(16-18) These verses are supposed by Stahelin to be a fictitious addition of the compiler's. Thenius does not go so far as this, but assumes that the proper sequel of 1 Kings 13:1-32, has been transferred to this place. He argues that it must be an interpolation here, because (1) the "moreover" of 2 Kings 23:15 (w?gam) corresponds to the "and . . . also" (w?gam) of 2 Kings 23:19, which does not prove much; and because (2) Josiah could not pollute the altar (2 Kings 23:16) after he had already shattered it in pieces (2 Kings 23:15). This reasoning is not conclusive, because it is obvious that, as is so often the case, the writer has first told in brief what was done to the altar and high place at Bethel, and then related at length an interesting incident that occurred at the time. In short, the statement of 2 Kings 23:15 is anticipatory.
(16) Turned himself.--So that he caught sight of the tombs on the hill-side opposite--not on the hill where the high place was.
The man of God proclaimed.--Some words appear to have fallen out of the Hebrew text here, for the LXX. adds, "when Jeroboam stood in the feast at the altar. And he returned and lifted up his eyes upon the grave of the man of God." (A transcriber's eye wandered from one "man of God" to the other.) Josiah returned, when on the point of going away.
Verse 16. - And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchers that were there in the mount. The Israelite sepulchers, excavated in the reeky sides of hills, are everywhere conspicuous. Those of Bethel may have been in the low hill on which the town stands, or in the sides of the Wady Suweinit, a little further to the south. His accidentally "spying the sepulchers" gave Josiah the thought of completing his desecration of Bethel by having bones brought from them and burnt upon the altar - whereby he exactly accomplished the old prophecy (1 Kings 13:2), which was not at all in his mind. And sent, end took the bones out of the sepulchers, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it (see the comment on ver. 14), according to the word of the Lord which the men of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words; rather, who prophesied these things. The reference is to 1 Kings 13:2, and the meaning is, not that Josiah acted as he did in order to fulfill the prophecy, but that in thus acting he unconsciously fulfilled it.
23:15-24 Josiah's zeal extended to the cities of Israel within his reach. He carefully preserved the sepulchre of that man of God, who came from Judah to foretell the throwing down of Jeroboam's altar. When they had cleared the country of the old leaven of idolatry, then they applied themselves to the keeping of the feast. There was not holden such a passover in any of the foregoing reigns. The revival of a long-neglected ordinance, filled them with holy joy; and God recompensed their zeal in destroying idolatry with uncommon tokens of his presence and favour. We have reason to think that during the remainder of Josiah's reign, religion flourished.
And as Josiah turned himself,.... From the high place, and the altar at Bethel; for he not only gave orders for the destroying of idolatrous places and idols, but he saw them executed himself:
he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount; the graves of idolatrous priests and worshippers, who chose to be buried near those places of idolatry; nor was it unusual for persons to be buried on hills and mountains, see Joshua 24:30 and this was a custom in other nations formerly (t), particularly among the Indians (u) now, who in many things agree with the Jews:
and sent and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burnt them upon the altar; where they had sacrificed to idols:
and polluted it; with their bones, which, according to the law, were defiling, and which was done in contempt of their idolatrous worship there:
according to the word of the Lord which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words; or things; foretold that such a king by name would arise, and burn men's bones upon the altar, and which had been foretold more than three hundred and fifty years before this time.
(t) Vid. Servium in Virgil. Aeneid. 11. ver 849. "fuit ingens monte sub alto". (u) Manasseh ben Israel Spes Israelis. sect 6. p. 29.
(16) Turned himself.--So that he caught sight of the tombs on the hill-side opposite--not on the hill where the high place was.
The man of God proclaimed.--Some words appear to have fallen out of the Hebrew text here, for the LXX. adds, "when Jeroboam stood in the feast at the altar. And he returned and lifted up his eyes upon the grave of the man of God." (A transcriber's eye wandered from one "man of God" to the other.) Josiah returned, when on the point of going away.
he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount; the graves of idolatrous priests and worshippers, who chose to be buried near those places of idolatry; nor was it unusual for persons to be buried on hills and mountains, see Joshua 24:30 and this was a custom in other nations formerly (t), particularly among the Indians (u) now, who in many things agree with the Jews:
and sent and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burnt them upon the altar; where they had sacrificed to idols:
and polluted it; with their bones, which, according to the law, were defiling, and which was done in contempt of their idolatrous worship there:
according to the word of the Lord which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words; or things; foretold that such a king by name would arise, and burn men's bones upon the altar, and which had been foretold more than three hundred and fifty years before this time.
(t) Vid. Servium in Virgil. Aeneid. 11. ver 849. "fuit ingens monte sub alto". (u) Manasseh ben Israel Spes Israelis. sect 6. p. 29.