2 Kings 23:9

Neuerthelesse, the priests of the high places came not vp to the Altar of the Lord in Ierusalem, but they did eate of the vnleauened bread among their brethren. 2 Kings 23:9 (KJV)

This verse belongs to the narrative of King Josiah’s reforms in Judah. Josiah is presented as a righteous king who sought to restore true worship of the LORD and to eliminate idolatry from the land. In the verses that precede this passage, Josiah had taken decisive action against the altars and high places where the people were offering sacrifices to false gods, and he had put an end to the worship of the sun, moon, and stars.

The statement that the priests of the high places “came not up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem” shows that, as a result of Josiah’s reforms, these priests were no longer permitted to serve at the former cultic sites. Yet the same verse records that they “did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren,” indicating that they were still allowed to participate in communal observances such as the Passover meal. This contrast highlights a clear distinction between their former role in idolatrous worship and their continued inclusion in legitimate, centralized worship practices under the authority of the Jerusalem altar.

The passage therefore underscores the importance of adhering to God’s prescribed worship while also revealing the practical complexities involved in moving a people from a decentralized, idolatrous system to a unified obedience centered on the temple in Jerusalem. Josiah’s reforms required both the removal of false worship and the careful integration of those who had served the high places into the new, purified worship community, a process reflected in the brief but telling detail of the priests sharing the unleavened bread with their fellow Israelites.