2 Crônicas 34
Leon Morris · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Crônicas 34
Morris - Josiah was only eight years old when his wicked father, Amon, was slain. Amon had spent very little time with Josiah; in fact Amon himself was only sixteen years old when Josiah was born. After ruling only two years, Amon was slain at the age of twenty-four. Fortunately, Josiah had evidently been more influenced by the later reforms of his grandfather, Manasseh, than by his own immature and rebellious father. Josiah's training had perhaps been delegated to some faithful priest, but not even the latter would have had access to the Scriptures, which were accidentally recovered in the temple when Josiah was twenty-six years old, in the eighteenth year of his reign (2 Chronicles 34:8,15). Nevertheless, he began his great reforms when he was only sixteen years old, illustrating God's faithful ability to raise up His servants and to keep His Word even under the most unlikely of human circumstances. Seek (search)(01875) darash means to seek, to inquire of, to examine, to require, consult, ask. One of the most frequent uses of this word is in the expression "to inquire of God," which sometimes indicates a private seeking of God in prayer for direction (Gen. 25:22), and often it refers to the contacting of a prophet who would be the instrument of God's revelation (1 Sam. 9:9; 1 Kings 22:8). At other times this expression is found in connection with the use of the Urim and Thummim by the high priest as he sought to discover the will of God by the throwing of these sacred stones (Nu 27:21). We can get a good sense of one aspect of the meaning of darash when God says "You will seek (baqas; Lxx = ekzeteo intense seeking) Me and find Me when you search (darash; Lxx = zeteo) for Me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13) What is the condition of seeking Yahweh and finding Him? It is seeking with one's whole heart! We see a similar nuance in Dt 4:29+ "But from there you will seek (baqas; Lxx = zeteo) the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search (darash; Lxx = ekzeteo intense seeking) for Him with all your heart and all your soul." Notice the importance of the heart in Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask - 2 CHRONICLES 36:6— If Josiah demolished idolatry, then why does it say Manasseh did it earlier? PROBLEM: Here we are informed that Josiah destroyed the altars and idols, but earlier (in 2 Chron. 33:15) Manasseh had destroyed them. SOLUTION: No human king can root out the depraved human desire for idolatry. Therefore, Josiah had to redo the same work that his predecessor had done. A good human king can destroy idols, but not the love of idols. And, as long as this love exists, idolatry will live to rear its ugly head again and again. QUESTION: Why is idol worship such a powerful temptation? | GotQuestions.org ANSWER: Ultimately, the answer to this question is “sin.” It is the sin nature of man that causes us to worship modern idols, all of which are, in reality, forms of self-worship. The temptation to worship ourselves in various ways is a powerful temptation indeed. In fact, it is so powerful that only those who belong to Christ and have the Holy Spirit within them can possibly hope to resist the temptation of modern idolatry. Even then, resisting the worship of idols is a lifelong battle that is part of the Christian life (Ephesians 6:11; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3). When we hear the word idol, we often think of statues and objects reminiscent of those worshiped by pagans in ancient cultures. However, the idols of the 21st century often bear no resemblance to the artifacts used thousands of years ago. Today, many have replaced the “golden calf” with an insatiable drive for money or prestige or "success" in the eyes of the world. Some pursue the high regard of others as their ultimate goal. Some seek after comfort or a myriad of other passionate, yet empty, pursuits. Sadly, our societies often admire those serving such idols. In the end, however, it doesn’t matter what empty pleasure we chase after or what idol or which false god we bow down to; the result is the same—separation from the one true God. Understanding contemporary idols can help us to understand why they prove to be such a powerful temptation. An idol can be anything we place ahead of God in our lives, anything that takes God’s place in our hearts, such as possessions, careers, relationships, hobbies, sports, entertainment, goals, greed, addictions to alcohol/drugs/gambling/pornography, etc. Some of the things we idolize are clearly sinful. But many of the things we idolize can be very good, such as relationships or careers. Yet Scripture tells us that, whatever we do, we are to “do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and that we are to serve God only (Deuteronomy 6:13; Luke 16:13). Unfortunately, God is often shoved out of the way as we zealously pursue our idols. Worse yet, the significant amount of time we often spend in these idolatrous pursuits leaves us with little or no time to spend with the Lord. We sometimes also turn to idols seeking solace from the hardships of life and the turmoil present in our world. Addictive behaviors such as drug or alcohol use, or even something like excessive reading or television viewing, may be used as a means of temporarily “escaping” a difficult situation or the rigors of daily life. The psalmist, however, tells us that those who place their trust in this behavior will, essentially, become spiritually useless (Psalm 115:8). We need to place our trust in the Lord “who will keep [us] from all harm” (Psalm 121:7) and who has promised to supply all of our needs when we trust in Him. We also need to remember the words of Paul, who teaches us not to be anxious about anything, but rather to pray about everything so the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, can guard our hearts and our minds (Philippians 4:6–7). There is another form of idolatry prevalent today. Its growth is fostered by cultures that continue to drift away from sound biblical teaching, just as the apostle Paul warned us, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3). In these pluralistic, liberal times, many cultures have, to a large degree, redefined God. We have forsaken the God revealed to us in Scripture and have recast Him to comply with our own inclinations and desires—a “kinder and gentler” god who is infinitely more tolerant than the One revealed in Scripture. One who is less demanding and less judgmental and who will tolerate many lifestyles without placing guilt on anyone’s shoulders. As this idolatry is propagated by churches around the world, many congregants believe they are worshiping the one, true God. However, these made-over gods are created by man, and to worship them is to worship idols. worshiping a god of one’s own making is particularly tempting for many whose habits and lifestyles and drives and desires are not in harmony with Scripture. The things of this world will never fully satisfy the human heart. They were never meant to. The sinful things deceive us and ultimately lead only to death (Romans 6:23). The good things of this world are gifts from God, meant to be enjoyed with a thankful heart, in submission to Him and for His glory. But when the gift replaces the Giver or the created replaces the Creator in our lives, we have fallen into idolatry. And no idol can infuse our lives with meaning or worth or give us eternal hope. As Solomon beautifully conveys in the book of Ecclesiastes, apart from a right relationship with God, life is futile. We were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and designed to worship and glorify Him as He alone is worthy of our worship. God has placed “eternity in man’s heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to fulfill this longing for eternal life. All of our idolatrous pursuits will leave us empty, unsatisfied, and, ultimately, on the broad road that most people take, the one that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). Mercy and Grace [Josiah] began to seek the God of his father David. 2 Chronicles 34:3 Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Chronicles 34:1–8 A stately sunflower stood on its own in the center of a lonely stretch of national highway, just a few feet from the fast lane. As I drove past, I wondered how it had grown there with no other sunflowers visible for miles. Only God could create a plant so hardy it could thrive so close to the roadway in the gray gravel lining the median. There it was, thriving, swaying gently in the breeze and cheerfully greeting travelers as they hurried by. The Old Testament tells the story of a faithful king of Judah who also showed up unexpectedly. His father and grandfather had enthusiastically served other gods; but after Josiah had been in power for eight years, “while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David” (2 Chronicles 34:3). He sent workmen to “repair the temple of the Lord” (v. 8), and as they did they discovered the Book of the Law (the first five books of the Old Testament; v. 14). God then inspired Josiah to lead the entire nation of Judah to return to the faith of their ancestors, and they served the Lord “as long as [Josiah] lived” (v. 33). Our God is the master of unanticipated mercies. He’s able to cause great good to spring up unexpectedly out of the hard gravel of life’s most unfavorable circumstances. Watch Him closely. He may do it again today. By: James Banks What mercies have you seen from God that you never anticipated? How does the thought that He’s able to bring about unexpected good give you hope today? Heavenly Father, I praise You for never changing. Your mercies are “new every morning!” (Lamentations 3:23). Help me to look forward to what You have for me today. Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask - 2Ch 34:3–5—If Josiah demolished idolatry, then why does it say Manasseh did it earlier? PROBLEM: Here we are informed that Josiah destroyed the altars and idols, but earlier (in 2 Chron. 33:15) Manasseh had destroyed them. SOLUTION: No human king can root out the depraved human desire for idolatry. Therefore, Josiah had to redo the same work that his predecessor had done. A good human king can destroy idols, but not the love of idols. And, as long as this love exists, idolatry will live to rear its ugly head again and again. 2 Chronicles 34:4 They tore down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars that were high above them he chopped down; also the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images he broke in pieces and ground to powder and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. tore down the altars of the Baals: 2Ch 33:3 Ex 23:24 Lev 26:30 De 7:5,25 images: 2Ch 14:5 2Ki 23:4,5,11 ground to powder : 2Ch 34:7 Ex 32:20 De 9:21 2Ki 23:12 Ps 18:42 Isa 27:9 graves: Heb. face of the graves, 2Ki 10:26,27 23:4,6 Related Passages: Exodus 32:20+ He (MOSES) took the calf which they had made and burned it with fire, and ground it to powder, and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it. JOSIAH ATTACKS THE IDOLS They tore down the altars of the Baals in his presence - Josiah is doing in effect what God had commanded Israel to do in Deuteronomy 7:5 “But thus you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire." Two points are worth noting - (1) He had the idols destroyed in his very presence, as if to make absolutely sure there was not even an idol fragment remaining. Indeed, that is what we must all do with our idols! They are like crabgrass and if they are not totally eradicated, pulled up from the roots so to speak, they will certainly return! (2) This action by Josiah appears to be even before he had heard the Book of the Law which had been found. This is fascinating because most writers think what Shaphan read to him was at least the book of Deuternomy and here he is already carrying out God's Word! and the incense altars that were high above them he chopped down; also the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images he broke in pieces and ground to powder and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them - The verbs reflecting Josiah's action are vivid and uncompromising - tore down...chopped down....broke in pieces...ground to powder....scattered it on the graves. This last act would result in defiling the graves of the very ones who had sacrificed to these dead idols. Dead idols defiling dead men, dead physically, but far worse dead spiritually and forever condemned to the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:11-15+). 2 Chronicles 34:5 Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars and purged Judah and Jerusalem. he: 1Ki 13:2 2Ki 23:16 Jer 8:1,2 cleansed: 2Ch 34:7 Nu 35:33 Jer 3:10 4:14 Eze 22:24 THE PUNISHMENT FITS THE CRIME Then - Marks progression in the narrative. Josiah is on a roll to cleanse the promised land of perverted idolatry! He burned the bones of the priests on their altars and purged Judah and Jerusalem. - To ensure the altar could never again be used, Josiah removed bones from the tombs and burned them on their altars. There were two effects: (1) This action fulfilled a prophecy given about the altar approximately 300 years before (1Ki 13:2+). As noted earlier, according to Israel’s ceremonial law (Nu 19:16), contact with human bones rendered a person or place ritually unclean. By burning bones on their altars, Josiah deliberately defiled them permanently, ensuring that it could never again function as idolatrous altars. The punishment is fitted to the crime: the priests who burned sacrifices to Baal had their own bones burned on the same altar. J.A. Thompson: Though not explicitly stated, the Chronicler implied that Josiah executed the priests of Baal (cf. 2 Kgs 23:20) following the precedent set by Jehu (2 Kgs 10) and Jehoiada (2Ch 23:17). The punishment is fitted to the crime: the priests who burned sacrifices to Baal had their own bones burned on the same altar. According to 2 Kgs 23:16 the bones of priests who had died were removed from their graves and burned (ON THE ALTAR). (SEE 1, 2 Chronicles: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition) 2 Chronicles 34:6 In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, in their surrounding ruins, in: 2Ch 30:1,10,11 31:1 2Ki 23:15-20 mattocks: or, mauls, 1Sa 13:20,21 Pr 25:18 Isa 7:25 JOSIAH GOES NORTH TO "CLEAN HOUSE" In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, in their surrounding ruins - See locations on map. These are areas that were in the Northern Kingdom that had been defeated by the Assyrians in 722 BC. The Assyrian power at the time of Josiah was waning and this likely allowed Josiah to move freely into the Northern Kingdom, where there clearly remained some Israelite citizens. Henry Morris - Josiah's revivals extended far beyond his own nation (Judah, Benjamin, Levi) deep into the territories of the other tribes (see 2 Chronicles 15:9; 30:11,12). In fact only the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Dan are not specifically mentioned in 2 Chronicles as having come in some degree under the influence of Judah and Jerusalem and the true worship of God during the period of the divided kingdom. Raymond Dillard: The Assyrian empire was in an advanced stage of disintegration by Josiah’s twelfth year (628 B.C.). Nineveh itself was under siege by Cyaxares and the Medes in 625 B.C. The Babylonians were newly independent, and mountain tribes from the north were raiding former Assyrian territory. During the death throes of the Assyrian empire the territories of the Northern Kingdom became a “no man’s land” (Soggin, 245). It is intrinsically probable in these circumstances that Josiah would seek to extend his control and influence into Israel (2Ch 34:6), even as far as the Upper Galilee (Naphtali) (See 2 Chronicles, Volume 15 - Page 278) 2 Chronicles 34:7 he also tore down the altars and beat the Asherim and the carved images into powder, and chopped down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem. beat: 2Ch 34:1 De 9:21 he returned: 2Ch 31:1 IDOL ALTARS ALTERED BY KING JOSIAH He also tore down the altars and beat the Asherim and the carved images into powder, and chopped down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel - Josiah cleared the idols out of the entire Northern Kingdom! Note the dramatic verbs. The language is intentionally vivid and forceful -- he tore down, crushed, ground to powder, and chopped down. These are not casual reforms but aggressive, decisive actions aimed at total eradication. Josiah was not content with mere removal; he sought complete destruction, reducing these objects of false worship to dust so they could never again become a snare. His actions reflect a holy intolerance for idolatry and a determination to restore exclusive devotion to the LORD throughout all Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem - A job well done allowed him to return home. But don't miss the fact that Josiah did not send others to do his purging but was personally presence to assure the purging was complete. 2 Chronicles 34:8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God. the eighteenth: Jer 1:2,3 sent Shaphan: 2Ki 22:3,12,14 Jer 26:24 29:3 36:10 39:14 40:11 Eze 8:11 Maaseiah: Jer 21:1 29:21,25 recorder: 2Sa 8:16 20:24 1Ch 18:15 Related Passages: 2 Kings 22:3+ Now in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the LORD saying, REFORMS WELL UNDER WAY NOW REPAIR THE TEMPLE Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house - Idols had been largely eradicated. Now Josiah turns his attention to God's house. Chronology repeated 632 BC: 8th year (age 16) began to seek God 628 BC: 12th year (age 20) began reforms to purge Jerusalem even BEFORE he heard the Book of the Law! 627 BC: Word of the LORD came through Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of his reign 622 BC: 18th yr (age 26) discovery of the Book of the Law - Covenant Renewal & Passover (2Ki 23:23 2Ch 34:8, 35:19) 612 BC: Nineveh of Assyria falls 609 BC: Josiah falls asleep in Jesus. Final Assyrian forces were defeated at Battle of Carchemish He sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God - This would turn out to be one of the most monumental years of Josiah's life. It had been over 200 years since there is any record of repair on the Temple (see Joash below) and during the long reign of Manasseh, the Temple was ignored for the majority of his reign, falling into disrepair. Joash (c. 835–796 BC) initiated a major restoration of the temple (2Ki 12:4-16; 2Ch 24:4-14) after it had fallen into disrepair during the reigns of Athaliah and earlier apostate kings. Funds were collected (including the famous “chest at the doorway”), and the structure was repaired and restored. Bob
2 Crônicas 34
Morris - Some critics have popularized the notion that this was the time that the book of the law (especially the "Deuteronomic" document mentioned in the JEDP documentary theory) was first written and then made to look old. The "discovery" of the law was feigned by the priests, supposedly to gain influence over the king. This theory is best refuted merely by an open-minded reading of the Pentateuch, with its innumerable marks of authenticity, internal consistency, and archaeological confirmation. Frederick Mabie: This episode often comes as a surprise to readers who cannot imagine a scroll of the OT being “lost” in the temple. However, the foundation and walls of temples in the biblical world were commonly used as repositories for dedicatory inscriptions, administrative documents, building plans, and religious texts. . . Despite no shortage of speculation, the exact identification of this book is not possible to determine. Points of comparison can be drawn with Exodus (e.g., Ex 20-24), Leviticus (e.g., Lev 26), Numbers (e.g., Nu 9-10), and Deuteronomy (e.g., Dt 28-31). Given the content of the subsequent narrative, it is probably preferable simply to conclude that some or all of the Pentateuch was discovered at this time. (See The Expositor's Bible Commentary: 1 Chronicles-Job - Page 316 includes comments thru v33) Martin Selman: It is traditionally identified with Deuteronomy, though probably not the whole book, since it was read twice in one day (2 Kgs 22:8, 10). . . One of the strongest inks with Deuteronomy is its repeated references to a Book of the Law (Deut. 28:61; 29:21; 30:10; 31:26; cf. Josh. 1:8; 8:31, 34; 23:6; 24:26). Another is the phrase all the curses written in (v. 24; in place of “everything written in”, 2 Kgs 22:16), referring to the contents of the Book of the Law in Deuteronomy 29:20, 21, 27; Josh. 8:34. Further connections with Deuteronomy include the centralizing of worship (2Ch 34:3-7, 33; cf. Deut. 12), the centralized Passover (2Ch 35:1-19; cf. Deut. 16:1-8), and above all the covenant ceremony (2Ch 34:29-32; cf. Deut. 31:10-13). Hilkiah’s scroll was also recognized as having Moses’ authority (v. 14), just like the Book of the Law in Joshua’s day (Josh. 8:31, 34; 23:6), and there is little doubt that its antiquity increased its sense of authority. (See 2 Chronicles: An Introduction and Commentary - Page 553) David