2 Kings 23:24
“And moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.”
Context:King Josiah reigned in Judah around the late 7th century BCE. He ascended to the throne at a young age and initiated significant religious reforms to eradicate idolatry and restore the worship of the true God. This verse highlights Josiah’s efforts to eliminate various forms of idolatrous practices prevalent in the land.
Forbidden Practices:The verse lists several forbidden practices and objects found in the land of Judah and Jerusalem. These include workers with familiar spirits (mediums or necromancers who claimed to communicate with the dead), wizards (practitioners of sorcery or magic), images (idolatrous statues or carved figures), and idols (objects of worship representing false gods).
Josiah’s Actions:Josiah took decisive action to eliminate these abominations from the land. He removed the workers with familiar spirits, wizards, images, and idols. This indicates his commitment to adhering to the Mosaic law and cleansing the nation of Judah from practices that were contrary to God’s commands.
Motivation:The verse explains that Josiah’s actions were driven by a desire to fulfill the words of the law that were discovered in the house of the Lord by Hilkiah the priest. This refers to the rediscovery of the Book of the Law, likely the book of Deuteronomy or a portion of it, during renovations of the temple (2 Kings 22:8-10). When Josiah heard the words of the Law, he was deeply convicted and realised the extent of the nation’s departure from God’s commands.
Faithfulness to the Law:Josiah’s actions demonstrate his commitment to follow the Law of God and his determination to lead the people of Judah back to true worship. By removing the various forms of idolatry and witchcraft, he sought to align the nation with the principles and commands outlined in the Law.
