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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.”

Josiah’s Religious Reforms

29 Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the Levites—all the people from the greatest to the least. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord’s Temple. 31 The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. 32 And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge. The people of Jerusalem did so, renewing their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors.

33 So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the Lord their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

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