2 Kings 23:4-20 ▼

4 Then the king commanded Hilkiah (my portion is YHWH) the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD {YHWH} all the articles made for Baal (lord), Asherah (goddess), and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem (city of peace) in the fields of Kidron (dark) and carried their ashes to Bethel (house of God).

5 Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah (praised) to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem (city of peace)—those who had burned incense to Baal (lord), to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.

6 He brought the Asherah pole (goddess) from the house of the LORD {YHWH} to the Kidron (dark) Valley outside Jerusalem (city of peace), and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.

7 He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD {YHWH}, where the women had woven tapestries for Asherah (goddess).

8 Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah (praised) and desecrated the high places, from Geba (hill) to Beersheba (well of seven), where the priests had burned incense. He tore down the high places of the gates at the entrance of the gate of Joshua (YHWH saves) the governor of the city, which was to the left of the city gate.

9 Although the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the LORD {YHWH} in Jerusalem (city of peace), they ate unleavened bread with their fellow priests.

10 He also desecrated Topheth (place of fire) in the Valley of Ben-hinnom (the Valley of the Son of Hinnom) so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire \could pass his son or daughter through the fire/ to Molech (king).

11 And he removed from the entrance to the house of the LORD {YHWH} the horses that the kings of Judah (praised) had dedicated to the sun. They were in the court {parbarim} near the chamber of an official named Nathan-melech (the gift of the king). And Josiah burned up the chariots of the sun.

12 He pulled down the altars that the kings of Judah (praised) had set up on the roof near the upper chamber of Ahaz (he has grasped), and the altars that Manasseh (causing to forget) had set up in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD {YHWH}. The king pulverized them there (quickly removed them from there) and threw their dust into the Kidron (dark) Valley.

13 The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem (city of peace), to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon (peace) of Israel (he wrestles with God) had built for Ashtoreth (star) the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh (subduer) the abomination of the Moabites (of his father), and for Milcom (Molech) the abomination of the Ammonites (tribal).

14 He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles (goddess), and covered the sites with human bones.

15 He even pulled down the altar at Bethel (house of God), the high place set up by Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect), who had caused Israel (he wrestles with God) to sin. Then he burned [broke into pieces] the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole (goddess).

16 And as Josiah (whom YHWH heals) turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD {YHWH} proclaimed by the man of God {Elohim} who had foretold these things [when Jeroboam stood by the altar at the feast. And he turned and lifted his eyes to the tomb of the man of God].

17 Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?” And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God {Elohim} who came from Judah (praised) and proclaimed these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel (house of God).”

18 “Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria (watch mountain).

19 Just as Josiah had done at Bethel (house of God), so also in the cities of Samaria (watch mountain) he (whom YHWH heals) removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel (he wrestles with God) who had provoked the LORD to anger.

20 On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem (city of peace).