2 Chronicles 34:6 Meaning: Josiah's Reform Beyond Judah |
He did this in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali, around in their ruins.
And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.
And so did he in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, in their ruins round about.
and in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their tools, round about.
And [so did he] in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even to Naphtali, in their ruins round about;
Meaning in one sentence
Josiah's purge of idolatry extended into the northern tribes, even to Naphtali. What does 'in their ruins' mean? Discover this verse's message.
Context
Josiah was eight when he became king of Judah, and by the age of sixteen he had begun to seek the God of his father David. Six years later he started purging Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, and carved images. The work was brutal and thorough: he broke down altars, ground idols to dust, and burned the bones of pagan priests on their own altars. But Josiah did not stop at the border of his own kingdom. With Assyrian power in decline, the territories of the former northern kingdom of Israel lay vulnerable and spiritually neglected. The Chronicler records that Josiah took his reform into the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, all the way to Naphtali, the far north. Wherever he went, he met ruins. The land had been devastated by Assyrian conquest, and the people who remained lived in brokenness. Yet Josiah did not turn back.
Key Words
The Hebrew phrase becharvoteihem is difficult. The root can mean 'sword' or 'tool for cutting stone' (H2719 cherev), which leads some translations to read 'with their mattocks', the axes or picks Josiah’s men used to tear down altars. That reading paints a picture of determined, physical labor. But most ancient versions and many commentators take the word as 'in their ruins' (from chorbah, a desolate place). The land itself was a wasteland, empty after the Assyrian deportations, and Josiah went straight into that desolation. Either way, the point is the same: the work was real, messy, and complete. The phrase 'even to Naphtali' (ad Naphtali) shows the full extension, Naphtali was the northernmost tribe, a seven-day journey from Jerusalem. Josiah did not stop until he reached the end of the land.
How Christians Read This Verse
Reformers in the Protestant tradition, including Matthew Henry and the Geneva Bible, focused on Josiah’s zeal: he used whatever tools necessary to destroy idolatry, not sparing even the distant cities. Catholic commentators like the Douay-Rheims emphasize that Josiah 'demolished all', a thorough cleansing that prefigures the Church’s call to root out sin. More recent scholars (Cambridge, Keil) stress the condition of the land itself: Josiah ministered in ruins, surrounded by the wreckage of the northern kingdom’s sins. These different readings converge on the same truth: God’s reform knows no boundaries, and He often begins His most transformative work in the most broken places.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think 'mattocks' or 'ruins' is the main point of the verse, that it tells us the tools Josiah used or the state of the cities he visited. In fact, the verse frames Josiah’s geographical reach and his willingness to enter thoroughly devastated territory. The important thing is not the equipment or the condition of the land, but the fact that Josiah went there at all.
Living This Out
This week, think about the 'ruins' in your own life, places of neglect, old habits, relationships that feel too far gone. Maybe you have accepted that a certain area will always stay broken. Josiah shows a different way. He did not wait for the ruins to look better. He went straight in with whatever he had, and he tore down everything that had been set up against God. You can do the same. You do not need perfect tools or a perfect situation. You just need to go, honestly, humbly, into the places you have been avoiding. God meets you there and works through your effort.
Main takeaway: Josiah’s reform reached into ruins, reminding us that no place is beyond God’s call to be cleansed and restored.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Josiah wanted God’s people to worship only God. He went to faraway cities and broke down places where people worshipped false gods. Even where things were broken and ruined, he did not stop.
For ages 9, 12
Josiah did not just clean up his own backyard. He traveled to the northern lands that had been conquered and left in ruins. Even there, among the rubble, he tore down idols. Sometimes we think certain areas of our lives are too messy for God, but Josiah shows us that God wants to clean up everywhere.
Questions People Ask
Why did Josiah go into the northern tribes? Was that his territory?
Josiah was king of Judah, but after the Assyrian Empire weakened, the northern territories no longer had a strong ruler. The people who remained were vulnerable, and Josiah seized the opportunity to extend the worship of Yahweh beyond Judah’s borders. He believed God’s covenant applied to all Israel, not just his own tribe.
What does 'mattocks' mean in 2 Chronicles 34:6?
The Hebrew word is difficult. Some translations read 'mattocks' (tools like picks or axes) used to break down altars. Others read 'in their ruins,' describing the desolate condition of the cities. Both interpretations are possible, but they both highlight the thoroughness of Josiah’s reform among a broken people.
How could Josiah have authority in the northern kingdom?
After the Assyrian conquest, the northern kingdom lost its own monarchy. The Assyrian overlords were far away and losing power, so local leaders looked to the king of Judah for protection. Josiah’s religious reform also had popular support among the remnant of Israelites who still followed the Lord.
Does this verse teach that we should physically destroy other people's religious objects?
No. This is a specific historical account of Josiah purging the land after centuries of idolatry. In our context, God calls us to remove obstacles in our own hearts, not to force others. The principle is about personal and corporate repentance, not imposing our faith by force.
What does 'even to Naphtali' mean for the story?
Naphtali was the northernmost tribe of Israel, far from Jerusalem. By naming these places, the Chronicler shows that Josiah’s reform was not superficial or limited to easy locations. He traveled the full length of the land, from south to north, leaving no part untouched.
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