersheba" for the full extent of the kingdom). This phrase signifies the absolute and comprehensive geographical scope of Josiah's reforms, covering the entire north-south length of Judah, emphasizing the thoroughness of his purge across the entire nation.
• and brake down: (Hebrew: wə·nā·ṯaṣ). To demolish, pull down, or tear apart. A strong verb indicating physical destruction of the altars and structures associated with the high places.
• the high places of the gates: (Hebrew: bā·mō·wṯ haš·šə·ʿā·rîm). These were high places or altars specifically located at the city gates. City gates were central points of urban life, commerce, justice, and assembly. Their presence there indicates how deeply idolatry was interwoven into the daily, civic, and communal life of the cities, even at their entry and exit points.
• that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua, the governor of the city: This is an exceptionally specific detail. "Joshua" refers to a contemporary city official (Hebrew: sar-hāʿîr, sar meaning official or prince). This precision suggests the chronicler's intent to highlight the meticulousness of Josiah's purge, targeting even specific local points of idolatry known to the people, implying nothing was overlooked. It's not a generic statement, but an eyewitness-level detail of the thoroughness.
• and which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city: Another remarkably precise directional detail. It further underscores the methodical and complete nature of Josiah's dismantling of idolatrous sites, illustrating that he eradicated every detectable vestige of polytheistic worship, even those subtly placed within the common areas of urban life.

(ul)

• "And he brought all the priests out...and defiled the high places": This phrase-group emphasizes Josiah's dual strategy: removing the human agents of idolatry (the priests) and rendering the physical sites of idolatry unusable and detestable, indicating a comprehensive assault on both the practice and its practitioners.
• "from Geba even to Beersheba": This geographical marker acts as an inclusive literary device, asserting that no part of Judah was left untouched by Josiah's purifying hand, underlining the unprecedented extent of his reforms.
• "the high places of the gates...at the gate of the city": This particular focus on city gates reveals the pervasive nature of idolatry. These were not hidden shrines, but public, accessible altars located in vital communal spaces, reflecting how deeply entrenched and normalized polytheistic practices had become within daily urban life.

2 Kings 23 8 Bonus section

(ul)

• The "priests" mentioned here, serving at the high places, were distinguished from the legitimate Levitical priests who ministered in Jerusalem. Although these high place priests were "brought out" and their altars destroyed, the text in 2 Kings 23:9 indicates that while they could come to Jerusalem, they were not allowed to serve at the LORD's altar there. This reflects a practical measure for managing a significant group of compromised religious figures and upholding the purity of Temple service, consistent with principles regarding ceremonial defilement and specific Levitical duties.
• The persistence of high places, even under "good" kings like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, and Azariah, shows the deep-seated nature of this syncretistic worship. Josiah's unique act of not only destroying but also defiling (making unclean/polluting) these sites marked a significant break from previous reforms, showcasing a heightened zeal against idolatry not seen since Moses' time. This was a radical spiritual and cultural transformation.
• The detailed geographical and positional descriptions (e.g., "gate of Joshua," "on a man's left hand") may have served as concrete validation for the contemporary audience that these reforms were indeed fully carried out and were not merely a symbolic gesture but a comprehensive physical purge. This level of detail confirms the historical reality and scope of Josiah's zealous work.

2 Kings 23 8 Commentary

(paragraph)2 Kings 23:8 encapsulates King Josiah's rigorous and far-reaching spiritual cleansing of Judah. Driven by a renewed covenant commitment after the rediscovery of the Law, he actively dismantled the "high places" (bāmōṯ), which symbolized Israel's centuries-long struggle with syncretism and idolatry. His actions were not mere destruction but defilement, rendering these pagan sites ritually abhorrent and unusable, ensuring their former cultic purpose was irrevocably severed. The expulsion of their associated "priests" further illustrates a direct assault on the human agents perpetuating these illicit worship practices. The broad geographical sweep, "from Geba even to Beersheba," along with the hyper-specific targeting of altars at city gates, signifies the unparalleled thoroughness of Josiah's reform. This level of meticulousness highlights his dedication to eradicating every trace of disloyalty to the LORD, signifying a profound spiritual cleansing aimed at restoring the nation's singular devotion to God. This unparalleled reformation represents a deep commitment to pure worship and stands as a beacon against spiritual compromise.