2Ch 34:1-2 | KD | STEP | The account of Josiah in the Chronicle agrees in all essential points with the representation in 2 Kings 22 and 23, but is chronologically more exact, and in many parts more complete than that. In the second book of Kings, the whole reform of the cultus carried out by Josiah is viewed in its connection with the discovery of the book of the law, on the occasion of the temple being repaired; and the narrative comprehends not only the repair of the temple, the discovery, the reading of the book of the law before the assembled people, and the renewal of the covenant, but also the extirpation of idolatry in Jerusalem and Judah and in all the cities of Israel, and the celebration of the passover in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign; see the introductory remarks to 2 Kings 22. In the Chronicle, on the contrary, these events are more kept apart, and described according to their order in time. As early as in the eighth year of his reign, Josiah, still a youth, began to seek the God of his ancestor David, and in his twelfth year to purge Jerusalem and Judah of idolatry ( ). In the eighteenth year the book of the law was discovered in the temple, brought to the king, and read before him ( ); whereupon he, deeply moved by the contents of the book which had been read, and by the answer of the prophetess Huldah when inquired of concerning it ( ), went into the temple with the elders of the people, caused the law to be read to the whole people, and made a covenant before the Lord to obey the law ( ). He then caused all the idolatrous abominations which were still to be found in the land of Israel to be removed ( ), and prepared to hold the passover, as it had not been held since the days of Solomon (2 Chron 35:1-19). In other respects the main difference between the two accounts is, that in 2 Kings the suppression of idolatry is narrated with greater minuteness; the passover, on the contrary, being only briefly noticed; - while in the Chronicle the purification of Jerusalem, Judah, and the kingdom of Israel is shortly summarized ( ), but the celebration of the passover is minutely described on its ceremonial side (2 Chron 35:1-19). Duration and spirit of Josiah’s reign; agreeing with 2Ki 22:1, 2Ki 22:2, only the note as to Josiah’s mother being here omitted.

‏ 2 Chronicles 34:1-2

Reign of Josiah - 2 Chronicles 34-35

The account of Josiah in the Chronicle agrees in all essential points with the representation in 2 Kings 22 and 23, but is chronologically more exact, and in many parts more complete than that. In the second book of Kings, the whole reform of the cultus carried out by Josiah is viewed in its connection with the discovery of the book of the law, on the occasion of the temple being repaired; and the narrative comprehends not only the repair of the temple, the discovery, the reading of the book of the law before the assembled people, and the renewal of the covenant, but also the extirpation of idolatry in Jerusalem and Judah and in all the cities of Israel, and the celebration of the passover in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign; see the introductory remarks to 2 Kings 22. In the Chronicle, on the contrary, these events are more kept apart, and described according to their order in time. As early as in the eighth year of his reign, Josiah, still a youth, began to seek the God of his ancestor David, and in his twelfth year to purge Jerusalem and Judah of idolatry (2Ch 34:3). In the eighteenth year the book of the law was discovered in the temple, brought to the king, and read before him (2Ch 34:8-18); whereupon he, deeply moved by the contents of the book which had been read, and by the answer of the prophetess Huldah when inquired of concerning it (2Ch 34:19-28), went into the temple with the elders of the people, caused the law to be read to the whole people, and made a covenant before the Lord to obey the law (2Ch 34:29-32). He then caused all the idolatrous abominations which were still to be found in the land of Israel to be removed (2Ch 34:33), and prepared to hold the passover, as it had not been held since the days of Solomon (2 Chron 35:1-19). In other respects the main difference between the two accounts is, that in 2 Kings the suppression of idolatry is narrated with greater minuteness; the passover, on the contrary, being only briefly noticed; - while in the Chronicle the purification of Jerusalem, Judah, and the kingdom of Israel is shortly summarized (2Ch 34:3-7), but the celebration of the passover is minutely described on its ceremonial side (2 Chron 35:1-19).

2Ch 34:1-2 Duration and spirit of Josiah’s reign; agreeing with 2Ki 22:1, 2Ki 22:2, only the note as to Josiah’s mother being here omitted.