Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 23

The grave of the prophet who spoke about Josiah 300 years earlier

2 Kings 23:16-18

At the time of Josiah, few of the people from northern and central Israel remained in their own land. They were probably only the poorest and weakest of Israel’s people. The army of Assyria had taken most of the people away to live in foreign countries (17:6). Assyria’s king had sent foreigners to live in the towns of northern and central Israel (17:24).

The few of Israel’s people who remained there, seem to have supported Josiah’s efforts to free their country from wrong religions. They had seen God’s judgment against their nation and they had turned to God. They had already given money to help to pay for the repairs to the temple, God’s house in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 34:9).

So, they allowed Josiah to destroy the place that Jeroboam had built for his wrong religion at Bethel. Josiah ordered the deaths of the priests of that wrong religion (23:20) and he covered the place with human bones. In that way, he made that place unsuitable for anyone to carry out the ceremonies of their religions there.

As Josiah carried out these actions, he seemed unaware of the events of 1 Kings chapter 13. About 300 years earlier, God had sent a prophet (holy man) to Bethel, to declare God’s judgment against that place and its religion. God had said what Josiah would do to that place – in fact, in the message, God had even declared Josiah’s name.

That prophet had died in an extraordinary manner when he did not obey God. Another prophet had buried him, and he told his family to bury him in the same grave. The family set up an impressive stone to mark the place of that grave. That grave-stone caused the people to remember the prophet and his message. So, when Josiah asked about that stone, the people told him about the prophet. What God had declared about Josiah 300 years ago, Josiah was now carrying out. He was carrying out God’s judgment against that place and its wrong religion.

Next part: Josiah acts against wrong religion in northern Israel (2 Kings 23:19-20)

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