Josiah Does Away with Pagan Worship
(2 Chronicles 34.3-72 29-33)1 King Josiah summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 and together they went to the Temple, accompanied by the priests and the prophets and all the rest of the people, rich and poor alike. Before them all the king read aloud the whole book of the covenant which had been found in the Temple. 3 He stood by the royal column and made a covenant with the Lord to obey him, to keep his laws and commands with all his heart and soul, and to put into practice the demands attached to the covenant, as written in the book. And all the people promised to keep the covenant.
4 Then Josiah ordered the High Priest Hilkiah, his assistant priests, and the guards on duty at the entrance to the Temple to bring out of the Temple all the objects used in the worship of Baal, of the goddess Asherah, and of the stars. The king burned all these objects outside the city near Kidron Valley and then had the ashes taken to Bethel. 5 He removed from office the priests that the kings of Judah had ordained to offer sacrifices on the pagan altars in the cities of Judah and in places near Jerusalem—all the priests who offered sacrifices to Baal, to the sun, the moon, the planets, and the stars. 6 He removed from the Temple the symbol of the goddess Asherah, took it out of the city to Kidron Valley, burned it, pounded its ashes to dust, and scattered it over the public burying ground. 7 He destroyed the living quarters in the Temple occupied by the temple prostitutes. (It was there that women wove robes used in the worship of Asherah.) 8 He brought to Jerusalem the priests who were in the cities of Judah, and throughout the whole country he desecrated the altars where they had offered sacrifices. He also tore down the altars dedicated to the goat demons near the gate built by Joshua, the city governor, which was to the left of the main gate as one enters the city. 9 Those priests were not allowed to serve in the Temple, but they could eat the unleavened bread provided for their fellow priests.
10 King Josiah also desecrated Topheth, the pagan place of worship in Hinnom Valley, so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter as a burnt offering to the god Molech. 11 He also removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the worship of the sun, and he burned the chariots used in this worship. (These were kept in the temple courtyard, near the gate and not far from the living quarters of Nathan Melech, a high official.) 12 The altars which the kings of Judah had built on the palace roof above King Ahaz' quarters, King Josiah tore down, along with the altars put up by King Manasseh in the two courtyards of the Temple; he smashed the altars to bits and threw them into Kidron Valley. 13 Josiah desecrated the altars that King Solomon had built east of Jerusalem, south of the Mount of Olives, for the worship of disgusting idols—Astarte the goddess of Sidon, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Molech the god of Ammon. 14 King Josiah broke the stone pillars to pieces, cut down the symbols of the goddess Asherah, and the ground where they had stood he covered with human bones.
15 Josiah also tore down the place of worship in Bethel, which had been built by King Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into sin. Josiah pulled down the altar, broke its stones into pieces, and pounded them to dust; he also burned the image of Asherah. 16 Then Josiah looked around and saw some tombs there on the hill; he had the bones taken out of them and burned on the altar. In this way he desecrated the altar, doing what the prophet had predicted long before during the festival as King Jeroboam was standing by the altar. King Josiah looked around and saw the tomb of the prophet who had made this prediction. 17 “Whose tomb is that?” he asked.
The people of Bethel answered, “It is the tomb of the prophet who came from Judah and predicted these things that you have done to this altar.”
18 “Leave it as it is,” Josiah ordered. “His bones are not to be moved.”
So his bones were not moved, neither were those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.
19 In every city of Israel King Josiah tore down all the pagan places of worship which had been built by the kings of Israel, who thereby aroused the Lord's anger. He did to all those altars what he had done in Bethel. 20 He killed all the pagan priests on the altars where they served, and he burned human bones on every altar. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
Josiah Celebrates the Passover
(2 Chronicles 35.1-19)21 King Josiah ordered the people to celebrate the Passover in honor of the Lord their God, as written in the book of the covenant. 22 No Passover like this one had ever been celebrated by any of the kings of Israel or of Judah, since the time when judges ruled the nation. 23 Now at last, in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah, the Passover was celebrated in Jerusalem.
Other Changes Made by Josiah
24 In order to enforce the laws written in the book that the High Priest Hilkiah had found in the Temple, King Josiah removed from Jerusalem and the rest of Judah all the mediums and fortunetellers, and all the household gods, idols, and all other pagan objects of worship. 25 There had never been a king like him before, who served the Lord with all his heart, mind, and strength, obeying all the Law of Moses; nor has there been a king like him since.
26 But the Lord's fierce anger had been aroused against Judah by what King Manasseh had done, and even now it did not die down. 27 The Lord said, “I will do to Judah what I have done to Israel: I will banish the people of Judah from my sight, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and the Temple, the place I said was where I should be worshiped.”
The End of Josiah's Reign
(2 Chronicles 35.20—36.1)28 Everything else that King Josiah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. 29 While Josiah was king, King Neco of Egypt led an army to the Euphrates River to help the emperor of Assyria. King Josiah tried to stop the Egyptian army at Megiddo and was killed in battle. 30 His officials placed his body in a chariot and took it back to Jerusalem, where he was buried in the royal tombs.
The people of Judah chose Josiah's son Joahaz and anointed him king.
King Joahaz of Judah
(2 Chronicles 36.2-4)31 Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for three months. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from the city of Libnah. 32 Following the example of his ancestors, he sinned against the Lord. 33 His reign ended when King Neco of Egypt took him prisoner in Riblah, in the land of Hamath, and made Judah pay 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold as tribute. 34 King Neco made Josiah's son Eliakim king of Judah as successor to Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Joahaz was taken to Egypt by King Neco, and there he died.
King Jehoiakim of Judah
(2 Chronicles 36.5-8)35 King Jehoiakim collected a tax from the people in proportion to their wealth, in order to raise the amount needed to pay the tribute demanded by the king of Egypt.
36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother was Zebidah, the daughter of Pedaiah from the town of Rumah. 37 Following the example of his ancestors, Jehoiakim sinned against the Lord.
Josia ta topoka nuupagani
(2 Ondjal. 34:3-72 29-33)1 Omukwaniilwa Josia okwa hiya aawiliki yaJuda noyaJerusalem. 2 Oyo ayehe oya gongala noya yi kotempeli ya thindikilwa kaayambi naahunganeki nokoshihupe ashihe shoshigwana, aayamba noohepele. Montaneho yawo omukwaniilwa okwa lesha mokule embo lyehangano alihe mokule, ndyoka lyi itsuwa motempeli. 3 Okwa thikama pongudhi yaakwaniilwa e ta hangana nOmuwa. Oshigwana ashihe osha li shi na okuuvaneka, shi vulike kOmuwa sho shi dhiginine iipango ye ayihe nomautho ge agehe nomutima aguhe noonkondo adhihe. Ashihe shoka shu uthwa membo lya monika, oshi na okudhigininwa. Aantu ayehe oyu uvaneke okudhiginina ehangano.
4 Nena Josia okwa lombwele omuyambimukuluntu Hilkia, naayakuli ye aayambi naayambi aalangeli yoposheelo shotempeli, ya kuthe mo motempeli iikwaniipangitho ayihe ya longithwa mokusimaneka Baal, oshikalungakiintu Asheera noonyothi. Omukwaniilwa okwa lungunitha po iikwaniipangitho mbika ayihe pondje yoshilando popepi nokalonga Kidron, nomutoko okwe gu falitha kuBetel. 5 Okwa hanagula po aayambi yiikalunga mboka ya langekelwe kaakwaniilwa yaJuda, ya yambe omafikilondjambo kiiyambelo yoshipagani miilando yaJuda nomomahala gopopepi naJerusalem — aayambi ayehe mboka ya li haa yamba omafikilondjambo kuBaal, ketango, komwedhi, koonyothi nokoongundu dhomegulu. 6 Okwa kutha mo motempeli oshiyelekela shaAsheera e te shi fala pondje yoshilando kokalonga Kidron, te shi lungunitha po shi ninge omutoko gwowala e te gu gundu kombanda yoombila. 7 Okwa hanagula po omahala gaanona yiihuna motempeli ga lalwa koohonda dhomotempeli. (Okwa li aakulukadhi haa tungu oonguwo dha longithwa mokusimaneka Asheera.) 8 Okwe eta muJerusalem aayambi mboka ya li miilando yaJuda nokwa shundula iiyambelo yawo moshilongo ashihe. Okwa kumuna po wo iiyambelo mbyoka ya yapulilwa iikalungakombo popepi nosheelo sha tungwa komupangeli gwoshilando, Josua, kolumoho lwosheelo moka aantu taa piti, nge taa yi moshilando. 9 Aayambi mboka kaya li ya ziminwa okuyakula motempeli yOmuwa muJerusalem, ihe oya vulu okulya iikwiila mbyoka inaayi tulwa efulika ye etelwa aayambi ooyakwawo.
10 Omukwaniilwa Josia okwa shundula wo Tofet, ehala lyiinonoma yuupagani mesilu lyaHinnom, opo shaa ngoka kaa yambe omwana omumati nenge omukadhona, a ninge efikilondjambo koshikalunga Molek. 11 Okwa hanagula po wo iiyelekela yuukambe mbyoka aakwaniilwa yaJuda ya yoololele okusimaneka etango e ta fike po omatemba ga longithwa miinonoma mbika. (Iiyelekela mbika oya li posheelo shotempeli, popepi nongulu yaNatan Melek, elenga enene.) 12 Omayambelo ngoka ga tungilwe po kaakwaniilwa yaJuda kontala yokombanda yongulu yaAhas, omukwaniilwa Josia okwe ga kumuna po, osho wo iiyambelo mbyoka ya tungilwe po komukwaniilwa Manasse momahalandjandja gaali gotempeli; okwa nyanyagula po iiyambelo noku yi nyangushula po, nontsi oya gundwa molusilu lwaKidron. 13 Josia okwa shundula iiyambelo mbyoka omukwaniilwa Salomo a tungile kuuzilo waJerusalem, kuumbugantu wOndundu yomiolivi, ya tungilwa iinonoma yiikalunga iikungitha — Astarte, oshikalungakiintu shaSidon, Kemosh, oshikalunga shaMoab, naMilkom, oshikalunga shaAmmon. 14 Omukwaniilwa Josia okwa teyagula po oongundhimanya e ta kumuna po oshiyelekela sha yapulilwa oshikalungakiintu Asheera, nevi ndyoka mpoka pwa li iikalunga, okwe li siikile niipongo yaantu.
15 Josia okwa yonagula po wo ehala lyiinonoma muBetel, ndyoka lya tungilwe komukwaniilwa Jeroboam yaNebat, ngoka a fala Israel muulunde. Josia okwa kumagula po oshiyambelo, ta nyangushula omamanya gasho uutandu e te u ningi omutoko; okwa lungunitha po oshiyelekela shaAsheera. 16 Nena Josia okwa lengalenga koombinga noombinga e ta mono oombila dhimwe dhi li koshikulundundu, okwa fumvulitha mo iipongo e te yi lungunithile koshiyambelo. Pamukalo nguka okwa shundula oshiyambelo, a gwanitha shoka omuhunganeki a popile nale medhano lyoshituthi, uuna omukwaniilwa Jeroboam a li ta yamba omayambo koshiyambelo shika. Omukwaniilwa Josia okwa lengalenga ishewe koombinga noombinga e ta mono ombila yomuhunganeki ngoka a popile iinima mbika. 17 Okwa pula a ti: “Ombila ndjino oyalye?”
Aabetel oye mu yamukula ya ti: “Ombila ndjika oyomuhunganeki ngu a zile kuJuda e ta hunganeke iinima mbika wa ningi koshiyambelo.”
18 Josia okwa ti: “Yi etheni, yi kale ngaashi yi li, iipongo ye itayi fumvulwa mo.”
Osho ngaaka iipongo ye inayi fumvulwa mo nosho wo iipongo yomuhunganeki ngoka a zile kuSamaria.
19 Nomiilando ayihe yaIsrael omukwaniilwa Josia okwa hanagula po omahala agehe giinonoma yuupagani ngoka ga li ga tungwa kaakwaniilwa yaIsrael, mboka ya pendutha ondjahi yOmuwa. Agehe okwe ga hanagula po, ngaashi a ningi muBetel. 20 Aayambi ayehe aapagani okwe ya dhipagele kiiyambelo nkoka ya li haa nonomene, e ta lungunithile iipongo yaantu koshiyambelo kehe. Nena okwa galukile kuJerusalem.
Josia ta dhana Opaasa
(2 Ondjal. 35:1-19)21 Omukwaniilwa Josia okwa lombwele aantu, ya dhane Opaasa mesimaneko lyOmuwa, Kalunga kawo, ngaashi sha nyolelwa membo lyehangano. 22 Kaku na Opaasa ya dhanenwe ngaandjika kaakwaniilwa yaIsrael nenge yaJuda, okuza kaatokolihapu sho ya li melelo lyoshigwana. 23 Osha ningwa ashike momumvo omutimulongo nomutihetatu gwepangelo lyaJosia, Opaasa sho ya dhanenwe muJerusalem.
Omalunduluko ga ningithwa kuJosia
24 Opo oompango dhi gwanithwe ndhoka dha nyolwa membo ndyoka lyi itsuwa komuyambimukuluntu Hilkia motempeli, omukwaniilwa Josia okwa kombo muJerusalem nomuJuda oompulile adhihe naayanekeli ayehe niikalunga ayihe yomomagumbo, iimenka ayihe niinonoma ayihe yuupagani. 25 Kakwa li omukwaniilwa e mu tetekela e mu fa, ngoka a longele Omuwa nomutima gwe aguhe noondunge dhe adhihe noonkondo dhe adhihe nokuvulika kompango ayihe yaMoses, noinaku landula we omukwaniilwa e mu fa.
26 Ihe ondjahi yOmuwa ya hwama oya kala kombanda yaJuda ya tukuluthwa kiilonga yomukwaniilwa Manasse yo inayi lotela we. 27 Omuwa okwa ti: “Otandi ningile Juda naanaa, ngaashi nda ningile Israel: otandi kandula ko Aajuda koshipala shandje e tandi ekelehi Jerusalem, oshilando shoka nde shi hogolola, notempeli, ehala ndyoka nda popile te ti, omo tandi simanekelwa.”
Ehulilo lyepangelo lyaJosia
(2 Ondjal. 35:20—36:1)28 Ashihe shilwe shoka omukwaniilwa Josia a ningi, osha nyolelwa membo lyondjokonona yaakwaniilwa yaJuda. 29 Josia manga a li omukwaniilwa, omukwaniilwa gwaEgipiti Neko okwa fala etangakwiita lye sigo okomulonga Eufrat, a ka kondjithe omupangeli gwaAssur. Omukwaniilwa Josia okwa kambadhala okukeelela etangakwiita lyAayegipiti puMegiddo. Nena Neko, omukwaniilwa gwaEgipiti, okwe mu dhipaga, sho e mu mono. 30 Omalenga ge oga tula omudhimba gwe metembakwiita e tage gu fala kuJerusalem, nkoka a fumvikwa moombila dhaakwaniilwa.
Aajuda oya hogolola omuna gwaJosia, edhina lye Joahas, e taye mu kwaniileke.
Joahas, omukwaniilwa gwaJuda
(2 Ondjal. 36:2-4)31 Joahas okwa li e na omimvo omilongo mbali nandatu, sho a ningi omukwaniilwa gwaJuda nokwa lele muJerusalem oomwedhi ndatu. Yina oHamutal yaJeremia gwokuLibna. 32 Joahas okwa landula oshinkoti shoohekulu e ta yono kOmuwa. 33 Epangelo lye olya hulu po, sho omukwaniilwa gwaEgipiti Neko e mu kwatele muRibla moshilongo shaHamat e ta futitha Juda oshisiliveli shondjundo yookilograma 3,400 noshingoli shondjundo yookilograma 34. 34 Omukwaniilwa Neko okwa ningi Eliakim lyaJosia omukwaniilwa gwaJuda, a landule Josia, e ta lukulula edhina lye li ninge Jehoiakim. Joahas okwa falwa kuEgipiti, nkoka a sile.
Jehoiakim, omukwaniilwa gwaJuda
(2 Ondjal. 36:5-8)35 Omukwaniilwa Jehoiakim okwa gongele iifendela e yi kunguna kaantu mekwatathano lyuuyamba wawo, opo a tsakanithe omwaalu tagu pumbiwa okufuta shoka tashi pulwa komukwaniilwa gwaEgipiti.
36 Jehoiakim okwa li e na omimvo omilongo mbali nantano, sho a ningi omukwaniilwa gwaJuda nokwa lele muJerusalem omimvo omulongo nagumwe. Yina oSebida yaPedaia gwokuRuma. 37 Jehoiakim okwa landula oshinkoti shoohekulu e ta yono kOmuwa.
