What does 2 Chronicles 34:5 mean?
"And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 34:5
2 Chronicles 34:5 - "And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem."
The verse 2 Chronicles 34:5 from the King James Version of the bible states, "And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem." This verse is part of the larger narrative of King Josiah's reign and his efforts to bring about religious reforms in the kingdom of Judah.
To fully understand the meaning and significance of this verse, it is important to provide some context. King Josiah became king of Judah at the young age of eight, following the assassination of his father, King Amon. Josiah's reign is noted for his efforts to restore the worship of Yahweh and to remove the worship of other gods, such as Baal and Asherah, from the land. This religious reform was motivated by Josiah's desire to bring Judah back into a covenant relationship with God, as outlined in the Mosaic Law.
In 2 Chronicles 34:5, the burning of the bones of the priests upon their altars is a drastic and symbolic action taken by Josiah as part of his religious reforms. The burning of bones on altars would have been a practice associated with the worship of false gods, particularly in the pagan religions that were prevalent in the surrounding nations. By burning the bones of the priests on their altars, Josiah is not only defiling the pagan altars and eliminating the possibility of their continued use, but he is also symbolically purifying Judah and Jerusalem from the defilement of idolatry and false worship.
The burning of the bones of the priests on their altars is a clear demonstration of Josiah's commitment to religious purity and the exclusive worship of Yahweh. It serves as a dramatic and public statement about the end of the practice of idolatry and the return to the true worship of God. Josiah's action is one of radical reformation, and it symbolizes the removal of anything that might hinder the people of Judah from wholeheartedly serving and following God.
This verse also highlights the theme of judgment and accountability. The burning of the bones of the priests on their altars signifies a reckoning for the idolatrous practices that had been allowed to take root in Judah. Josiah's actions are a response to the revelation of God's law and a recognition of the need for repentance and turning away from sin. The burning of the bones on the altars is a tangible expression of the consequences of forsaking the commandments of God and the seriousness of straying from His ways.
Furthermore, the verse underscores the concept of cleansing and purification. Josiah's religious reforms were not only about removing the external trappings of idolatry but also about purifying the hearts and minds of the people. The cleansing of Judah and Jerusalem, as mentioned in the verse, signifies a spiritual renewal and restoration of the people's relationship with God. It represents the eradication of spiritual impurity and the restoration of holiness and righteousness in the land.
In conclusion, 2 Chronicles 34:5 is a powerful verse that captures the essence of King Josiah's religious reforms and his commitment to restoring the worship of Yahweh in the kingdom of Judah. It speaks to the themes of judgment, accountability, cleansing, and purification, and serves as a reminder of the importance of wholehearted devotion to God and the consequences of turning away from Him. The burning of the bones on the altars is a poignant symbol of the radical measures taken to eradicate idolatry and restore true worship, and it stands as a testament to Josiah's dedication to honoring God.
2 Chronicles 34:5 Artwork
2 Chronicles 34:5 - "And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 34:29 - "¶ Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem."
1 Chronicles 2:5 - "The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul."
2 Chronicles 34:19 - "And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes."
1 Chronicles 2:34 - "¶ Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha."
2 Chronicles 34:17 - "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."
2 Chronicles 34:2 - "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."
2 Chronicles 34:6 - "And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about."
2 Chronicles 34:1 - "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years."
2 Chronicles 34:23 - "¶ And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,"
2 Chronicles 34:18 - "Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king."
2 Chronicles 34:10 - "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:"
2 Kings 10:34 - "Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
2 Chronicles 34:14 - "¶ 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."
2 Chronicles 11:5 - "¶ And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah."
1 Chronicles 4:34 - "And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,"
2 Chronicles 34:20 - "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,"
2 Chronicles 34:16 - "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."
2 Chronicles 34:11 - "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."
2 Chronicles 2:5 - "And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods."
2 Chronicles 5:4 - "And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark."
2 Chronicles 20:34 - "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel."
2 Chronicles 34:15 - "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."
2 Chronicles 34:32 - "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."
1 Chronicles 7:34 - "And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram."
2 Chronicles 34:13 - "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."
2 Chronicles 5:5 - "And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up."
1 Chronicles 1:34 - "And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel."
1 Chronicles 11:34 - "The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,"
2 Chronicles 20:5 - "¶ And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,"