II Kings 23:17-20 · Bible study
2 Kings 23:17-20 Commentary: Prophecy Confirmed at Bethel
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Josiah finds the tomb of a prophet whose words are now fulfilled. He spares the bones, then carries reform into Samaria, showing God's word is certain.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Josiah discovers the tomb of a prophet who predicted his reforms, spares the bones, and then cleanses the northern cities of idolatry, confirming God's word fails.
- Key words: tsiyyun (monument, signpost) H6725; qeber (grave, tomb) H6913; atzmot (bones) H6106; bamot (high places) H1116.
- Main debate: Why Josiah spared this tomb. All agree the prophecy required it, but some stress respect for the true prophet, while others emphasize the exact fulfillment of the old prophet's burial request.
- Theological theme: The certainty of God's prophetic word. Even after centuries, every detail comes to pass.
- Best use: To strengthen confidence in the reliability of Scripture. God's promises of judgment and salvation are equally sure.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
17Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?” And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and pronounced these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel.”
18“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.
19Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria he removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel who had provoked the LORD to anger.
20On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
WEB World English Bible 2000
17Then he said, “What monument is that which I see?” The men of the city told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Bethel.”
18He said, “Let him be! Let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.
19All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Yahweh to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
20He killed all the priests of the high places that were there, on the altars, and burned men’s bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem.
KJV King James Version 1769
17Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Beth–el.
18And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.
19And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the Lord to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Beth–el.
20And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
17Then he said, What monument is that which I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, who came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Beth-el.
18And he said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.
19And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Jehovah to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Beth-el.
20And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there, upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them; and he returned to Jerusalem.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
17And he saith, `What is this sign that I see?' and the men of the city say unto him, `The grave of the man of God who hath come from Judah, and proclaimeth these things that thou hast done concerning the altar of Beth-El.'
18And he saith, `Let him alone, let no man touch his bones;' and they let his bones escape, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.
19And also all the houses of the high places that are in the cities of Samaria, that the kings of Israel made to provoke to anger, hath Josiah turned aside, and doth to them according to all the deeds that he did in Beth-El.
20And he slayeth all the priests of the high places who are there by the altars, and burneth the bones of man upon them, and turneth back to Jerusalem.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
17Then he said, What tombstone is that which I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things which thou hast done against the altar of Bethel.
18And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. And they saved his bones, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.
19And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke [Jehovah] to anger, Josiah removed, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
20And he sacrificed upon the altars all the priests of the high places that were there, and burned men's bones upon them. And he returned to Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
17And he said: What is that monument which I see? And the men of that city answered: It is the sepulchre of the man of God, who came from Juda, and foretold these things which thou hast done upon the altar of Bethel.
18And he said: Let him alone, let no man move his bones. So his bones were left untouched with the bones of the prophet, that came out of Samaria.
19Moreover all the temples of the high places which were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the Lord, Josias took away: and he did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
20And he slew all the priests of the high places, that were there, upon the altars; and he burnt men's bones upon them: and returned to Jerusalem.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Kings 23:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that the monument Josiah sees is the tomb of the unnamed man of God who prophesied against Jeroboam's altar at Bethel (1 Kings 13:1, 2). The men of the city identify it directly, and Josiah's response, ”Let him be; let no one move his bones”, preserves the prophet's grave intact. Adam Clarke notes that the old prophet from Bethel had taken care to make the spot remarkable. Matthew Henry and Gill observe that Josiah's order fulfills the request the old prophet made in 1 Kings 13:31, to be buried in the same tomb. The passage demonstrates that God's prophetic word was carried out in precise detail, down to the preservation of the righteous prophet's bones. The Cambridge Bible adds that Josiah then extends his purge to the cities of Samaria, acting as the de facto king over the former northern kingdom after Assyria's decline. The slaying of the priests of the high places on their own altars matches the prophecy spoken centuries earlier: a son of David named Josiah would sacrifice them.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The monument marks the tomb of the prophet who prophesied against the Bethel altar, and Josiah's actions fulfill that prophecy down to the preservation of the prophet's bones.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The identity of the man of God | He is the unnamed prophet who came from Judah and prophesied against Jeroboam's altar in 1 Kings 13. | Whether his name is recorded in any other source. Jewish tradition sometimes identifies him with Iddo the seer (2 Chronicles 13:22), but the text does not confirm this. |
| Meaning of the monument (tsiyyun) | It is a conspicuous marker over the grave that drew Josiah's attention and led to his question. | Whether the monument was a stone pillar, an inscription, or both. The word can mean signpost or market-stone; exact design is unknown. |
| Why Josiah spared the prophet's bones | He obeyed the implicit command from the prophecy that the bones would be left undisturbed (1 Kings 13:31). | Whether this was also an act of honor for a faithful prophet or simply a literal obedience to the word. Both may be true. |
| Josiah's authority in Samaria | He acted as ruler over the region after Assyrian decline, purging idolatry across the former northern kingdom. | Whether his actions were a political annexation or a religious mission. The text frames it as religious reform, but political control may have been a backdrop. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Josiah's reform reached its peak in his eighteenth year, after the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple (2 Kings 22). He first cleansed Judah and Jerusalem, then turned north to Bethel, the cultic center established by Jeroboam I (1 Kings 12:28, 29). Bethel lay in the territory of the former northern kingdom of Israel, which Assyria had conquered in 722 BC. By Josiah's time, Assyrian power had weakened, and Judah exerted influence over the region.
The tomb Josiah sees belongs to a man of God who came from Judah during Jeroboam's reign. That prophet had denounced the altar at Bethel and predicted that a future king of Judah named Josiah would burn human bones on it (1 Kings 13:2). An old prophet from Samaria later buried him and requested that his own bones be laid beside the man of God (1 Kings 13:31). The monument (tsiyyun, H6725, a signpost or marker) was likely erected to draw attention to the grave, ensuring the prophecy would be remembered.
Josiah's actions in the cities of Samaria show he regarded himself as responsible for the whole land of Israel. He removed the high places, slaughtered the idolatrous priests on their altars, and burned human bones to defile the sites, just as he had done at Bethel. This severity reflected the law's demand for purity (Deuteronomy 13) and fulfilled the old prophet's warning that the words against the high places of Samaria would happen (1 Kings 13:32). The Chronicler adds that Josiah also collected money from Manasseh, Ephraim, and the remnant of Israel for temple repair (2 Chronicles 34:8, 9), confirming his leadership over the north.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. The Hebrew text is consistent across manuscript traditions, and the major translations (KJV, ASV, BSB, YLT, Darby, Douay) agree in sense. The one minor difference is the rendering of tsiyyun as “title” (KJV), “monument” (WEB, ASV), or “sign” (YLT), but these are acceptable translations of the same Hebrew word.
Reception History
Christian readers throughout church history have seen this passage as a powerful demonstration of fulfilled prophecy. Early commentators like Jerome referenced Josiah's respect for the prophet's tomb as an example of honoring God's messengers even after death. During the Reformation, the narrative was used to argue that the Bible's predictions are trustworthy and that God judges idolatry severely. Protestant expositors such as Matthew Henry and John Wesley emphasized Josiah's thoroughness and his obedience to the written word. In Catholic tradition, the passage is read within the context of the Church's teaching on the reliability of Scripture and the call to repentance. The tomb has been understood as a type of the faithful witness that outlasts persecution, the prophet's bones remained while the altars of idolatry were ground to dust.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God keeps His word across centuries. The prophecy spoken to Jeroboam waited more than three hundred years before Josiah fulfilled it. The tomb remained as a silent witness until the appointed time.
- Respect for faithful servants. Josiah could have burned the bones of the man of God like he did with others, but he gave orders to leave them undisturbed. Honoring those who spoke God's truth matters.
- Thorough reformation leaves no sacred cows. Josiah did not stop at Bethel. He pushed into Samaria, destroying every high place and killing every idolatrous priest. Real change goes all the way.
Five-point outline
- The fulfillment of a specific prophecy. The man of God named Josiah by name (1 Kings 13:2) and described his actions. This is predictive prophecy at its clearest.
- The power of a monument. The marker on the grave let Josiah ask the right question. Visible reminders of God's past words can guide present obedience.
- The preservation of the righteous. Josiah spared the bones of the prophet and the old prophet who asked to be buried with him. Death does not cancel God's care for His own.
- The extension of reform. Josiah's reform crossed tribal boundaries. The whole land, not just Judah, was called to covenant faithfulness.
- The cost of corruption. The priests of the high places died on their own altars. Sin has consequences, and leaders who lead others astray face severe judgment.
Illustration hooks
- Contractor finding the cornerstone. A builder discovers a dated cornerstone in a demolition site, it matches the architect's original plan from a century ago. The old blueprint is verified by the present work.
- Time capsule. A community opens a time capsule placed 150 years earlier and reads predictions about the town's future. The exact words have come true.
- Promised inheritance. A parent tells a child, “One day you will receive this.” Years later, the child opens the sealed box and finds exactly what was promised.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did Josiah spare the bones of this prophet but burn everyone else's? Because the prophet had spoken God's truth, and his tomb was a testimony. Destroying it would have contradicted the prophecy that his bones would be safe.
- How can we be sure that a prophecy is really from God? When it comes true in detail, as this one did. Deuteronomy 18:22 gives that test.
- Is it right to kill people in the name of religious reform? We live under the new covenant. Josiah was a civil magistrate acting under the old covenant theocracy. This narrative describes what happened, not a model for today's government. The New Testament teaches that God's judgment is reserved for the last day (Acts 17:31).
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows how God's word can stay hidden for centuries and then step into the light. Josiah discovered a tomb that confirmed a prophecy made long before his birth. The group will explore what this teaches about Scripture, integrity, and reform.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What attracted Josiah's attention to this particular tomb? What did the men of the city tell him?
- Interpretation: Why did Josiah command that no one move the bones of the man of God? Read 1 Kings 13:31, 32. How does this help explain his decision?
- Interpretation: The prophet from Samaria asked to be buried with the man of God (1 Kings 13:31). How does Josiah's action confirm that the old prophet's wish was honored?
- Observation: What did Josiah do in the cities of Samaria? How did those actions parallel what he did at Bethel?
- Interpretation: The Kings of Israel built high places “to provoke Yahweh to anger” (v.19). What does this language tell you about how God views idolatry?
- Application: The monument reminded people of a promise. What physical reminders in your life point you to God's faithfulness?
- Application: Josiah went beyond Judah into Israel. Are there areas of your life, habits, attitudes, or environments, that you have treated as off-limits to God's reform?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Kings 13:1 | Behold, a man of God came out of Judah by Yahweh’s word to Bethel; and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. |
| I Kings 13:30 | He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” |
| I Kings 13:31 | After he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, saying, “When I am dead, bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. |
| I Kings 13:22 | but came back, and have eaten bread and drank water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread, and drink no water,” your body will not come to the tomb of your fathers.’” |
| I Kings 12:31 | He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. |
| I Kings 13:32 | For the saying which he cried by Yahweh’s word against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely happen.” |
| I Kings 16:33 | Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did more yet to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. |
| II Kings 8:18 | He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did Ahab’s house, for he married Ahab’s daughter. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that Josiah dealt more severely with the high places in Samaria than those in Judah, because these northern sites were purely heathen rather than misdirected worship of the Lord. The term "Samaria" here is used proleptically, since that city did not yet exist during Jeroboam's time.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the tradition that the old prophet of Bethel arranged for a distinctive monument over his own grave alongside the man of God, ensuring their bones would be recognized and spared. Josiah's command to let that grave alone shows he honored the prophecy that had been fulfilled there, even while destroying other idolatrous sites.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB suggests that the king’s eye was caught by a particularly noticeable tombstone with a readable inscription, which sparked his question. The locals who answered were not the Assyrian colonists but elderly residents who might have known the site, perhaps because someone had recently restored the righteous man’s grave.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes Josiah's thoroughness in treating idolatry as utterly contemptible, not merely removing it but grinding it to powder and casting it onto graves. He notes that Josiah defiled the very places and objects of false worship, showing that sin must be detested and erased without a trace.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the returning Israelites, rather than turning back to the Lord, resumed their idol worship and may have credited their deliverance from Assyria to these false gods. He notes their burnt incense specifically fulfilled the prophecy in 1 Kings 13.