The following commentary covers Chapters 22 and 23.
God's
sovereign grace manifested His readiness to bless
Observe what grace raised
up Hezekiah and Josiah, both of whom were born of fathers
given up to idolatry, and followed by sons who were
equally abandoned to it. But the sovereign grace of God
towards Israel again raised up this testimony, and
manifested that He was always ready to bless, even if
Israel refused to be blessed, and chose their own ruin
instead. Without God, what is the heart of man? In all
this the patience of God's government was fully
demonstrated; for, under Hezekiah, many things still
existed which escaped the king's eye and judgment,
through lack of watchfulness in the fear of the Lord.
The distinguishing
characteristics of Josiah and Hezekiah
That which distinguished
Josiah was his carefulness to observe the law of Moses,
the book of which had been discovered in the temple;
trust in Jehovah had characterised Hezekiah; and in these
respective characteristics they are both unequalled as to
their walk.
The Assyrian's
connection with God's people
The kingdom of Assyria was
declining, and Josiah exercises his royal power through
the whole extent of the country. The threat addressed to
Jeroboam of old is fulfilled. All the high places of
Israel are destroyed. Perhaps the heart of Josiah was
lifted up. Be that as it may, God performed His promise,
and took him away from the evil, the dreadful
accomplishment of which was hastening onwards; for,
whatever might be the sincerity of Josiah's piety, all
hearts were corrupted. Compare with this 2 Chronicles 30:
17, etc.—the account of that which happened long
before his reign.
2 Kings 23 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
God's sovereign grace manifested His readiness to bless
Observe what grace raised up Hezekiah and Josiah, both of whom were born of fathers given up to idolatry, and followed by sons who were equally abandoned to it. But the sovereign grace of God towards Israel again raised up this testimony, and manifested that He was always ready to bless, even if Israel refused to be blessed, and chose their own ruin instead. Without God, what is the heart of man? In all this the patience of God's government was fully demonstrated; for, under Hezekiah, many things still existed which escaped the king's eye and judgment, through lack of watchfulness in the fear of the Lord.
The distinguishing characteristics of Josiah and Hezekiah
That which distinguished Josiah was his carefulness to observe the law of Moses, the book of which had been discovered in the temple; trust in Jehovah had characterised Hezekiah; and in these respective characteristics they are both unequalled as to their walk.
The Assyrian's connection with God's people
The kingdom of Assyria was declining, and Josiah exercises his royal power through the whole extent of the country. The threat addressed to Jeroboam of old is fulfilled. All the high places of Israel are destroyed. Perhaps the heart of Josiah was lifted up. Be that as it may, God performed His promise, and took him away from the evil, the dreadful accomplishment of which was hastening onwards; for, whatever might be the sincerity of Josiah's piety, all hearts were corrupted. Compare with this 2 Chronicles 30: 17, etc.—the account of that which happened long before his reign.