Further Zeal for the Lord

24 In addition, Josiah removed the mediums, the spiritists,(A) household idols,(B) images, and all the detestable things(C) that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this in order to carry out the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the Lord’s temple.(D) 25 Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his mind and with all his heart and with all his strength(E) according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him.(F)

26 In spite of all that, the Lord did not turn from the fury of His great burning anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had provoked Him with.(G) 27 For the Lord had said, “I will also remove Judah from My sight just as I have removed Israel.(H) I will reject this city Jerusalem, that I have chosen, and the temple about which I said, ‘My name will be there.’”(I)

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24 Josiah burned those who consulted dead spirits and the mediums, the household gods and the worthless idols—all the monstrous things that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. In this way Josiah fulfilled the words of the Instruction written in the scroll that the priest Hilkiah found in the Lord’s temple. 25 There’s never been a king like Josiah, whether before or after him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, all his being, and all his strength, in agreement with everything in the Instruction from Moses.

26 Even so, the Lord didn’t turn away from the great rage that burned against Judah on account of all that Manasseh had done to make him angry. 27 The Lord said, “I will remove Judah from my presence just as I removed Israel. I will reject this city, Jerusalem, which I chose, and this temple where I promised my name would reside.”

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