Synopsis of the Chapter
Josiah cuts down all idolatry, restores the temple and worship of God, and ratifies a new covenant between God and the people.
Verse 3: In the Twelfth Year ¶
3. IN THE TWELFTH YEAR, etc., HE CLEANSED JUDAH — that is, he began to cleanse; for he completed this cleansing after six years, in the eighteenth year of his reign, as is stated in verse 8.
Verse 5: He Burned the Bones of the Priests ¶
5. MOREOVER HE BURNED THE BONES OF THE PRIESTS (of idols, e.g., of the golden calves) ON THE ALTARS OF THE IDOLS — namely, so that by the contact and burning of the corpses of such impious men, the altars themselves would be defiled, disgraced, and become objects of horror, lest anyone should hereafter sacrifice victims to idols on them.
Verse 15: The Book of the Law Found ¶
15. I FOUND THE BOOK OF THE LAW IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. — Genebrardus in his Chronology thinks this was the copy that had been written by Moses or by another during his lifetime, and placed in the sanctuary 800 years before, so that it was received with greater devotion and read with greater fruit. Moreover, there is no doubt that elsewhere in Judea and in other provinces among pious and learned Jews there existed many copies of the books of the law. It therefore seems incredible what some say, that all the books of Sacred Scripture were burned together with the temple by the Chaldeans, and were restored by Ezra from memory.
Verse 28: You Shall Be Brought to Your Tomb in Peace ¶
28. YOU SHALL BE BROUGHT TO YOUR TOMB IN PEACE. — You will object: Josiah was killed in battle by Pharaoh Neco; therefore he did not die peacefully, but by a violent death. I reply that the peace understood here is not the private peace of Josiah, but the public peace of the commonwealth. For while Josiah was living and dying, Judea enjoyed peace and an abundance of goods; but after his death it was invaded by various nations, especially the Babylonians, who utterly destroyed it under Zedekiah the son of Josiah. That this is the meaning is clear from what follows, where Scripture explains itself thus.