Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Chronicles 34

1 JOsiah was eight years old, when he began to reign , and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

Of this Chapter see the Notes on 2 King. 22. & 23.

Marginal references: 2 Kin. 22. [illegible: 1+ letters], &c.

3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young , he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

In the 16th. Year of his Age; when he was entring into the Age and State of Temptations and Youthful Lusts; and had the Administration of his Kingdom wholly in his own Hand and Power, and none to rebuke or restrain him; yet even then he begins to be Religious in good Earnest.

Marginal references: 1 Kin 13 2.

6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and [illegible: 1+ letters]imeon, even unto Naphtali , with their mattocks, round about.

Which was in the utmost and northern Borders of the Kingdom of Israel. For it must be remembred, that the ten Tribes were now gone into Captivity; and those who were come in their stead were weak and few, and not able to withstand the Power of Josiah.

Marginal references: Or, mauls▪

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house , he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maasejah the governour of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

The House of God, called the House by way of Eminency.

Marginal references: 2 Kin. 22, 3.

9 And when they came to Hilkiah the highpriest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors, had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and they returned to Jerusalem.

i. e. The Levites who had gone abroad through all Josiahs Kingdom to gather Money for this good Use, and now came with it to Jerusalem to lodge it in the Treasuries of the Lords House.

11 Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewen stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

i. e. The Chambers joyning to the Temple or within the Courts.

Marginal references: Or, to rafter.

12 And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath, and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah, and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick .

Or, all these here named, were skilful in Instruments of Musick. Which may be here mentioned, either to their Commendation, that they were fit for, and careful and diligent in this Employment wherewith they were now entrusted, no less than in their own proper Work: Or, to intimate, that as they were skilful, so they were exercised in both their Employments, and did successively oversee the Work, and praised God with their Voices and Instruments for his Gracious and Powerful Help in carrying on the Work.

32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it . And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God , the God of their fathers.

To own, or maintain it, or persist in it, as this phrase is used Deut. 25. 8. He caused them to engage themselves by an Oath or Covenant that they would observe and obey the Laws of God, as his Godly Predecessors had formerly done, and which indeed they were before obliged to do.

They complied with Gods and the Kings Command as to the outward Acts of Gods Worship, though not with an upright heart, as appears by the History.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word]; [illegible: 1 span]