What does 2 Kings 23:20 mean?
"And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem." - 2 Kings 23:20
2 Kings 23:20 (KJV) reads: "And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem."
This verse is part of the narrative detailing the reforms initiated by King Josiah of Judah. In order to fully understand the meaning and commentary of this verse, it is important to first examine the context and historical background.
During Josiah's reign, the nation of Judah was steeped in idolatry and the worship of false gods. High places, or elevated areas used for pagan worship, were scattered throughout the land. These high places were typically adorned with altars dedicated to the worship of various pagan deities. The destruction of the high places and the priests who served there was a key aspect of Josiah's campaign to rid Judah of idolatry and restore true worship of the one true God.
The act of slaying the priests and burning men's bones upon the altars was a deliberate and symbolic act carried out by Josiah to defile and desecrate these places of false worship. This action effectively put an end to the pagan practices that had taken root in the land. It served as a powerful statement of Josiah's commitment to purifying the nation and upholding the Mosaic Law, which strictly prohibited the worship of other gods and the use of high places for sacrificial offerings.
From a broader thematic perspective, this verse underscores the importance of spiritual purity and the exclusive worship of the one true God in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Throughout the Bible, idolatry is consistently condemned as a grave sin that leads to spiritual corruption and estrangement from God. When Josiah purges the high places and eliminates the pagan priests, he is not only taking decisive action to rid the land of false worship, but also reinforcing the principle of monotheism and upholding the covenant relationship between God and His people.
Symbolically, the burning of men's bones upon the altars serves as a potent image of judgment and the eradication of the vestiges of pagan practices. Burning the bones of the deceased upon the altars effectively rendered them impure and defiled, thus rendering the altars unusable for any future idolatrous rituals. This act underscored the severity of Josiah's commitment to reform and the lengths to which he was willing to go in order to bring about spiritual renewal in Judah.
In a broader theological sense, this verse also highlights the biblical theme of divine judgment and the consequences of straying from God's commandments. The destruction of the high places and the punishment of the idolatrous priests serves as a sobering reminder of the spiritual and moral accountability of individuals and nations. Throughout the Bible, we see numerous examples of God's judgment being executed upon those who turn away from Him and embrace false gods.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 23:20 provides a powerful snapshot of King Josiah's resolute commitment to eliminating idolatry and restoring true worship in Judah. The verse is deeply rooted in the historical context of the Israelite monarchy and the struggle to uphold the monotheistic faith in the midst of widespread idolatry. It also serves as a reminder of the underlying theological themes of divine judgment, spiritual purity, and the enduring relevance of the Mosaic Law.
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2 Kings 23:20 - "And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem."
"And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem." - 2 Kings 23:20
2 Kings 23:23 - "But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem."
2 Kings 8:23 - "And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 20:20 - "¶ And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 23:22 - "Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;"
2 Kings 23:28 - "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 3:23 - "And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil."
2 Kings 20:2 - "Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,"
2 Kings 23:1 - "And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem."
2 Kings 2:20 - "And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him."
2 Kings 21:23 - "¶ And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house."
2 Kings 20:16 - "And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD."
2 Kings 10:20 - "And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it."
2 Kings 25:20 - "And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:"
2 Kings 9:23 - "And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah."
"But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem." - 2 Kings 23:23
2 Kings 14:20 - "And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David."
2 Kings 20:21 - "And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead."
2 Kings 21:20 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did."
2 Kings 13:20 - "¶ And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year."
2 Kings 20:7 - "And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered."
2 Kings 11:20 - "And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house."
1 Kings 20:23 - "And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they."
2 Kings 8:20 - "¶ In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves."
2 Samuel 20:23 - "¶ Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:"
2 Kings 23:37 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
2 Kings 23:32 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
2 Kings 23:11 - "And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire."
2 Kings 23:21 - "¶ And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant."