It's easy to focus on Josiah's zealous destruction, but notice where he's tearing things down: on the roofs and in the courtyards. This wasn't just about removing pagan objects; it was about reclaiming spaces within God's own house that had been defiled by idolatry. He's restoring holiness not just to objects, but to the very place God's presence was meant to dwell.
And the altars on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars that Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, he pulled down and broke in pieces and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Josiah, in his zealous effort to purify Judah's worship, is actively dismantling all traces of idolatry throughout Jerusalem. Following his grand covenant renewal at the temple, he turns his attention to the foreign altars and pagan practices that have infiltrated even the royal palace and the very courts of the Lord's house, specifically targeting those erected by previous compromised kings. This verse shows the physical destruction of these abominations, setting the stage for the ultimate purging of the land.
Josiah found altars not just in the city, but inside the Temple itself. What does this tell us about how easily foreign practices can creep into our sacred spaces?
King Josiah’s reforms in 2 Kings 23 are a powerful picture of spiritual cleansing. When he discovers altars dedicated to other gods within the very Temple of the Lord, it’s a shocking revelation.
The High Places and Courts:
This wasn't just a distant problem; it had infiltrated the heart of worship. It shows how sin and false worship can subtly, or even brazenly, take root where God's presence is supposed to be honored.
Josiah didn't just move the altars; he annihilated them. What does this extreme action teach us about dealing with sin?
The response of Josiah is incredibly decisive. He doesn't just dismantle the idols; he performs a complete demolition and desecration.
Josiah's Action:
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This radical removal shows that when dealing with sin that has infiltrated worship, a half-hearted approach is insufficient. True repentance often requires a decisive and complete break from the sinful practices and objects.
Understand the original words
mizbeach · Hebrew Noun
A raised place or platform for sacrifice, central to biblical worship of the true God but frequently repurposed for idolatry. It signifies the place where humanity approaches the divine.
Josiah's radical act of tearing down altars built by previous kings, even within the Temple courts, shows the depth of his commitment to restoring pure worship according to the newly discovered Law, highlighting how far Judah had strayed and the courage required to undo generations of corruption.
c. 732 BC
Ahaz builds altars
King Ahaz of Judah, facing Assyrian threats, sets up pagan altars in the Temple, even on the roof of his palace chambers, symbolizing his departure from faithful worship.
c. 697–642 BC
Manasseh's reign and idolatry
King Manasseh, Ahaz's grandson, promotes extensive idolatry, setting up altars to foreign gods within the courts of the Jerusalem Temple.
c. 642–640 BC
Amon's brief, wicked reign
Manasseh's son Amon continues his father's idolatrous practices, further corrupting the worship in Jerusalem.
c. 640–609 BC
Josiah's reform begins
Upon becoming king at age eight, Josiah initially follows his father Amon's ways, but later initiates a sweeping religious reform after the discovery of the Book of the Law.
c. 622 BC— this verse
Discovery of the Book of the Law
The High Priest Hilkiah finds a scroll believed to be a copy of the Book of Deuteronomy in the Temple, sparking King Josiah's profound repentance and reform.
c. 621 BC
Josiah's thorough purging
Responding to the Law, Josiah leads a nationwide campaign to remove all traces of pagan worship, including demolishing altars and defiling high places, as described in 2 Kings 23.
This passage establishes the principle that God requires His people to destroy all altars and religious sites of other nations, directly informing Josiah’s actions to purge idolatry.
Jeremiah 19:13Jeremiah prophesies about Jerusalem being broken like a potter's vessel, referencing the very altars Josiah destroyed in the valley of the Son of Hinnom (near Kidron), highlighting the impending judgment on such practices.
2 Chronicles 34:3-7This parallel account details Josiah's earlier reforms, showing his deep commitment to purging idolatry from the land, mirroring the thoroughness described in 2 Kings 23.
1 Kings 11:7-8This passage describes Solomon building high places for foreign gods on the mountain to the east of Jerusalem, setting a precedent for the kind of idolatrous worship Josiah was determined to eradicate.
It's easy to focus on Josiah's zealous destruction, but notice where he's tearing things down: on the roofs and in the courtyards. This wasn't just about removing pagan objects; it was about reclaiming spaces within God's own house that had been defiled by idolatry. He's restoring holiness not just to objects, but to the very place God's presence was meant to dwell.
King Josiah, in his zealous effort to purify Judah's worship, is actively dismantling all traces of idolatry throughout Jerusalem. Following his grand covenant renewal at the temple, he turns his attention to the foreign altars and pagan practices that have infiltrated even the royal palace and the very courts of the Lord's house, specifically targeting those erected by previous compromised kings. This verse shows the physical destruction of these abominations, setting the stage for the ultimate purging of the land.
King Josiah, in his zealous effort to purify Judah's worship, is actively dismantling all traces of idolatry throughout Jerusalem. Following his grand covenant renewal at the temple, he turns his attention to the foreign altars and pagan practices that have infiltrated even the royal palace and the very courts of the Lord's house, specifically targeting those erected by previous compromised kings. This verse shows the physical destruction of these abominations, setting the stage for the ultimate purging of the land.
"And the altars on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars that Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, he pulled down and broke in pieces and cast the dust of them into…" — It's easy to focus on Josiah's zealous destruction, but notice where he's tearing things down: on the roofs and in the courtyards. This wasn't just about removing pagan objects; it was about reclai…
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Last reviewed October 2026
