2 Chronicles 34
34:1 a Josiah’s reign of thirty-one years was from 640 to 609 BC.34:3 b Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David when he was just sixteen. He initiated his own acts of reform when he reached age twenty.
34:6 c By Josiah’s twelfth year as king (628 BC), the Assyrian Empire had largely disintegrated. During this time, the north of Israel was virtually deserted, making it possible for Josiah to extend his influence and control into Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even as far as Naphtali.
Summary for 2Chr 34:12-13: 34:12-13 d That musicians supervised the construction shows how important it was for Levites to be in charge of this work. Other ancient texts note that music was a common element of construction projects.
Summary for 2Chr 34:14-18: 34:14-18 e The discovery of the Book of the Law of the Lord was one of the rewards for faithfulness.
• The book that was written by Moses was probably Deuteronomy. It might have been neglected and lost during the apostasies of Manasseh or Amon.
34:24 f the curses written in the scroll: See Deut 27:14-26 g; 28:15-68 h. Curses in a covenant stipulate what will happen to those who are unfaithful to the covenant, as Israel and Judah were in their covenant with the Lord. These curses included exile.
Summary for 2Chr 34:27-28: 34:27-28 i King Josiah did not die in peace; he was killed by Pharaoh Neco II of Egypt (35:20-25 j). However, Josiah was buried in peace, meaning that the city of Jerusalem was at peace and exile did not come during Josiah’s reign. His repentant spirit averted immediate disaster.
Summary for 2Chr 34:29-32: 34:29-32 k Renewal of the covenant was the most significant event in Josiah’s reform.
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