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2 Chronicles 34

2 Chron 34, 2 Ch 34, II Ch 34, 2Ch 34, II Chr 34, 2Chr 34, II Chron 34, 2Chron 34, II Chronicles 34, 2Chronicles 34, 2nd Chronicles 34, Second Chronicles 34


2 Chronicles 34

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

4 And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

5 And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.

7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.

10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:

11 Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

12 And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of music.

13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.

15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.

16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it.

17 And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.



18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying,

21 Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.

22 And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.

23 And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,

24 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:

25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

26 And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;

27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.

28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.

29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

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Summary and the Meaning of Chapter 34 of 2 Chronicles in KJV Holy Bible

The book of 2 Chronicles is the second part of the historical narrative of the kings of Israel and Judah in the Old Testament. It covers the reigns of various kings, from the time of Solomon to the Babylonian exile. Chapter 34 of 2 Chronicles focuses on the reign of King Josiah, who was known as one of the most righteous and faithful kings in the history of Judah. This chapter highlights the religious reforms implemented by King Josiah and the rediscovery of the Book of the Law, which had been lost and forgotten for many years. The main themes of this chapter include faithfulness to God, repentance, and the consequences of disobedience. Through the story of King Josiah, this chapter teaches us the importance of staying faithful to God and following His commandments.

The Reign of King Josiah

The chapter begins by stating that Josiah was only eight years old when he became king of Judah, after his father Amon was assassinated. Despite his young age, Josiah began to seek the Lord and walked in the ways of his ancestor David. The Bible describes him as a king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. He was a king who was devoted to serving God and bringing the people of Judah back to Him.

The Religious Reforms of King Josiah

One of the first things King Josiah did was to repair and restore the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. During the repairs, the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law, which had been lost and forgotten for many years. This discovery was a significant event in the history of Judah, as the Book of the Law contained the commandments and instructions given by God to Moses. King Josiah commanded that the book be read aloud to him, and upon hearing the words of the Law, he tore his clothes in repentance and wept before the Lord.

King Josiah then sent his officials to inquire of the Lord about the words of the Book of the Law. The prophetess Huldah confirmed that the words of the book were indeed from God and that the people of Judah would face severe consequences for their disobedience to His commandments. However, because of King Josiah's repentance and faithfulness, the Lord promised that the judgment would not come during his lifetime.

The Covenant Renewal

King Josiah then gathered all the people of Judah, from the greatest to the least, and read the Book of the Law to them. He then made a covenant with the Lord and the people, promising to obey and follow the commandments written in the book. The people also pledged to follow the Lord and keep His commandments. King Josiah then commanded the people to remove all the idols and false gods from the land, and he personally oversaw the destruction of these idols and altars.

The Passover Celebration

After the covenant renewal, King Josiah ordered the celebration of the Passover. This was a significant event in the history of Judah, as it had not been celebrated in such a grand manner since the days of the judges. The celebration of the Passover was a reminder of God's faithfulness to His people and His deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It was also a time for the people to reflect on their covenant with God and renew their commitment to Him.

The Legacy of King Josiah

The chapter ends by stating that there was no king before or after King Josiah who turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul, and might. He was a king who followed the ways of David and was faithful to God until his death. However, despite his faithfulness, the people of Judah did not turn away from their sins, and the consequences of their disobedience eventually caught up with them.

The Meaning of Chapter 34

The story of King Josiah and the rediscovery of the Book of the Law holds great significance and meaning for Christians today. It teaches us the importance of staying faithful to God and following His commandments. King Josiah was a king who was devoted to God, and his reign serves as an example of what can happen when a leader leads with righteousness and faithfulness.

The rediscovery of the Book of the Law also highlights the importance of reading and studying the Word of God. The people of Judah had strayed from God's commandments because they had forgotten His laws. However, when the Book of the Law was found and read aloud, it brought about repentance and a renewed commitment to follow God. This serves as a reminder for us to regularly read and study the Bible, as it is the source of God's instructions and guidance for our lives.

Another important theme in this chapter is the consequences of disobedience. The prophetess Huldah warned that the people of Judah would face severe judgment for their disobedience to God's commandments. Despite King Josiah's faithfulness, the people did not turn away from their sins, and eventually, the judgment came upon them. This serves as a reminder that there are consequences for our actions, and disobedience to God will always result in negative consequences.

Furthermore, the covenant renewal and the celebration of the Passover teach us about the importance of repentance and remembrance. King Josiah and the people of Judah repented of their sins and renewed their commitment to follow God. The celebration of the Passover was a time to remember God's faithfulness and deliverance in the past, and it served as a reminder to remain faithful to Him in the present and future.

In conclusion, Chapter 34 of 2 Chronicles is a powerful reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God, the consequences of disobedience, and the significance of reading and studying the Word of God. The story of King Josiah and the rediscovery of the Book of the Law serves as an example for us to follow in our own lives, as we strive to be faithful to God and His commandments.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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