Josiah is tearing down a pagan setup right at the Temple entrance, something that had become normalized enough to have its own chambers and officials, a blatant invasion of God's sacred space. This wasn't just about getting rid of idols, but about reclaiming the very threshold of worship from defilement and the seductive allure of worldly power symbolized by these sun chariots.
And he removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance to the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the precincts. And he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Josiah is carrying out a radical purge of idolatry in Jerusalem, having discovered the Book of the Law. He's tearing down anything associated with the worship of foreign gods, including sacred objects dedicated to the sun. This action directly follows his covenant renewal and demolition of the altar to Baal and Asherah, demonstrating his commitment to eradicating syncretism and restoring pure worship of the Lord.
Josiah finds strange, sacred horses and chariots dedicated to the sun god. What were these, and why were they so offensive to God?
Idolatry at the Temple Entrance
The kings of Judah had set up a practice that was deeply offensive to God: dedicating horses and chariots to the sun god. These weren't just random objects; they were placed right at the entrance to the LORD's Temple, a place meant for pure worship.
Josiah didn't just notice the problem; he acted with fierce resolve. What does his response teach us about confronting sin?
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Burning Away the Blight
Josiah's reaction wasn't passive. He didn't just move the objects; he destroyed them.
Josiah's radical actions in tearing down pagan objects at the Temple entrance were a direct response to the discovered Law, which condemned such practices. He was forcefully purging Judah of the sun worship and other idolatry that had infiltrated even the sacred space of God's house over generations of compromise.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Splits
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel splits into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). This division often led to religious and political instability.
c. 870 BC
Idolatry in Israel
King Omri and his son Ahab introduce widespread Baal worship in the Northern Kingdom, a syncretistic practice that God vehemently opposed. This set a precedent for the kind of religious compromise found in Judah.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Influence Grows
The Neo-Assyrian Empire begins its aggressive expansion. Kings of both Israel and Judah often paid tribute to Assyria, seeking protection or avoiding invasion, which sometimes led to adopting foreign religious practices.
701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many cities and besieging Jerusalem. King Hezekiah, though he had previously attempted reforms, engaged in some practices that indicate lingering idolatry.
c. 640 BC
Josiah's Early Reign
Josiah becomes king of Judah at only eight years old. His early reign would have been influenced by the regents and the prevailing religious climate, which included syncretistic practices.
622 BC— this verse
Discovery of the Law
During a renovation of the Temple, the Book of the Law is discovered. This finding ignites Josiah's profound religious reforms, leading him to address the very idolatrous practices described in 2 Kings 23.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Death
King Josiah is killed in battle at Megiddo while trying to stop the Egyptian army. His death marked a tragic turning point, and subsequent kings reversed many of his reforms, leading towards the Babylonian exile.
This passage outlines prohibitions for kings, including not accumulating horses or returning to Egypt, reflecting the idolatrous practices Josiah was dismantling.
Jeremiah 43:13This prophecy describes the destruction of Egyptian idolatrous pillars and temples by Nebuchadnezzar, paralleling Josiah's zeal in destroying pagan objects.
Isaiah 2:6-8This prophetic passage critiques Israel's reliance on foreign gods, horses, and chariots, mirroring the very kind of syncretistic worship Josiah was eradicating.
Ezekiel 8:16The prophet Ezekiel sees men worshipping the sun towards the east in the temple, a direct parallel to the sun worship Josiah was forcefully putting down.
Josiah is tearing down a pagan setup right at the Temple entrance, something that had become normalized enough to have its own chambers and officials, a blatant invasion of God's sacred space. This wasn't just about getting rid of idols, but about reclaiming the very threshold of worship from defilement and the seductive allure of worldly power symbolized by these sun chariots.
King Josiah is carrying out a radical purge of idolatry in Jerusalem, having discovered the Book of the Law. He's tearing down anything associated with the worship of foreign gods, including sacred objects dedicated to the sun. This action directly follows his covenant renewal and demolition of the altar to Baal and Asherah, demonstrating his commitment to eradicating syncretism and restoring pure worship of the Lord.
King Josiah is carrying out a radical purge of idolatry in Jerusalem, having discovered the Book of the Law. He's tearing down anything associated with the worship of foreign gods, including sacred objects dedicated to the sun. This action directly follows his covenant renewal and demolition of the altar to Baal and Asherah, demonstrating his commitment to eradicating syncretism and restoring pure worship of the Lord.
"And he removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance to the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the precincts. And he burned the chariots of the sun with f…" — Josiah is tearing down a pagan setup right at the Temple entrance, something that had become normalized enough to have its own chambers and officials, a blatant invasion of God's sacred space. This w…
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Last reviewed October 2026
