2 Kings 23 · Verse 4

2 Kings 23:4

And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth–el.

2 Kings 23:4, King James Version

2 Kings 23:4 in other translations

BSB	Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.
WEB	The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring out of the LORD’s temple all the vessels that were made for Baal, for the Asherah, and for all the army of the sky; and he burned them outside of Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.
ASV	And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring forth out of the temple of Jehovah all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of heaven, and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth-el.
YLT	And the king commandeth Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring out from the temple of Jehovah all the vessels that are made for Baal, and for the shrine, and for all the host of the heavens, and he burneth them at the outside of Jerusalem, in the fields of Kidron, and hath borne their ashes to Beth-El.
DARBY	And the king commanded Hilkijah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring forth out of the temple of Jehovah all the vessels that had been made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of the heavens; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them to Bethel.
BBE	Then the king gave orders to Hilkiah, the chief priest, and to the priests of the second order, and to the keepers of the door, to take out of the house of the Lord all the vessels made for Baal and for the Asherah and for all the stars of heaven; and he had them burned outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and took the dust of them to Beth-el.
Webster	And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them to Beth-el.

What does 2 Kings 23:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. the king commanded Hilkiah, &c.--that is, the high priest and other priests, for there was not a variety of official gradations in the temple. all the vessels, &c.--the whole apparatus of idol-worship. burned them without Jerusalem--The law required them to be consigned to the flames (De 7:25). in the fields of Kidron--most probably that part of the valley of Kidron, where lies Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. It is a level, spacious basin, abounding at present with plantations [Robinson]. The brook winds along the east and south of the city, the channel of which is throughout a large portion of the year almost or wholly dry, except after heavy rains, when it suddenly swells and overflows. There were emptied all the impurities of the temple (2Ch 29:15, 16) and the city. His reforming predecessors had ordered the mutilated relics of idolatry to be thrown into that receptacle of filth (1Ki 15:13; 2Ch 15:16; 30:14); but Josiah, while he imitated their piety, far outstripped them in zeal; for he caused the ashes of the burnt wood and the fragments of the broken metal to be collected and conveyed to Beth-el, in order thenceforth to associate ideas of horror and aversion with that place, as odious for the worst pollutions.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 The priests of the second order - These were probably such as supplied the place of the high priest when he was prevented: from fulfilling the functions of his office. So the Chaldee understood the place - the sagan of the high priests. But the words may refer to those of the second course or order established by David: though it does not appear that those orders were now in use, yet the distinction was continued even to the time of our Lord. We find the course of Abia, which was the eighth, mentioned Luk 1:5 (note); where see the note. All the vessels - These had been used for idolatrous purposes; the king is now to destroy them; for although no longer used in this way, they might, if permitted to remain, be an incentive to idolatry at a future time.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 23:4-14

What abundance of wickedness in Judah and Jerusalem! One would not have believed it possible, that in Judah, where God was known, in Israel, where his name was great, in Salem, in Zion, where his dwelling-place was, such abominations should be found. Josiah had reigned eighteen years, and had himself set the people a good example, and kept up religion according to the Divine law; yet, when he came to search for idolatry, the depth and extent were very great. Both common history, and the records of God's word, teach, that all the real godliness or goodness ever found on earth, is derived from the new-creating Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Kings 23:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְצַ֣וvay.Tzavand he commandedH6680

הַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

חִלְקִיָּהוּ֩chil.ki.ya.HuHilkiahH2518

הַכֹּהֵ֨ןha.ko.Henthe priestH3548

הַגָּד֜וֹלha.ga.Dol<the> greatH1419

וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853

כֹּהֲנֵ֣יko.ha.Nei[the] priests ofH3548

הַמִּשְׁנֶה֮ha.mish.Nehthe second rankH4932

וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853

שֹׁמְרֵ֣יsho.me.Rei[the] keepers ofH8104

הַסַּף֒ha.Safthe thresholdH5592

לְהוֹצִיא֙le.ho.Tzi'to bring outH3318

מֵהֵיכַ֣לme.hei.Khalfrom [the] temple ofH1964

יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068

אֵ֣ת'et<obj.>H853

כָּל\־kol-allH3605

הַכֵּלִ֗יםha.ke.Limthe articlesH3627

הָֽעֲשׂוּיִם֙ha.'a.su.Yimwhich were madeH6213

לַבַּ֣עַלla.Ba.'alfor <the> BaalH1168

וְלָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֔הve.la.'a.she.Rahand for <the> AsherahH842

וּלְכֹ֖לu.le.Kholand for allH3605

צְבָ֣אtze.Va'[the] host ofH6635

הַשָּׁמָ֑יִםha.sha.Ma.yimthe heavensH8064

וַֽיִּשְׂרְפֵ֞םvai.yis.re.Femand he burned themH8313

מִח֤וּץmi.Chutzfrom [the] outsideH2351

לִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙li.ru.sha.Limof JerusalemH3389

בְּשַׁדְמ֣וֹתbe.shad.Motin [the] fields ofH7709

קִדְר֔וֹןkid.RonKidronH6939

וְנָשָׂ֥אve.na.Sa'and he carriedH5375

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

עֲפָרָ֖ם'a.fa.Ramdust theirH6083

בֵּֽית\־beit-Beth-H1008

אֵֽל\׃'El-elH1008

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Kings 23:4

2 Kings 21:7
And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
2 Kings 21:3
For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
2 Chronicles 33:3
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
2 Kings 25:18
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:
1 Kings 16:31
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
2 Chronicles 33:7
And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
1 Kings 18:26
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
Judges 2:13
And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
2 Kings 22:4
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:
Matthew 27:1
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
Isaiah 27:9
By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
John 18:1
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

priests of the second order.These were either such as occasionally supplied the high priest's office, or those of the second course or order established by David. See the References.
1Ch 24:4-19; Mt 26:3; 27:1
the keepers.
22:4; 1Ch 26:1-19
to bring.
21:3,7; 2Ch 33:3,7; 34:3,4
Baal.
17:16; Jud 2:13; 1Ki 16:31; 18:19,26,40; 19:18; Isa 27:9; Jer 7:9
Kidron.
2Sa 15:23; Joh 18:1
Cedron. Beth-el.
1Ki 12:29; Ho 4:15; Am 4:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Kings 23:3
And the king stood by a 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 their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.
2 Kings 23:4
And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth–el.
2 Kings 23:5
And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

Read all of 2 Kings 23

2 Kings 23:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entonces mandó el rey al sumo sacerdote Hilcías, y á los sacerdotes de segundo orden, y á los guardianes de la puerta, que sacasen del templo de Jehová todos los vasos que habían sido hechos para Baal, y para el bosque, y para toda la milicia del cielo; y quemólos fuera de Jerusalem en el campo de Cedrón, é hizo llevar las cenizas de ellos á Beth-el.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et le roi commanda à Hilkija, le grand sacrificateur, et aux sacrificateurs de la seconde classe, et aux gardiens du seuil, d’emporter hors du temple de l’ Éternel tous les objets qui avaient été faits pour Baal, et pour l’ashère, et pour toute l’armée des cieux; et il les brûla en dehors de Jérusalem, dans les champs du Cédron, et il en porta la poussière à Béthel.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und der König gebot Hilkija, dem Hohenpriester, und den Priestern zweiten Ranges und den Hütern der Schwelle, aus dem Tempel Jehovas alle Geräte hinauszutun, die dem Baal und der Aschera und dem ganzen Heere des Himmels gemacht worden waren; und er verbrannte sie außerhalb Jerusalems in den Gefilden des Kidron, und ließ ihren Staub nach Bethel bringen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et præcepit rex Helciæ pontifici, et sacerdotibus secundi ordinis, et janitoribus, ut projicerent de templo Domini omnia vasa quæ facta fuerant Baal, et in luco, et universæ militiæ cæli: et combussit ea foris Jerusalem in convalle Cedron, et tulit pulverem eorum in Bethel.