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29 The king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem.[a] 30 The king went up to the Lord’s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the Levites. All the people were there, from the oldest to the youngest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the Lord’s temple. 31 The king stood by his pillar[b] and renewed[c] the covenant before the Lord, agreeing to follow[d] the Lord and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being,[e] by carrying out the terms[f] of this covenant recorded on this scroll. 32 He made all who were in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to it.[g] The residents of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged[h] all who were in Israel to worship the Lord their God. Throughout the rest of his reign[i] they did not turn aside from following the Lord God of their ancestors.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 34:29 tn Heb “and the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.”
  2. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tc This assumes an emendation to עַמּוּדוֹ (ʿammudo), see 23:13. The MT reads “at his place.”
  3. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tn Heb “cut,” that is, “made” or “agreed to.”
  4. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tn Heb “walk after.”
  5. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tn Or “soul.”
  6. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tn Heb “words.”
  7. 2 Chronicles 34:32 tn Heb “and he caused to stand everyone who was found in Jerusalem and Benjamin.”
  8. 2 Chronicles 34:33 tn Or “caused, forced.”
  9. 2 Chronicles 34:33 tn Heb “All his days.”

Affirmation of the Covenant by Josiah and the People

29 So the king sent messengers and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 The king went up to the Lord’s temple with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people from the oldest to the youngest. He read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the Lord’s temple.(A) 31 Then the king stood at his post(B) and made a covenant in the Lord’s presence(C) to follow the Lord and to keep his commands, his decrees, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul(D) in order to carry out the words of the covenant written in this book.(E)

32 He had all those present in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree[a] to it. So all the inhabitants of Jerusalem carried out the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

33 So Josiah removed everything that was detestable from all the lands belonging to the Israelites,(F) and he required all who were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God. Throughout his reign they did not turn aside from following the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

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Footnotes

  1. 34:32 Lit take a stand.