231 Then the king sent , and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem . 2 The king went up to the house of the Lord and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people , both small and great ; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord . 3 The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord , to walk after the Lord , and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul , to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book . And all the people entered into the covenant .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:1-3
Commentary on 2 Kings 23:1-3
(Read 2 Kings 23:1-3)
Josiah had received a message from God, that there was no preventing the ruin of Jerusalem, but that he should only deliver his own soul; yet he does his duty, and leaves the event to God. He engaged the people in the most solemn manner to abolish idolatry, and to serve God in righteousness and true holiness. Though most were formal or hypocritical herein, yet much outward wickedness would be prevented, and they were accountable to God for their own conduct.