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Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.

Bible Chapter Studies

II KINGS CHAPTER 23

II Kings 22—(Click here)—brought us the reign of Israel’s second youngest king: Josiah, who took over the throne when he was only 8 years old. Because of those who were counseling and guiding him—namely Hilkiah the High Priest, Shaphan the Royal Scribe and Father’s Prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah—beginning in his 8^th year of ruling the Nation, he began to seek Father and do those things which were very pleasing in Father’s eyes; in other words, he purged Judah and Jerusalem by cleaning up his father Amon’s mess of the asherah groves, the idolatrous altars to baalim and other false gods, and the carved and molten images which his father—Josiah’s grandfather—Manasseh had re-instituted after his father Hezekiah had cleaned them out from his father Ahaz and those before him.

Anyway, it was during this cleaning up of the land and the cleaning out of Father’s House, that, the workers found “a book,” but, ℑt wasn’t just any old book, ℑt was “The 𝔅ook of the Law of YHVH given of the hand of Moses.” The 𝔅ook is obviously the Original Copy of the Torah, or Pentateuch—namely what we today call the 𝔅ooks of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—which Moses himself had written at Father’s command, and which was supposed to have been placed inside Father’s Ark. So, one of several things must have happened: either Moses had written a second copy—let’s call this a “user copy”—and put another copy in Father’s Ark, or ℑt had gotten secreted away somewhere by one of the Priests sometime during the reign of one of the heathen worshipping kings in order for it not to be destroyed by one of those ungodly kings for fear that ℑt might have been used as ℑt was originally purposed, as we can read of in Deuteronomy 31, i.e., as a witness against them when they forsook Father. Again, I say, “the workers found,” because, nobody knows for sure how long it had been missing; but, it had gotten misplaced, or probably, purposely lost sometime during the reign of one of the evil kings who despised and detested Father and His Ways of Righteousness in favor of satan and his evil path of destruction; but, suffice it to say that it has been many years; as, when it was found and read to Josiah, he immediately rent his clothes in a sign of outright horror, humbleness, and repentance. His reaction was duly noted by Father, Who looked favorably upon this young king.

So, what did young Josiah do after the Shaphan the scribe read the words of the 𝔅ook to him? After abasing himself, he gathered himself together, composed himself, and then he sent a delegation—consisting of Hilkiah the High Priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant—to someone who could tell them what course of action Father would have them embark upon.

Who did they find who could tell them such? A Prophetess, one named Huldah, who as we read in II Kings 22:14—(Click here)—“(now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college).” Huldah is actually not the first woman to be mentioned as a prophetess in Father’s Word: others include: Miriam in Exodus 15:20 and Micah 6:4; Deborah in Judges 4:4; Noadiah in Nehemiah 6:14; Isaiah’s wife in Isaiah 8:3; Anna in Luke 2:36; and Phillips 4 daughters in Acts 21:9. Dr. Bullinger notes in his Companion Bible at II Kings 22:14—(Click here)—that, “The employment of a woman as prophet shows the degeneracy of the times, deplored by Isaiah Isaiah 9:15, denounced by Jeremiah Jeremiah 5:7,8; 14:4; 23:14-30; 37:19, and by Ezekiel 13:2-23. Inferred also from Huldah’s words 22:15-18, and by Jeremiah Jeremiah 5:31.”. Anyway, Huldah, immediately upon being asked what they should do, replied “thus saith the LORD.” She then proceeded to tell Hilkiah and the delegation what to tell Josiah, i.e., what was about to come upon Judah and Jerusalem, and what path young Josiah—who by this time was now somewhere between 20 and 26 years old—was to take, i.e., he was to continue to rule over the House of Judah for the remainder of his days; but, when Father brought him Home to Him, Father was then going to bring about calamity upon the Nation; however, as for Josiah, because he had indeed humbled himself when he had heard what Father said He would do, he would not be affected by the calamity which Father was going to bring about the Nation, he would go to his grave in peace. This was where the Chapter closed.

We pick up this Study of Father’s Word reading about what Josiah did immediately after hearing what Father Promised for the Nation of the House of Judah.

With that introduction being said, let’s go to Father and ask Him for His Blessings on our Study of His Word: “ Father, I come to You right now and ask that You Oh LORD Lead me and Guide me as I try and teach Your Word, don’t allow me to mis-teach or mis-lead Your Children. We, Father, also come to You as a group who desire to Learn Your Word, to thank You for inviting us to Your table in order that we might be able to partake of and receive Your Spiritual Meat, and Father, as we prepare to dine on the sustenance which sustains our inner man, we ask that You Oh LORD open our ears and eyes, that we might be able to hear and see your Truths, open our hearts and minds and prepare us in order that we may receive Your Truth. We Pray for Your Understanding of Your Word, we seek Your Knowledge in Your Word, and most importantly Father, we Pray for and desire Your Wisdom from Your Word, in Jesus’ Precious name we Pray, thank You Father, Amen.”

II Chronicles 18:1-24:20 JUDAH
    (Division.)
22:1-23:30 Josiah.
22:1-23:30 JOSIAH. (Introversion
    and Alternations.)
22:3-23:34 Josiah’s reformation.
22:3-23:24 JOSIAH’S
    REFORMATION. (Alternations.)
23:1 Assemblage of people.
1A1
II Kings 23:1 And the king^H4428 sent,^H7971 and they gathered^H622 unto^H413 him all^H3605 the elders^H2205 of Judah^H3063 (celebrated; and, praised, celebrated) (Yeh-hoo-dawי) and of Jerusalem.^H3389 (founded peaceful; and, the habitation of peace) (Yer-oo-shaw-lahי-yim).   —>   Since we know this Chapter to be a continuation of II Kings 22—(Click here)—and after hearing of the calamity which Father is going to bring upon the Nation in the not too distant future, the first thing Josiah does is call every one of the Elders and City Leaders of every city in the territories of the House of Judah to come to Jerusalem to come and meet with him—we’ll read in our next verse, that he’ll also call all the Priests, the Levites and the Prophets as well. Why? Because he has been given insight from Father as to what is going to come to pass, and he can either just let it happen; or, he can try and have as many of his people, his fellow Israelites, repent and change from their current way of life as he can; and that is exactly what he intends to try and do. And he is going to go about that by laying down the Law to the Elders and City Leaders.

Think about Josiah’s actions here brethren; as, he is not tempting Father, but, playing the role of Moses, Samuel and our Lord Jesus in that, his compassion for his fellow-man is causing him to stand in the gap for his fellow Israelites in order to try and save as many souls as he can.

The question then becomes: How will the people respond? That, brethren, is actually a good question; as, as I said when reading II Kings 22:2—(Click here)—we saw some classic Hebrew writing—(Click here)—in that, in ancient Hebrew writing, sometimes the writer will give the results or outcome of a series of events, and then go into the details of what actually transpired. Well, that is exactly what we’re seeing in these two Chapters; as, in II Kings 22—(Click here)—we saw the results, and now here in II Kings 23, we’re going to read the details. We know from reading II Kings 22:2—(Click here)—that, Josiah purged Judah of all the false gods and idols; well, now we’re going to read exactly what he did to accomplish such; hang-on brethren, as, it’s about to get dirty, and we’re going to see a purging like as hasn’t been seen for over 350 years, since young Asa cleaned the mess he faced when he became king as read in I Kings 15:11-13—(Click here)—only, Asa didn’t go as far in his purging as king Josiah is about to go!

Judah=For a detailed description of Judah, including the Territories history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Jerusalem=For a detailed description of Jerusalem, including the Nations history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

23:2 Assemblage of people.
23:2 Book read.
1A2
II Kings 23:2 And the king^H4428 went up^H5927 into the house^H1004 of the LORD,^H3068 and all^H3605 the men^H376 of Judah^H3063 and all^H3605 the inhabitants^H3427 of Jerusalem^H3389 with^H854 him, and the priests,^H3548 and the prophets,^H5030 and all^H3605 the people,^H5971 both small^H4480 ^H6996 and great:^H1419

and he read^H7121 in their ears^H241 ^(H853) all^H3605 the words^H1697 of the book^H5612 of the covenant^H1285 which was found^H4672 in the house^H1004 of the LORD.^H3068   —>   …all the men…the inhabitants…the Priests…the Levites…all the People great and small…=So, everybody came to the royal palace in Jerusalem, and then, as one gathering, they all went over to Father’s Temple. Here in II Kings 23:3, the verse reads “the prophets;” however, in II Chronicles 34:30—(Click here)—the verse reads: “…the priests, and the Levites…,” which tells me that Jeremiah and Zephaniah are with Josiah headed to Father’s Temple; in any case, suffice it to say, that everybody of the Nation of the House of Judah who was living in the territories of Israel, this included the remnant of the old ten Northern Tribes who were living in the cities of Ephraim, Manasseh, Naphtali and Simeon as well, attended this gathering for the reading of Father’s Law.

…he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant…=As when Shaphan read to Josiah in II Kings 22:10—(Click here)—Josiah most probably did not read the entire first five 𝔅ooks of Father’s Law; as, that would have taken a long, long time—many days, weeks or months—therefore, again, just as Shaphan read the important portions to Josiah, so also most probably Josiah read the important portions to his People. What did he read? Again, probably Exodus 12—(Click here)—Conducting Father’s Passover—Exodus 20—The Law of the Ten Commandments—Leviticus 26—Father’s Charges for the People—and Deuteronomy 28—Father’s Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience.

23:3 Josiah’s well-doing.
    Covenant made.
1A3
II Kings 23:3 And the king^H4428 stood^H5975 by^H5921 a pillar,^H5982 and made^H3772 ^(H853) a covenant^H1285 before^H6440 the LORD,^H3068 to walk^H1980 after^H310 the LORD,^H3068 and to keep^H8104 His commandments^H4687 and His testimonies^H5715 and His statutes^H2708 with all^H3605 their heart^H3820 and all^H3605 their soul,^H5315 to perform^H6965 ^(H853) the words^H1697 of this^H2063 covenant^H1285 that were written^H3789 in^H5921 this^H2088 book.^H5612 And all^H3605 the people^H5971 stood^H5975 to the covenant.^H1285   —>   Again, there is a difference between what is written here in II Kings 23:3, and what is written in it’s parallel, II Chronicles 34:31—(Click here). In II Chronicles 34:31—(Click here)—the verse reads: “…with all his heart and all his soul…,” substituting the words “their” and “his.”

…the king stood in his place…=Once they had all reached Father’s Temple, Josiah stood upon the brazen scaffolding which had been set-up during the initial building of Father’s Temple so everybody gathered could easily see him as he read from Father’s Word. Normally this would be the Priests doing this reading; however, since Josiah was a righteous king, and since Father told him through His Prophetess what was going to come to pass, king Josiah—again, playing intercessor between Father and His Children—took it upon himself as king of the Nation to lead the Nation back to Father in repentance. Of course, though it is indeed to king doing so, he has the backing of all the Priests and the Prophets there behind him 100%.

…to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes…=Josiah was further expounding upon his own covenant with Father and having his people—read that, His Children—also make a covenant to be hearers and doers of Father’s Commandments, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances, and Statutes, and to follow them closely. This king was leading from the front, not from the rear, he was a wonderful king. I think this Nation, our Nation, the United States of America, at least a big majority of the people in it, eight years ago, 2016, elected to return our hearts to Father as well, when we told the then democrat law breaker candidate, the corrupt media, and holliweird, and all those who followed them; that, we would no longer accept their ungodly ways, and instead elected Donald J. Trump as our President of the United States of America. Four years later, we tried and did re-elect him, however, through cheating, they stole the election from W𝔢 T𝔥𝔢 People, and we are again trying to Properly, through the Election Process, Take our Country Back by re-electing Donald Trump, after 4 years of ungodly rule.

Beginning with the next verse, Josiah is going to show Father and the people, just how sincere he truly is; but, remember brethren, these next events have already taken place, as we read in II Chronicles 34:3—(Click here)—that Josiah began cleaning out all the idolatrous items, the false gods, the false priests and such beginning in the twelfth year of his rule over the Nation.

23:4-20 Evil removed.
1A4
II Kings 23:4 And the king^H4428 commanded^H6680 ^(H853) Hilkiah^H2518 (portion of YAH; and, YAH is my portion) (khil-kee-yawי) the high^H1419 priest,^H3548 and the priests^H3548 of the second order,^H4932 and the keepers^H8104 of the door,^H5592 to bring forth^H3318 out of the temple^H4480 ^H1964 of the LORD^H3068 ^(H853) all^H3605 the vessels^H3627 that were made^H6213 for Baal,^H1168 and for the grove,^H842 and for all^H3605 the host^H6635 of heaven:^H8064 and he burned^H8313 them without^H4480 ^H2351 Jerusalem^H3389 in the fields^H7709 of Kidron,^H6939 (kidron; and, turbid) (kid-roneי) and carried^H5375 ^(H853) the ashes^H6083 of them unto Beth-el.^H1008 (house of YAH; and, house of YAH) (bayth-aleי)   —>   Understand brethren, all these abominable, detestable idolatrous idols and false gods were in Father’s Temple. Right there where Father said He “would and did indeed manifest His presence and abide and abode with His Children.” Of course, it has been many a year since He has done so, since it has been many years that the idol worshiping kings rejected Him, and then basically threw Him out of His Own House.

…he burned them without Jerusalem…=The High Priest, and the Levites and Prophets went into the Temple and gathered the abominable items and carried them out, either into the fields just beside the Brook Kidron, or maybe in the dry creek bed of the Brook Kidron, in either case, once there, they burned them as prescribed in Deuteronomy 7:25. Once the fires from them had been extinguished, they carried the charred remains to Beth-el where they defiled the altars there—which the first king of the divided House of Israel, Jeroboam, had set up—according to the prophesy of the disobedient prophet which we read about in I Kings 13—(Click here).

Hilkiah=For a detailed description of Hilkiah, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

baal=For a detailed description of baal, including this false gods history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Brook Kidron=For a detailed description of the Brook Kidron, including its history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Beth-el= For a detailed description of Beth-el, including the city’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A5
II Kings 23:5 And he put down^H7673 ^(H853) the idolatrous priests,^H3649 whom^H834 the kings^H4428 of Judah^H3063 had ordained^H5414 to burn incense^H6999 in the high places^H1116 in the cities^H5892 of Judah,^H3063 and in the places round about^H4524 Jerusalem;^H3389 them also that burned incense^H6999 unto Baal,^H1168 to the sun,^H8121 and to the moon,^H3394 and to the planets,^H4208 and to all^H3605 the host^H3365 of heaven.^H8064   —>   …idolatrous priests…=Let’s compare the two different usages of the word “priests” in this verse, with the usage of it a moment ago in v23:4. In v23:4, in the Strong’s Concordance, we find that the word priests is Hebrew word number: H3548, - כֹּהֵן, - kôhên, - pronounced: ko-haneי, and means: Active participle of H3547; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman): - chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal officer. Total KJV occurrences: 750.. In other words a Priest appointed by Father through the bloodline of Levi. Now from this verse v23:5, in the Strong’s Concordance, we find that the word “priests” is Hebrew word number: H3649, - כָּמָר, - kâmâr, - pronounced: kaw-mawrי, and means: From H3648; properly an ascetic (as if shrunk with self maceration), that is, an idolatrous priest (only in plural): - Chemarims, (idolatrous) priests. Total KJV occurrences: 3., which this verse correctly identifies, saying “whom the kings of Judah had ordained,” yeppers, a priest appointed by man; and as such, not beholden to, and under no obligation to Father, or holding fast to His Commandments, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances or Statutes; however, it does make him beholden to man, and doing what that man desires. I like what Biblical historian Josephus says in his writings concerning this instance, it reads Josiah: “slew the priests of the idols that were not of the family of Aaron. And when he had done thus in Jerusalem, he came into the country, and utterly destroyed what buildings had been made therein by king Jeroboam, in honor of strange gods; and he burnt the bones of the false prophets upon that altar which Jeroboam first built.”.

…planets…=Stations, i.e., the signs of the Zodiac. The word “planet” which is used here, is in the Strong’s Concordance, Hebrew word number: H4208, - מַזָּלָה, - mazzâlâh, - pronounced: maz-zaw-lawי, and means: Apparently from H5140 in the sense of raining; a constellation, that is, Zodiacal sign (perhaps as affecting the weather): - planet. Compare H4216. Total KJV occurrences: 1.. It is used only once in Father’s Word, and the one time is here, in II Kings 23:5, now let’s do as instructed and bring in H4216 to compare the two: H4216, - מַזָּרָה, - mazzârâh, - pronounced: maz-zaw-rawי, and means: Apparently from H5144 in the sense of distinction; some noted constellation (only in the plural), perhaps collectively the zodiac: - Mazzoroth. Compare H4208. Total KJV occurrences: 1., it’s used only once in all of Father’s Word, in Job 38:32, just as H4208 is used only once. The Babylonian name for the divisions of the Zodiac, called in the Assyrian inscriptions: Mauzalti.

…all the host of heaven…=They were also worshiping the angles. Brethren do you recall what the angel told John in The Book of Revelation? Twice John went to worship the angel who was revealing him the revelations of our Lord Jesus as we read in Revelation 19:10, where we read: Revelation 19:9 And^G2532 he saith^G3004 unto me,^G3427 “Write,^G1125 ‘Blessed^G3107 are they which are called^G2564 unto^G1519 the^G3588 marriage^G1062 supper^G1173 of the^G3588 Lamb.’M”^G721 And^G2532 he saith^G3004 unto me,^G3427 “These^G3778 are^G1526 the^G3588 true^G228 sayings^G3056 of God.”^G2316 [19:10] And^G2532 I fell^G4098 at^G1715 his^G848 feet^G4228 to worship^G4352 him.^G846 And^G2532 he said^G3004 unto me,^G3427 “See^G3708 thou do it not:^G3361 I am^G1510 thy^G4675 fellowservant,^G4889 and^G2532 of thy^G4675 brethren^G80 that have^G2192 the^G3588 testimony^G3141 of Jesus:^G2424 worship^G4352 God:^G2316 for^G1063 the^G3588 testimony^G3141 of Jesus^G2424 is the^G3588 spirit^G4151 of prophecy.”^G4394 and then again in Revelation 22:8-9, which reads: Revelation 22:8 And^G2532 ℑ^G1473 John^G2491 saw^G991 these things,^G5023 and^G2532 heard^G191 them. And^G2532 when^G3753 I had heard^G191 and^G2532 seen,^G991 I fell down^G4098 to worship^G4352 before^G1715 the^G3588 feet^G4228 of the^G3588 angel^G32 which shewed^G1166 me^G3427 these things.^G5023 [22:9] Then^G2532 saith^G3004 he unto me,^G3427 “See^G3708 thou do it not:^G3361 for^G1063 I am^G1510 thy^G4675 fellowservant,^G4889 and^G2532 of thy^G4675 brethren^G80 the^G3588 prophets,^G4396 and^G2532 of them which keep^G5083 the^G3588 sayings^G3056 of this^G5127 book:^G975 worship^G4352 God.”^G2316.
1A6
II kings 23:6 And he brought out^H3318 ^(H853) the grove^H842 from the house^H4480 ^H1004 of the LORD,^H3068 without^H4480 ^H2351 Jerusalem,^H3389 unto^H413 the brook^H5158 Kidron,^H6939 and burned^H8313 it at the brook^H5158 Kidron,^H6939 and stamped it small^H1854 to powder,^H6083 and cast^H7993 ^(H853) the powder^H6083 thereof upon^H5921 the graves^H6913 of the children^H1121 of the people.^H5971   —>   Let’s turn again and read from Biblical historian Josephus’ writings, we read: “After these things, Josiah went also to such other Israelites as had escaped captivity and slavery under the Assyrians, and persuaded them to desist from their impious practices, and to leave off the honors they paid to strange gods, but to worship rightly their own Almighty God, and adhere to him. He also searched the houses, and the villages, and the cities, out of a suspicion that somebody might have one idol or other in private; nay, indeed, he took away the chariots [of the sun] that were set up in his royal palace, which his predecessors had framed, and what thing soever there was besides which they worshipped as a god.”.
1A7
II Kings 23:7 And he brake down^H5422 ^(H853) the houses^H1004 of the sodomites,^H6945 that^H834 were by the house^H1004 of the LORD,^H3068 where^H834 ^H8033 the women^H802 wove^H70 hangings^H1004 for the grove.^H842   —>   Like his grand-father to the twelfth generation before him—one named Asa—Josiah continues his purge of Judah by clearing out those who desire to deal in perverted proclivities. Why did both these kings—Asa and now Josiah—level this action against the people who were doing such? Two reasons immediately come to my mind: (1) because of what Father did to Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18 and Genesis 19; and because (2) what Father told Moses in Deuteronomy 23:17-18, where we read: Deuteronomy 23:17 There shall be^H1961 no^H3808 whore^H6948 of the daughters^H4480 ^H1323 of Israel,^H3478 nor^H3808 a sodomite^H6945 of the sons^H4480 ^H1121 of Israel.^H3478   —>   …no whore of the daughters of Israel…=Let’s look at this word “whore,” in our Strong’s Concordance and we’ll find that it is Hebrew word number: H6948, - קְדֵשָ ה, - q^edêshâh, - pronounced: ked-ay-shawי, and means: Feminine of H6945; a female devotee (that is, prostitute): - harlot, whore. Total KJV occurrences: 5.. So, in other words, a whore as used in this application means: a sodomitess; or a woman who was consecrated to be used as such during heathen worship services, and what Father is saying, is that, none of the Israelite women were to make themselves available as such, and the men were to not use the Israelite women nor bring in foreign women to use as such in worship of Him. Here, as we see, the word in the Hebrew language is q^edêshâh and means a separated one; or an unclean temple woman. We’ll see in the next verse, a different use of the word whore. …a sodomite of the sons of Israel…=Now let’s look at this word “sodomite” and we find that in the Strong’s Concordance, it is Hebrew word number: H6945, - קָדֵש, - qâdêsh, - pronounced: kaw-dasheי, and means: From H6942; a (quasi) sacred person, that is, (technically) a (male) devotee (by prostitution) to licentious idolatry: - sodomite, unclean. Total KJV occurrences: 6.. This is the same as the word whore as used in this verse; though in this application, it was a man who made himself available as a whore for other men to use in place of a woman for sexual acts, in other words, he was playing the role of a woman and allowing his orifices to be penetrated by other men, in the worship of false gods and in this case: Father, a strict no-no, as; it was a filthy unclean abomination to Him! [23:18] Thou shalt not^H3808 bring^H935 the hire^H868 of a whore,^H2181 or the price^H4242 of a dog,^H3611 into the house^H1004 of the LORD^H3068 thy God^H430 for any^H3605 vow:^H5088 for^H3588 even^H1571 both^H8147 these are abomination^H8441 unto the LORD^H3068 thy God.^H430   —>   …the hire of a whore…=Here, Father is again talking about prostitutes, both female and male, and what He is saying, is that, our Forefathers were to not be as the heathen who used both in worship services to their false gods, and Father definitely didn’t want our forefathers to use prostitutes as worship vessels when worshiping Him. …whore…=We’ll see that this word is different than in the previous verse as; here in Deuteronomy 23:18, in the Strong’s Concordance, it is Hebrew word number: H2181, - זָנָה, - zânâh, - pronounced: zaw-nawי, and means: A primitive root (highly fed and therefore wanton); to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of YHVH): - (cause to) commit fornication, X continually, X great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be, play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go a-whoring, whorish. Total KJV occurrences: 93.. Again, Father is saying that it is an abomination to Him for women—and men—to allow themselves to be used as prostitutes in worship services to Him, and that both, a man to allow another man to use him in place of a woman as a sexual object and as such in worship to false gods, and especially in worship to Him is an abomination to Him! He created man for woman and woman for man! Not, man-to-man, nor woman-to-woman!

…hangings for the grove=This is referring to veils, or cloth curtains, which were used to cover the asherah, think of the catholic processions of today, where, as the people make their march with their virgin on their stick, they have her covered until a certain time in the procession.
1A8
II Kings 23:8 And he brought^H935 ^(H853) all^H3605 the priests^H3548 out of the cities^H4480 ^H5892 of Judah,^H3063 and defiled^H2930 ^(H853) the high places^H1116 where^H834 ^H8033 the priests^H3548 had burned incense,^H6999 from Geba^H4480 ^H1387 (a hillock; and, a hill) (ghehי-bah) to^H5704 Beer-sheba,^H884 (well of the oath; and, well of the oath) (be-ayrי shehי-bah) and brake down^H5422 ^(H853) the high places^H1116 of the gates^H8179 that^H834 were in the entering in^H6607 of the gate^H8179 of Joshua^H3091 (Yehovah-saved; and, saviour, or whose help is Yehovah) (Yeh-ho-shooי-ah) the governor^H8269 of the city,^H5892 which^H834 were on^H5921 a man’s^H376 left hand^H8040 at the gate^H8179 of the city.^H5892   —>   …Geba to Beer-sheba…=Geba was in the very northern part of the territories of Judah; whereas, Beer-sheba was in the very southern portion, and what this is saying, is that, Josiah went throughout all Judah defiling, desecrating, and destroying every single altar which had been erected to false gods.

…high places…=Since the time of Solomon’s reign as king, no king had been able to completely destroy, remove, or wipeout these idolatrous places of worship; however, Josiah was able to do so, he completely desecrated every single one of them. He heard Father loud and clear, and he tried to do what was right by completely cleaning-up Judah.

…the gate of Joshua the governor of the city…=Don’t allow yourselves to be thrown off by the end of this phrase, “the governor of the city,” brethren, as, this is not referring to any other man except Joshua, the man who led our forefathers after Moses passed away and returned Home to Father. This phrase/statement is specifically addressing a gate which entered into the city of Jerusalem, but, sadly, it’s specific location has been lost over the centuries.

Geba=For a detailed description of Geba, including The town’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Beer-sheba=For a detailed description of Beer-sheba, including the Nation’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A9
II Kings 23:9 Nevertheless^H389 the priests^H3548 of the high places^H1116 came not up^H5927 ^H3808 to^H413 the altar^H4196 of the LORD^H3068 in Jerusalem,^H3389 but^H3588 ^H518 they did eat^H398 of the unleavened bread^H4682 among^H8432 their brethren.^H251   —>   These Priests were of the lineage of Aaron; however, they did not make the trek up to Jerusalem because they were unclean. Why were they unclean? Because they had been falsely, or incorrectly worshiping Father in these high places. These priests did however, eat of and partake of the Holy Sacraments along with their fellow Levites; just, not it in the Holy Place. Some of the worship services in these high places were of Father; however, they were illegal worship services, as, they were not where Father wanted to be worshiped at. His only authorized place of worship was in His Temple.

Remember brethren, the priests in the northern tribes had drifted so far away from Father, that, they had no idea what was of Him, and what was of the heathenistic religions. Many of the people of Judah were likewise that far off, as, they wanted nothing to do with Father’s Law, or His Word. The only thing which mattered to them, were their traditions, the pleasures of their sexual orgies, and the quiet places where they burned their candles and incense. Stop and look around you today and actually look at what is taught in Father’s houses, and what is called “of God.” Much of it is nothing but customs of man, denominational doctrine, and traditions of man. Those priests told Josiah that they would not participate in the teaching of Father’s Word. However, before Josiah did what he was about to do, he allowed these priests to first change their ways. Again, it is no different today as it was then, for, the majority has always been in error. They like to take the path of least resistance, to stay in the comfort of their traditions, and they just don’t care to search for the truth. Sure, it was Baal, groves, Molech, and all sorts of wickedness then; whereas, today, it is the traditions of fairytales like the rapture doctrine, easter celebrations, and so on and so forth, and they simply don’t care to understand what Father’s Word states and conform to them.
1A10
II Kings 23:10 And he defiled^H2930 ^(H853) Topheth,^H8612 (a smiting, that is, figuratively, contempt; and, a place of burning) (toי-feth) which^H834 is in the valley^H1516 of the children^H1121 of Hinnom,^H2100 (lamentation; or, lamentation) (hin-nomeי) that no^H1115 man^H376 might make^(H853) his son^H1121 or his daughter^H1323 to pass through^H5674 the fire^H784 to Molech.^H4432   —>   Topheth=Topheth is put for any abhorrent practice or worship service. We find that in the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, Topheth means a place of burning; whereas, the “valley of Hinnom,” was a junction of three different valleys uniting in the southern portion of Jerusalem, and what this is saying, is, that, in this junction, our forefathers did a continual burning, it was mainly used to burn garbage; however, sadly, this was also where they took their first born sons and daughters to burn them in these fires to molech.
Topheth
Topheth=It is from the definition of the name Topheth, also spelled Tophet, that we derive our thoughts, or conjuring of “hell;” as, the definition means “the place of burning.” The first occurrence of the name in Father’s Word, is found in II Kings 23:10—(Click here)—where we read: II Kings 23:10 And he defiled^H2930 ^(H853) Topheth,^H8612 which^H834 is in the valley^H1516 of the children^H1121 of Hinnom,^H2100 that no^H1115 man^H376 might make^(H853) his son^H1121 or his daughter^H1323 to pass through^H5674 the fire^H784 to Molech.^H4432 —> The “he” is king Josiah, the king of Judah. Josiah was completely cleaning out every city and town of Judah of all the false gods, idols and idolatrous priests. As he was doing so, he and his men came to Topheth which was in a valley called, “the valley of the son of Himmom,” but, in reality, was in the valley of the brook Kidron; the valley in Jerusalem, directly beside the city and the king’s royal palace. It was in this valley, Himmom—which was a junction of three valleys uniting in the south of Jerusalem—that the people threw all their refuge and burned it. This burning of their refuge, burned continually day and night in order to completely consume all the refuge thrown in there. In the Hebrew it is Gē Himmom; whereas, in the New Testament it is Greek Gehenna, Strong’s Concordance, Greek word number: G1067—(Click here), “hell”. This valley was where the ungodly, evil kings of Judah would worship the false god, molech. The worship of which, consisted of the abhorrent practice of taking their still-living infant children and throwing them into the fire as a sacrifice. This was most probably done after their false worship practice of going into the asherah groves and holding their sexual orgies, and when the women would become pregnant, they then worshipped molech by throwing those unwanted children into the fires. † For the etymology of the name Topheth, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The origin of the name Topheth is formally unclear, although popularly it’s obvious that it would have reminded of the noun תף (top), meaning drum or tambourine: To a native speaker of Hebrew or Aramaic, the name Topheth probably meant Drums, or Sound Of Breaking, or Fire Place. For a meaning of the name Topheth, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List has Altar and Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Place Of Burning. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary declares the “etymology doubtful” but also endorses the association with the Aramaic Fire-Place.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that the word Topheth, is Hebrew word number: H8612, - תֹּפֶת, - tôpheth, - pronounced: toי-feth, and means: The same as H8611; Topheth, a place near Jerusalem: - Tophet, Topheth. Total KJV occurrences: 9.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Topheth, from Heb. toph, a drum,” because the cries of children here sacrificed by the priests of Moloch were drowned by the noise of such an instrument, or from taph or toph, meaning “to burn,” and hence a place of burning, the name of a particular part in the valley of Hinnom. “Fire being the most destructive of all elements, is chosen by the sacred writers to symbolize the agency by which God punishes or destroys the wicked. We are not to assume from prophetical figures that material fire is the precise agent to be used. It was not the agency employed in the destruction of Sennacherib, mentioned in Isaiah 30:33 …Tophet properly begins where the Vale of Hinnom bends round to the east, having the cliffs of Zion on the north, and the Hill of Evil Counsel on the south. It terminates at Beer ‘Ayub,’ where it joins the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The cliffs on the southern side especially abound in ancient tombs. Here the dead carcasses of beasts and every offal and abomination were cast, and left to be either devoured by that worm that never died or consumed by that fire that was never quenched.” Thus Tophet came to represent the place of punishment.”.

Valley of Hinnom=For a detailed description of the Valley of Hinnom, including the history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A11
II Kings 23:11 And he took away^H7673 ^(H853) the horses^H5483 that^H834 the kings^H4428 of Judah^H3063 had given^H5414 to the sun,^H8121 at the entering in^H4480 ^H935 of the house^H1004 of the LORD,^H3068 by^H413 the chamber^H3957 of Nathan-melech^H5419 (given of (the) king; and, the gift of the king) (neth-anי mehי-lek) the chamberlain,^H5631 which^H834 was in the suburbs,^H6503 and burned^H8313 the chariots^H4818 of the sun^H8121 with fire.^H784   —>   These horses and chariots which Josiah took away, was a practice which presumably started during the days of Manasseh and Amon whereas; the kings would have their soldiers attach the chariots to the horses before the sun arose in the morning, then he and all his soldiers would mount-up in preparation for the suns rising, and upon daybreak they would charge off toward the east in order to meet the sun at its arrival. Once there, they would then burn the chariots in worship of the sun as the giver of life, rather than worship the Creator of the sun, Who is the True Giver of Life. This was a form of religious practice to try to please the sun gods. It was almost as stupid as the idea of “sun-rise services” which many of our denominal kurch houses hold to this day; the rapture theory; and other man-made practices; whereby, people are completely disregarding the prophecies of Father’s Word in favor of man’s customs and traditions which are accepted in the kurch houses of our land today. The congregants rush to meet the morning sun, sort of like the new language practice which many churches are allowing among their pastors and congregations.
Nathan-melech
Nathan-melech=Nathan-melech is mentioned only one time in Father’s Word, in II Kings 23:11—(Click here). There is no genealogy—either up-line, i.e., father, grand-father etc., or down-line, i.e., sons, grand-sons etc.—given for him. As such, the only thing we know of Nathan-melech, is that he was a eunuch and a chamberlain, and he had a chamber—or named after him—in Father’s House at some point in time; as we read II Kings 23:11—(Click here). Other than being only mentioned this one time, we know nothing else of the man; we don’t know what his taskings were in Father’s House—though, we can assume it had something to do with horses, i.e. cleaning the stables or other chores—in what year he was born or under which king he served, or how long he lived. † For the etymology of the name Nathan-melech, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Nathan-melech obviously consists of two elements, and both elements also exists separately as names. The first part of our name is identical to the name Nathan, and comes from the verb נתן (natan) meaning to give: The second part of our name is identical to the name Melech, and both are the same as the common noun מלך (melek), meaning king: For a meaning of the name Nathan-melech, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads The King Has Given. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads the more interpretive Placed Of The King, and explains this by adding: “i.e. constituted.” Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not translate this name.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that the name Tikvah is Hebrew word number: H5419, - נְתַן־מֶלֶךְ, - n^ethan-melek, - pronounced: neth-anי meh-lekי, and means: From H5414 and H4428; Given of (the) king; - Nethan-Meleck, an Israelite: - Nathan-melech. Total KJV occurrences: 1.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “The gift of the king. A eunuch, (Authorized Version, “chamberlain”), in the court of Josiah, II Kings 23:11.”.
1A12
II Kings 23:12 And the altars^H4196 that^H834 were on^H5921 the top^H1406 of the upper chamber^H5944 of Ahaz,^H271 (possessor; and, possessor) (aw-khawzי) which^H834 the kings^H4428 of Judah^H3063 had made,^H6213 and the altars^H4196 which^H834 Manasseh^H4519 (causing to forget; or, forgetting) (men-ash-shehי) had made^H6213 in the two^H8147 courts^H2691 of the house^H1004 of the LORD,^H3068 did the king^H4428 beat down,^H5422 and brake them down^H7323 from thence,^H4480 ^H8033 and cast^H7993 ^(H853) the dust^H6083 of them into^H413 the brook^H5158 Kidron.^H6939   —>   Remember, Hezekiah had already removed these idolatrous altars which his father Ahaz had erected; however, his son Manasseh had rebuilt them when Hezekiah had returned Home to Father. Now, Josiah is again removing them.

Ya gotta give it to ole Josiah; as, he is doing it right in his cleaning house; as we see, he is removing all those old idols, and forms of worship and busting them up, burning them and scattering their ashes in the brook Kidron.

Ahaz=For a detailed description of Ahaz, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Manasseh=For a detailed description of Manasseh, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A13
II Kings 23:13 And the high places^H1116 that^H834 were before^H5921 ^H6440 Jerusalem,^H3389 which^H834 were on the right hand^H4480 ^H3225 of the mount^H2022 of corruption,^H4889 which^H834 Solomon^H8010 (peaceful; and, peaceful) (shel-o-moי) the king^H4428 of Israel^H3478 (he will rule as YAH; or, the prince that prevails with YAH) (Yis-raw-aleי) (secondary map) had builded^H1129 for Ashtoreth^H6253 (increase; and, a star) (ash-toי-reth) the abomination^H8251 of the Zidonians,^H6722 (catching fish; and, fishery) (tsee-doneי) and for Chemosh^H3645 (subdue, the powerful; and, subduer) (kem-osheי) the abomination^H8251 of the Moabites,^H4124 (Patronymic from H4124; a Moabite or Moabitess; that is, a descendant from Moab: - (woman) of Moab; and, of her father) (mo-aw-biteי) and for Milcom^H4445 (molech, (that is, king); and, great king) (mal-kawmי) the abomination^H8441 of the children^H1121 of Ammon,^H5983 (tribal, that is, inbred; and, mountaineers) (am-mo-neeי) did the king^H4428 defile.^H2930   —>   Remember, it was Solomon who Father came to in that dream and told him to ask of his heart’s desire, Solomon replied that he only wanted Father’s Wisdom in order to be able to judge and lead His—read that, Father’s—Children; then, after being king for so many years, he started to get the big head, and he started taking wives and concubines unto himself, many of these women were foreign women who sexually satisfied him; and for their doing so, he built altars to their gods for them to worship at, right there on Father’s Holy Mount, The Mount of Olives, the same place where in the future our Lord Jesus will be crucified, which as we read here, is called the mount of corruption because of the idolatries committed upon it.

Abomination=The word used for an idol because of Father YHVH’S hatred which is produced by the act.

Solomon=For a detailed description of Solomon, including his birth, history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Israel=For a detailed description of Israel, including his birth, his and the Nation’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

^יAshtôreth=For a detailed description of ^יAshtôreth, including this false gods mention in Father’s Word, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Zidonians
Zidonians=Also known as Sidon, Sidonians, and Zidon — they share the same Strong’s Concordance Hebrew word number: H6722; which is derived from: H6721. The reason for the different spelling, i.e., Zidon or Sidon is because with the “Z” is the Hebrew spelling, i.e.; whereas, with the “S” is the Greek Old Testament—otherwise known as the Septuagint—spelling. It was Noah’s grandson—or step-son depending how you want to look at it. Canaan was Noah’s wife’s son with her own son—:Ham. We read in Genesis 10:15, i.e., that “And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn…”. So, i.e., Sidon or Zidon’s descendants, are the Sidonians or Zidonians. Sidon, i.e., when he separated from his family, founded the land known after his name: Zidon or Sidon. Zidon was a fishery, a town on the Mediterranean coast, about 25 miles north of Tyre. It was the first home of the Phoenicians—it is not certain what the Phoenicians called themselves in their own language; it appears to have been Kenaי-ani (Akkadian: Kinahna), or Canaanites. In Hebrew, the word Kenaי-ani Strong’s Hebrew word number: H3669, has the secondary meaning of “merchant,” a term which well characterizes the Phoenicians—on the coast of Palestine, and from its extensive commercial relations became a “great” city Joshua 11:8; 19:28. It was the mother city of Tyre. It lay within the lot of the tribe of Asher, but was never subdued Judges 1:31. The Zidonians long oppressed Israel as we read in Judges 10:12—(Click here). From the time of David its glory began to wane, and Tyre, its virgin daughter Isaiah 23:12, rose to its place of pre-eminence. Solomon entered into a matrimonial alliance with the Zidonians, and thus their form of idolatrous worship found a place in the land of Israel as we read in I Kings 11:1—(Click here)—and I Kings 11:33—(Click here). Zidon was famous for its manufactures and arts, as well as for its commerce as we read in I Kings 5:6—(Click here)—I Chronicles 22:4—(Click here)—and Ezekiel 27:8. It is frequently referred to by the prophets: Isaiah in Isaiah 23, 24:12; Jeremiah in Jeremiah 25:22; 27:3; 47:4; Ezekial in Ezekiel 27:8; 28:21-22—(Click here)—32:30; and Joel in Joel 3:4. Our Lord Jesus visited the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, Matthew 15:21; Mark 7:24; and Luke 4:26; and from this region many came forth to hear Him preaching Mark 3:8; Luke 6:17. From Sidon, at which the ship put in after leaving Caesarea, Paul finally sailed for Rome Acts 27:34. † For the etymology of the name Zidon, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The etymology and original meaning of the name Zidon is unknown, formally spoken, but a Hebrew audience would probably tie the name Sidon to the root group צוד (sud): The letter nun, upon which this name ends, may be a remnant of the waw-nun couple that creates a localized or personified manifestation of the verb (Place Of Such And Such; Guy That Does Such And Such). Because Sidon is a coastal city, most of the hunting done there would be fishing, and so new Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List and Zodhiates’ Complete Word Study Dictionary read Fishery. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Fishing, and enthusiastically adds Plenty Of Fish.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H6722, - צִידֹנִיi, or צִדֹנִי, - tsı̂ydônı̂y, or tsidônı̂y, - pronounced: tsee-do-neeי, or tsee-do-neeי, and means: Partial from H6721; catching fish; fishery; a Tsidonian or inhabitant of Tsidon: - Sidonian, of Sidon, Zidonian. Total KJV occurrences: 15.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “An ancient and wealthy city of Phoenicia, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, less than twenty English miles to the north of Tyre. Its Hebrew name, Tsidon, signifies fishing or fishery. Its modern name is Saida. It is situated in the narrow plain between the Lebanon and the sea. From a biblical point of view this city is inferior in interest to its neighbor Tyre; though in early times Sidon was the more influential of the two cities. This view is confirmed by Zidonians being used as the generic name of Phoenicians or Canaanites Joshua 13:6, Judges 18:7. From the time of Solomon to the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar Zidon is not often directly mentioned in the Bible, and it appears to have been subordinate to Tyre. When the people called “Zidonians” are mentioned, it sometimes seems that the Phoenicians of the plain of Zidon are meant I Kings 5:6; 11:1,5,33; 16:31; II Kings 23:13. All that is known are respecting the city is very scanty, amounting to scarcely more than that one of its sources of gain was trade in slaves, in which the inhabitants did not shrink from selling inhabitants of Palestine and that it was governed by kings Jeremiah 25:22; 27:3. During the Persian domination Zidon seems to have attained its highest point of prosperity; and it is recorded that, toward the close of that period, it far excelled all other Phoenician cities in wealth and importance. Its prosperity was suddenly cut short by an unsuccessful revolt against Persia, which ended in the destruction of the town, B.C. 351. Its king, Tennes had proved a traitor and betrayed the city to Ochus, king of the Persians; the Persian troops were admitted within the gates, and occupied the city walls. The Zidonians, before the arrival of Ochus, had burnt their vessels to prevent any one’s leaving the town; and when they saw themselves surrounded by the Persian troops, they adopted the desperate resolution of shutting themselves up with their families, and setting fire each man to his own house. Forty thousand persons are said to have perished in the flames. Zidon however, gradually recovered from the blow, and became again a flourishing town. It is about fifty miles distant from Nazareth, and is the most northern city which is mentioned in connection with Christ’s journeys. (The town Saida still shows signs of its former wealth, and its houses are better constructed and more solid than those of Tyre, many of them being built of stone; but it is a poor, miserable place, without trade or manufactures worthy of the name. The city that once divided with Tyre the empire of the seas is now almost without a vessel. Silk and fruit are its staple products. Its population is estimated at 10,000,700 of whom are Moslems, and the rest Catholics, Maronites and Protestants. --McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopaedia. There is a flourishing Protestant mission here. --ED.).”.

Chemosh=For a detailed description of chemosh, including this false gods mention in Father’s Word, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Moab=For a detailed description of Moab, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Milcom=For a detailed description of milcom, including this false gods mention in Father’s Word, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Ammonites=For a detailed description of the Ammonites, including their history, the etymology of the word, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the word, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A14
II Kings 23:14 And he brake in pieces^H7665 ^(H853) the images,^H4676 and cut down^H3772 ^(H853) the groves,^H842 and filled^H4390 ^(H853) their places^H4725 with the bones^H6106 of men.^H120   —>   Again, as we see, this fulfills Father’s Prophesy which had been given 361 years before it came to pass. Brethren, should anyone ever tell you that Father’s Word isn’t real or true, there is no need to argue with them; as, we know in our hearts that they are incorrect; as, we have it right here in this Prophesy, and also in the Prophesy of Psalms 22, where we read of Jesus’ crucifixion, written 1,000 years before it came to pass, even going so far as to mention and record what the high priest would say and of the gambling for Jesus’ garments.
1A15
II Kings 23:15 Moreover^H1571 ^(H853) the altar^H4196 that^H834 was at Beth-el,^H1008 and the high place^H1116 which^H834 Jeroboam^H3379 ([the] people will contend; and, whose people are many) (yaw-rob-awmי) the son^H1121 of Nebat,^H5028 (regard; and, aspect) (neb-awtי) who^H834 made^(H853) Israel^H3478 to sin,^H2398 had made,^H6213 both^H1571 ^(H853) that^H1931 altar^H4196 and the high place^H1116 he brake down,^H5422 and burned^H8313 ^(H853) the high place,^H1116 and stamped it small^H1854 to powder,^H6083 and burned^H8313 the grove.^H842   —>   Do you recall when Father split the Nation into two separate and distinct Houses? Do you further recall who the king of each House was? Solomon’s son Rehoboam was king over the House of Judah, and Jeroboam was king over the House of Israel. So, what this is saying, is that, Josiah didn’t stop in Judah; no, he continued on and even went into those places in the old ten northern tribes where heathen altars were built by Jeroboam, even to the places where the two golden calves were worshipped—Beth-El and Dan—and destroyed the altars there. Though the land was controlled by the king of Assyria, Josiah still had a free reign and was in charge of what went on in the land.

Remember, after Judah’s brothers the Israelites were hauled away, the people which were brought in to fill the land pleaded to have the priests of Israel return, in order that they could worship the “god of the land.” These priests taught these Samaritans how to worship those same heathen gods, just as the Israelites did before them.

Jeroboam=For a detailed description of Jeroboam, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Nebat=For a detailed description of Nebat, including his birth, history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A16
II Kings 23:16 And as Josiah^H2977 (founded of YAH; and, whom YHVH heals) (Yo-she-yawי, or Yo-she-yawי-hoo) turned^H6437 himself, he spied^H7200 ^(H853) the sepulchres^H6913 that^H834 were there^H8033 in the mount,^H2022 and sent,^H7971 and took^H3947 ^(H853) the bones^H6010 out of^H4480 the sepulchres,^H6913 and burned^H8313 them upon^H5921 the altar,^H4196 and polluted^H2930 it, according to the word^H1697 of the LORD^H3068 which^H834 the man^H376 of God^H430 proclaimed,^H7121 who^H834 proclaimed^H7121 ^(H853) these^H428 words.^H1697   —>   …which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words…=This is referring to Father’s disobedient Prophet who proclaimed them 369 years ago while he stood at the altar at the feast. Let’s review what was said, we can read of it in I Kings 13—(Click here): I Kings 13:1 And, behold,^H2009 there came^H935 a man^H376 of God^H430 out of Judah^H4480 ^H3063 by the word^H1697 of the LORD^H3068 unto^H413 Beth-el:^H1008 and Jeroboam^H3379 stood^H5975 by^H5921 the altar^H4196 to burn incense.^H6999   —>   As Jeroboam was standing next to the altar he had built in Beth-el, ready to burn incense, one of Father’s Prophets came from Jerusalem to pronounce what Father had to say to Jeroboam: trust me, it wasn’t pretty, nor was it what Jeroboam wanted to hear. Why is Jeroboam acting as a priest? Because, as we read in I Kings 12—(Click here)—Jeroboam had fired all the Levitical Priests and they fled down to Jerusalem. If you’ll recall, Father had separated the duties of Judges, or kings, from the priesthood over 100 years previous to Jeroboam’s day, as can be read in I Samuel 8—(Click here)—now—at least in Israel—Jeroboam was trying to tie them back together into one office again. Jeroboam thinks he knows better than Father and he thus rejected all Father had to say. He found though, that he himself was rejected by Father. [13:2] And he cried^H7121 against^H5921 the altar^H4196 in the word^H1697 of the LORD,^H3068 and said,^H559 “O altar,^H4196 altar,^H4196 thus^H3541 saith^H559 the LORD;^H3068 &lsqo;Behold,^H2009 a child^H1121 shall be born^H3205 unto the house^H1004 of David,^H1732 Josiah^H2977 by name;^H8034 and upon^H5921 thee shall he offer^H2076 ^(H853) the priests^H3548 of the high places^H1116 that burn incense^H6999 upon^H5921 thee, and men’s^H120 bones^H6106 shall be burnt^H8313 upon^H5921 thee.’i”   —>   Once Father’s Prophet entered the altar temple, he immediately went over to the altar and called out in a loud voice in order that all who were present could hear what Father had to say. What was it He had to say? That, the abomination that Jeroboam had been doing in building his own temples with altars and golden calves; his consecrating his own priests and acting as a priest himself; his creating his own feast days; and his causing all Israel to sin by worshiping everything under the sun, was about to come to a screeching halt. That, though not today; but, in the future—approximately 363 years from now—a child—Josiah by name—would be born, and who would completely desecrate this altar—the very things we’re currently reading about here in II Kings 23—whereby, it will no longer be able to be used by the false priests to worship false gods and idols. As like always with Father’s Word, this will come to pass, it won’t happen for another—on Father’s Schedule—369 years; but, it surely will come to pass just the same, we’re be reading of it here and now. Cyrus is the only other man—other than Father being born in the flesh—who is so prophesied by name to be born, he was prophesied of 177 years before sis birth. [13:3] And he gave^H5414 a sign^H4159 the same^H1931 day,^H3117 saying,^H559 “This^H2088 is the sign^H4159 which^H834 the LORD^H3068 hath spoken;^H1696 Behold,^H2009 the altar^H4196 shall be rent,^H7167 and the ashes^H1880 that^H834 are upon^H5921 it shall be poured out.”^H8210   —>   Though Father through His Prophet had told Jeroboam that Josiah will be born approximately 340 years from his day and will desecrate this idolatrous stone altar by burning the bones of the idolatrous priests upon it, as an immediate sign, the altar which Jeroboam had just made, was torn in two, and the ashes of the sacrifices he had just made, were be poured out upon the ground before him, while he is there watching. Talk about Father getting your attention; for me, that would do it; however, it did not get Jeroboam’s, so Father had to get his attention another way, and that was by Father drying up his hand as he was about to lay his hand on Father’s Prophet. That, brethren, got his attention, at least for a moment it had anyway, though it didn’t keep his attention for long.

Josiah=For a detailed description of Josiah, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A17
II Kings 23:17 Then he said,^H559 “What^H4100 title^H6725 is that^H1975 that^H834 ℑ^H589 see?”^H7200 And the men^H376 of the city^H5892 told^H559 ^H413 him, “It is the sepulchre^H6913 of the man^H376 of God,^H430 which^H834 came^H935 from Judah,^H4480 ^H3063 and proclaimed^H7121 ^(H853) these^H428 things^H1697 that^H834 thou hast done^H6213 against^H5921 the altar^H4196 of Beth-el.”^H1008   —>   So, here is Josiah polluting and desecrating these graves when he notices a monument with an inscription on one of them; so, he asks those who are with him what it is that he is seeing, and whose grave site is he desecrating? His servants reply that it is the burial place of Father’s Prophet—the one who ended up being labeled “the disobedient prophet” because, he defied Father; as, Father told him that he was to go to Jeroboam and Prophesy to him the events which are coming to pass in Josiah’s day, and then immediately leave, not stopping to eat or drink, and he was even supposed to go so far as leave by a different route than he arrived, not even stopping to talk with anybody after he had delivered his Prophesy. We’ll another prophet, a false prophet, chased after him and told him that Father had told him to go after the disobedient prophet and invite him back to his place and eat with the man, for disobeying Father, Father told him that a lion would slay him; but, not devour his dead carcass, which came to pass, and he was buried right here where Josiah is digging up these graves—and the reason for seeing two sets of bones was because, as we read in I Kings 13:31—(Click here)—the false or lying prophet told his sons that when he died, he wanted to be buried in the same grave; but, beside Father’s True; but, disobedient Prophet. After hearing their reply, Josiah will tell his servants to do no further damage to this one grave site.
1A18
II Kings 23:18 And he said,^H559 “Let him alone;^H5117 let no^H408 man^H376 move^H5128 his bones.”^H6106 So they let his bones alone,^H4422 ^H6106 with^H854 the bones^H6106 of the prophet^H5030 that^H834 came^H935 out of Samaria.^H4480 ^H8111 (watch station; and, watch mountain) (sho-mer-oneי)   —>   Josiah knew better than to disturb the bones of these two men.

Samaria=For a detailed description of Samaria, including the city’s, history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A19
II Kings 23:19 And^(H853) all^H3605 the houses^H1004 also^H1571 of the high places^H1116 that^H834 were in the cities^H5892 of Samaria,^H8111 which^H834 the kings^H4428 of Israel^H3478 had made^H6213 to provoke the LORD to anger,^H3707 Josiah^H2977 took away,^H5493 and did^H6213 to them according to all^H3605 the acts^H4639 that^H834 he had done^H6213 in Beth-el.^H1008   —>   …Houses…=This is not a physical building brethren, it’s talking of the People of Israel, the stragglers who were left behind of the ten northern tribes, and also of those who moved back into the territories of the House of Israel from the House of Judah. And what we’re reading, is, that, Josiah rounded them up and carried them to the altar which Jeroboam had made in Beth-El where he’ll slay them all.
1A20
II Kings 23:20 And he slew^H2076 ^(H853) all^H3605 the priests^H3548 of the high places^H1116 that^H834 were there^H8033 upon^H5921 the altars,^H4106 and burned^H8313 ^(H853) men’s^H120 bones^H6106 upon^H5921 them, and returned^H7725 to Jerusalem.^H3389   —>   Josiah didn’t stop with just the common People; no, he also gathered up and rounded up every one of the false priests—these are not Levitical priests, though, there may be a few of those in with this bunch; but, for the most part they are the kenite nethinims who had taken over the priesthood—and then slew them right there on Jeroboam’s idolatrous altar. Not only did he slay them there; but, once dead, he also burned their dead carcasses on the idolatrous altars.

23:21-23 Josiah’s well-doing.
23:21-23 Passover conducted,
    held and observed.
1A21
II Kings 23:21 And the king^H4428 commanded^H6680 ^(H853) all^H3605 the people,^H5971 saying,^H559 “Keep^H6213 the passover^H6453 unto the LORD^H3068 your God,^H430 as it is written^H3789 in^H5971 the book^H5612 of this^H2088 covenant.”^H1285   —>   Josiah commanded that they all partake of Father’s Passover as Father commanded in Exodus 12:1-20—(Click here). We can read in II Chronicles 35:1-19—(Click Here)—that, Josiah and the People did indeed do just that, they kept the Passover. There is a huge disparity between the writings of how they did this between The Books of the Kings and The Books of the Chronicles—(Click here)—here in The Books of the Kings there are 3 verses dedicated to ℑt; whereas, in The Books of the Chronicles—(Click here)—there are 19 verses dedicated to ℑt. Of course, as we know, The Books of the Chronicles—(Click here)—were written from Father’s perspective; whereas, The Books of the Kings—(Click here)—was written from man’s.

…the book of this covenant=This covenant-book, what we know today as The King James Version Bible, transcribed from the Original Manuscripts. The Authorized version 1611 reads: “This book of the covenant.”.
1A22
II Kings 23:22 Surely^H3588 there was not^H3808 holden^H6213 such^H2088 a passover^H6453 from the days^H4480 ^H3117 of the judges^H8199 that^H834 judged^H8199 ^(H853) Israel,^H3478 nor in all^H3605 the days^H3117 of the kings^H4428 of Israel,^H3478 nor of the kings^H4428 of Judah;^H3063   —>   This statement here can be a little confusing; as, as we read while reading of Josiah’s great-grandfather Hezekiah, Father’s Word declared that he had held the most spiritual Passover, and that there was none such as his since the days of Moses. So, with that in mind, let’s put this into perspective as to what is actually being stated here, and that is, that, no other king in either the House of Israel or the House of Judah, not Hezekiah, and not even David, had ever held a Passover as close to the original, by 𝔗he Law of Passover, as Josiah is holding now. But, what an awesome and true statement for Josiah.

…passover…=How do we conduct and or hold Father’s Passover today brethren? I’ll pull a Huldah here and shoot straight. Sadly, most of our Christian brethren, like young Josiah which we’re reading of here, have not heard Father’s True Word, nay, their kurch houses teach them falsely and teach them that we no longer conduct and hold Passover, they now celebrate “easter.” For those of you who have been taught to celebrate that other spring festival which begins with the letter “e,” and notice I did not capitalize that letter “e,” this is because, it is actually an illegal celebration, and don’t give me the line that, “it is because we celebrate the resurrection,” as, Father never said that we were to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, of course He resurrected, He said He would, and if you didn’t\don’t believe by Faith, then I have to question your faith. Besides, what did Paul tell us of Jesus? If you’re not sure, I recommend you read I Corinthians 5:6-8 which reads: I Corinthians 5:6 Your^G5216 glorying^G2745 is not^G3756 good.^G2570 Know^G1492 ye not^G3756 that^G3754 a little^G3389 leaven^G2219 leaveneth^G2220 the^G3588 whole^G3650 lump?^G5445   —>   Here, Paul is telling those of Corinth that they don’t have anything that they can boast about within themselves. Immediately after telling them this, he then asks them: Don’t you know that even a little leaven or unclean sins amongst you can spread amongst the entire congregation? Paul is using the baking of a loaf of bread here to give us an example of just how sin can spread. When you mix up the dough to make a loaf of bread, and add the yeast to the dough, the yeast then spreads completely throughout the entire loaf, and the lump of dough rises. The entire loaf is contaminated with even a little leaven. When a church has allowed even one of these acts of iniquity and evil to go on in their midst, and they condone the act, every member of that congregation will feel the recourse of the sinful act. Jesus Himself taught us about the leaven in Matthew 13:33—(Click here)—and also again in Matthew 15:1-20, and Matthew 16:1-12. [5:7] Purge out^G1571 therefore^G3767 the^G3588 old^G3820 leaven,^G2219 that^G2443 ye may be^G5600 a new^G3501 lump,^G5445 as^G2531 ye are^G2075 unleavened.^G106 For^G1063 even^G2532 Christ^G5547 our^G2257 passover^(G3957) is sacrificed^G2380 for^G5228 us:^G2257   —>   Again, Paul is telling those of Corinth to put-out all those who still desire to continue to live in their sins, because, if they refuse to change, sooner or later they are going to start to sway some of the others within their ranks to come over to their side of seeing things, and then it’ll continue to spread among all the other members of the congregation. Them once those who desire to not change are removed from the congregation; then, and only then, can Jesus, who is our Passover, come into the congregation and His Spirit can start to mend the hearts and minds of the rest of the people, and also cleanse them from those old thoughts. Passover is the highest day in all Christianity; for, that is the day Jesus became our Passover. It was the time when He died on the cross for the sins of all those who would believe on His name and repent of their sins in His name. Sadly, today, our Christian brethren who call Passover “easter,” do so, after the heathen spring festival of Ishtar, and sadly, they just don’t know the difference between the two, and\or what they are actually celebrating. The only time in all of Father’s Word that the word “easter” is mentioned, is when it was mistranslated in Acts 12:4, where we read: Acts 12:1 Now^G1161 about^G2596 that^G1565 time^G2540 Herod^G2264 the^G3588 king^G935 stretched forth^G1911 his hands^G5495 to vex^G2559 certain^G5100 of^G575 the^G3588 church.^G1577 [12:2] And^G1161 he killed^G337 James^G2385 the^G3588 brother^G80 of John^G2491 with the sword.^G3162 [12:3] And^G2532 because he saw^G1492 it^(G3754) pleased^G2076 ^G701 the^G3588 Jews,^G2453 he proceeded further^G4369 to take^G4815 Peter^G4074 also.^G2532 (Then^G1161 were^G2258 the days^G2250 of unleavened bread.)^G106 [12:4] And^G2532 when he^(G3739) had apprehended^G4084 him, he put^G5087 him in^G1519 prison,^G5438 and delivered^G3860 him to four^G5064 quaternions^G5069 of soldiers^G4757 to keep^G5442 him;^G846 intending^G1014 after^G3326 Easter^G3957 to bring him forth^G321 ^G846 to the^G3588 people.^G2992   —>   First off, who is being discussed here? Herod, the Roman king of Jerusalem at this time—approximately 44A.D.—and he had just killed James, the brother of John the Baptist, and he was about to kill Peter, but stopped because it was time for the spring festival, so instead he threw Peter in jail. Yes, here in verse v12:4 it says the “e” word, but it is a mistranslation. I’ll come back to that in a moment, but first I want to call your attention to something else. Who, does this verse say was “pleased?” Check out that word “Jews” in your Strong’s Concordance, and you’ll find it means, those living in the territory of Judah, not the descendants of the man named Judah, the son of Israel, the patriarch. Now, let’s check out this word “easter” as used here in this verse. In the Strong’s Concordance, we find that the word “easter” is Hebrew word number: G3957, - πάσχα, - pascha, - pronounced: pasי-khah, and means: Of Chaldee origin (compare [H6453]); the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices connected with it): - Easter, Passover. Total KJV occurrences: 29.. Of these 29 total KJV occurrences of Greek word number G3957 in the New Testament, there are 27 verses and 29 matches, and in every other instance, except here in Acts 12:4, it is translated “Passover.” We read from the secular history books, and even in the early dictionaries, that, easter is a heathen term, it is derived from the goddess eastre, the same as astarte, the Syrian Venus, also called ashtoreth in the Old Testament. Ashtoreth is the female sex counterpart of Baal worship, and dates back to the ancient Sumerian religions, and to the wife of Nimrud named Semiremis. There were a pantheon of god’s formed in that ancient Babylon, over 4,000 gods and goddesses; however, there were six of these gods which would carry on down through the ages as being of importance. The goddess known as “nintude” was believed to be Semiremis reincarnated in the form of a goddess, and she became the mother goddess of fertility. She became known by many other names down through the ages, such as “ishtar,” and the “Diana” of the city of Corinth of Paul’s day. It was said of Semiremis that she had a virgin born son, because Nimrud her husband had passed away before he could have fathered the child. That son’s name was “Tammuz” to the Sumerians, Persians, Babylonians, and Egyptians; and it was Tammuz birthday which was celebrated on December 25. It was in the early years of the first Babylonian empire that many of these myths were formed which paralleled the story of creation, the acts of demons and of the virgin birth of Tammuz, later known as Murduk, as well as the record of the flood of Genesis in the 8^th—(Click here)—and 9^th—(Click here)—chapters. So, the reason it is important in trying to understand the why the use of easter, both the term and the celebration, is so wrong in Christians changing the celebrating of Father’s Passover, is because in the term “easter” Christians take their eyes of the Passover and focus in on heathen customs of the ancient Baal worship, such as easter eggs, the bunny symbol of fertility, the bonnets, and all the other things which go along with that heathen worship. The “feast of Ishtar,” or “easter” was a time of religious sex orgies. Christians should be focusing on the great sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God giving his life for the sins of the world and not mixing those heathen customs. This is why it is not just a shame on Christians but outright blasphemy to Jesus Christ when we name His Passover after the most heathen festival in existence in all humanity. So then, what is Passover? The Passover, first and foremost is Father’s—(Click here)—is symbolic of those events of that day in Egypt—Exodus 12—(Click here)—when Father had His death angel pass over the Israelites. On that day back in Egypt, His death angel took the life of the first born in all the land. Father instructed Moses to have the Children to place the blood of an innocent lamb over the door post of their home and roast and eat the rest of the lamb for strength, for on the next day, the Children of Israel would be freed from the bonds of the Pharaoh and leave Egypt. Passover was to be remembered from that day forth because it also was the promise of a Messiah Who would come and free them from their bonds of sin, and their need of animal sacrifices. When Jesus Christ went to the cross on the day of Passover, He was in the tomb for exactly three days, this would be the only sign Jesus would give of His resurrection. This is why we are to remember His Passover, for on that day, Father’s People not only were freed from the bonds of Egypt, but also the bonds of sin which satan had all mankind bound in. It is the symbolical blood of Jesus Christ that each of us must place over the door posts of our minds heart. We do this to show that we believe Jesus is the Son of God, and the promised Messiah was born of the virgin Mary. We believe Jesus was conceived by the Spirit of God, born in a flesh body, and He suffered all the temptations that you or I go through; only He was perfect all His life. He was tried and put to death by the kenite leaders at the hands of the Roman government, as was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. However, just as our forefathers came out of Egypt and their bondage, we can come out of our bondage of sin when we place the blood of Christ over the door post of our hearts. That is what we are doing in our prayers when we say &lquo;IN JESUS NAME,” when we ask forgiveness for our sins. When we pray and ask for forgiveness, we know absolutely that our sins are forgiven in the only place that matters, and that place is at the throne of our Father in heaven. We read in I John 1:6, the following: I John 1:6 If^G1437 we say^G2036 that^G3754 we have^G2192 fellowship^G2842 with^G3326 Him,^G846 and^G2532 walk^G4043 in^G1722 darkness,^G4655 we lie,^G5574 and^G2532 do^G4160 not^G3756 the^G3588 truth:^G225 [1:7] But^G1161 if^G1437 we walk^G4043 in^G1722 the^G3588 light,^G5457 as^G5613 He^G846 is^G2076 in^G1722 the^G3588 light,^G5457 we have^G2192 fellowship^G2842 one with another,^G240 ^G3326 and^G2532 the^G3588 blood^G129 of Jesus^G2424 Christ^G5547 His^G846 Son^G5207 cleanseth^G2511 us^G2248 from^G575 all^G3956 sin.^G266   —>   You are the one who has to place that blood of Christ on the doorpost of your heart, and you do that by confessing your sins in Jesus name. I John 1:8 If^G1437 we say^G2036 that^G3754 we have^G2192 no^G3756 sin,^G266 we deceive^G4105 ourselves,^G1438 and^G2532 the^G3588 truth^G225 is^G2076 not^G3756 in^G1722 us.^G2254   —>   Father’s Word states very clearly that we all have sinned and come short of the standards of perfection which Father has set, and when we tell ourselves that we have not, we are only fooling ourselves. I John 1:9 If^G1437 we confess^G3670 our^G2257 sins,^G266 He is^G2076 faithful^G4103 and^G2532 just^G1342 to^G2443 forgive^G863 us^G2254 our sins,^G266 and^G2532 to cleanse^G2511 us^G2248 from^G575 all^G3956 unrighteousness.^G93 [1:10] If^G1437 we say^G2036 that^G3754 we have not^G3756 sinned,^G264 we make^G4160 Him^G846 a liar,^G5583 and^G2532 His^G848 word^G3056 is^G2076 not^G3756 in^G1722 us.^G2254   —>   We confess our sins to Father “in Jesus name,” and Father takes those sins and blots them out of His record, for the blood of Christ has covered them for all time, and He remembers them no more. You are no longer under the condemnation of your sins which you have repented of, this gives you the free conscience which would bind you to the gilt of sin that would be in your mind, and you must also forgive yourself. This is the freedom which we have as a Christian under the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Then, to remember this time when Jesus went to the cross for the sacrifice for you and I, Jesus gave us a way to continually bring this to our remembrance. There is only one way which we Christians celebrate Passover, and that is in the taking of Communion. The breaking of the bread and the taking of the cup of wine which started with Jesus Christ Himself, when he took it with his disciples after Judas had left to betray Him. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 26: Matthew 26:26 And^G1161 as they^G846 were eating,^G2068 Jesus^G2424 took^G2983 bread,^G740 and^G2532 blessed^G2127 it, and brake^G2806 it, and^G2532 gave^G1325 it to the^G3588 disciples,^G3101 and^G2532 said,^G2036 “Take,^G2983 eat;^G5315 this^G5124 is^G2076 My^G3450 body.”^G4983 [26:27] And^G2532 He took^G2983 the^G3588 cup,^G4221 and^G2532 gave thanks,^G2168 and gave^G1325 it to them,^G846 saying,^G3004 “Drink^G4095 ye all^G3956 of^G1537 it;^G846 [26:28] For^G1063 this^G5124 is^G2076 My^G3450 blood^G129 of^(G3588) the^G3588 new^G2537 testament,^G1242 which is shed^G1632 for^G4012 many^G4183 for^G1519 the remission^G859 of sins.^G266 [26:29] But^G1161 I say^G3004 unto you,^G5213 I will not^G3364 drink^G4095 henceforth^G575 ^G737 of^G1537 this^G5127 fruit^G1081 of the^G3588 vine,^G288 until^G2193 that^G1565 day^G2250 when^G3752 I drink^G4095 it^G846 new^G2537 with^G3326 you^G5216 in^G1722 My^G3450 Father’s^G3962 kingdom.”^G932 —> After the taking of that first communion, Jesus and His disciples departed that upper room and went to the mount of Olives where He was betrayed by Judas, and turned over to the kenite priests and leaders of the temple to be tried and crucified. Was this a tragedy? If it had not taken place, there would be no salvation for us today, there would be no forgiveness of sin, and Father’s Word would not have been true. It is important that we remember the Passover as it ought to be remembered, through the communion, i.e., the breaking of the bread, and partaking of the cup, for in that act, we do remember our Lord and Savior until His coming. Jesus became our Passover,” His body was the bread, and the cup of wine His blood. The Holy Communion is that which we partake of on the highest of all Holy Days of Christianity, Father’ Passover. When you take Christ within your mind and self, and though we all sin and fall short, it helps us to do better, and it helps the congregation to do better also. Even after we are saved, we still have the temptations which we had before. When we yield to those temptations, then we are required to repent and confess those sins to the Father in Jesus name—not to some man—and those sins are then blotted out. It doesn’t mean that you are saved again, for you are only saved once, the first time is the only time, and from that point on you need to repent daily of those things that creep in your life. The loss of your temper, words spoken out of order, the breaking of the health laws—which is a sin to our body, not unto death—or anything else which you have done and goes against Father’s Word must be repented immediately after it is done. This is why we must confess our sins daily to Him as we commit them, for then we can live our lives with a clear conscience. Jesus became the blood sacrifice for our sins, because He alone was without sin, He was perfect in all ways. It is for your sins that He died, and not for anything which He did, and that is why through His death, He fulfilled the requirement of the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament. The sheep and goat sacrifices of the Old Testament never forgave one sin, but it was an act of obedience which Father required to show their love for Him. It became the covering-over for their sin until the true sacrifice Jesus Christ would come which would forgive those sins. If you are going out to do Father’s work, it is important that you get all those hidden sins in your own life cleaned up through your repentance before you try to clean up the sins of others. Remember from The Book of Judges—(Click here)—when our forefathers were going to battle against the men of Gibeah because of the Sodomy and filth which was going on in that city—remember also that brother Benjamin decided the sodomy was OK and sided with the Gibeonites against their brothers. As the leaders of the eleven Tribes had not sought Father, Father allowed the Benjamites to at the first, slaughter thousands of men of the other eleven tribes who were attempting to make the Benjamites repent. However, these other eleven tribes also had many sins of their own which they were trying to cover over; and until they made themselves right before Father, Father turned them over to be slaughtered and did not give them the victory. When repentance came to all the eleven other tribes, then He allowed them to represent Him in battle. This is what Christianity is all about, we all need to repent when we sin and then get on with His Work. [5:8] Therefore^G5620 let us keep the feast,^G1858 not^G3361 with^G1722 old^G3820 leaven,^G2219 neither^G3366 with^G1722 the leaven^G2219 of malice^G2549 and^G2532 wickedness;^G4189 but^G235 with^G1722 the unleavened^G106 bread of sincerity^G1505 and^G2532 truth.^G225   —>   The “feast” is the “Passover,” and Jesus is our Passover, He is the foundation of our faith which we build our Hope upon. Within our Passover, there is no room for the leaven of impurities of the things of the world, not even in the divisions of denominationalism which we see throughout our Country and the world today. Here, Paul is telling the Corinthians to at least be honest and truthful in your worship and lives. You find that truth and honesty in the Passover, which is the body of Christ when we repent of our sins.
1A23
II Kings 23:23 But^H3588 ^H518 in the eighteenth^H8083 ^H6240 year^H8141 of king^H4428 Josiah,^H2977 wherein this^H2088 passover^H6453 was holden^H6213 to the LORD^H3068 in Jerusalem.^H3389   —>   Josiah had been on the throne for 18 years, and during that time he had accomplished many good things in righting Judah and clearing out all the evil wickedness; however, since he had never been taught the True Word of God, or the Law, he didn’t know about having to write his own copy of the Law in order to judge Father’s People by, nor did he know about conducting and holding Father’s Passover. However, now that it has been brought to his attention, he is also putting this into play, and not only is he putting it into play; but, he is conducting the grandest Passover since the days of Moses. Biblical historian Josephus wrote the concerning this Passover: “And when he had thus purged all the country, he called the people to Jerusalem, and there celebrated the feast of unleavened bread, and that called the passover. He also gave the people for paschal sacrifices, young kids of the goats, and lambs, thirty thousand, and three thousand oxen for burnt-offerings. The principal of the priests also gave to the priests against the passover two thousand and six hundred lambs; the principal of the Levites also gave to the Levites five thousand lambs, and five hundred oxen, by which means there was great plenty of sacrifices; and they offered those sacrifices according to the laws of Moses, while every priest explained the matter, and ministered to the multitude. And indeed there had been no other festival thus celebrated by the Hebrews from the times of Samuel the prophet; and the plenty of sacrifices now was the occasion that all things were performed according to the laws, and according to the custom of their forefathers.”.

Josiah is doing his best to draw as many People to Father as he can, because, if you’ll recall, he was promised that he would die in peace; however, calamity will be coming upon the Nation because of all the wickedness which had been performed in her for so many years; and as such, he is doing his darnedest to play intercessor in order to save as many as he can.

23:24 Evil removed.
1A24
II Kings 23:24 Moreover^H1571 ^(H853) the workers with familiar spirits,^H178 and the wizards,^H3049 and the images,^H8655 and the idols,^H1544 and all^H3605 the abominations^H8251 that^H834 were spied^H7200 in the land^H776 of Judah^H3063 and in Jerusalem,^H3389 did Josiah^H2977 put away,^H1197 that^H4616 he might perform^H6965 ^(H853) the words^H1697 of the law^H8451 which were written^H3789 in^H5921 the book^H5612 that^H834 Hilkiah^H2518 the priest^H3548 found^H4672 in the house^H1004 of the LORD.^H3068   —>   The first step in turning the People’s hearts back to Father, is getting rid of any and everything which can lead you right back to doing what you had been doing. Think of it this way, for many cigarette smokers who decide they no longer want to smoke, the first thing they’ll do is throw out all their cigarettes; or, for the drunk who now desires to be sober, the first thing he does is get rid of all the booze in his house. So, once everything was removed it was time to focus their attention on Father and the things of Him; that begins by teaching the People Father’s Word, or 𝔗he Law.

…that he might perform…=Josiah wasn’t just a reader or hearer of Father’s Word; no, he was also a doer of Father’s Word, and he wanted his people to be the same, with zeal even. You know brethren, there is a huge difference between being a hearer of the Word and a doer of the Word, as June and I drive to Lexington every Sunday to hold the Family Bible Study, we get passed by many fellow Christians who are headed off to their church, notice I said that “we get passed?” That means, that, as I’m driving the Speed Limit, I’m being passed—i.e., by a Christian who is breaking the Law—by a Christian who is headed to their church house, and they usually have their ichthus or their “In God We Trust” License Plates proudly displayed for all to see; so brethren, I’m telling you to think about your actions, be doers, not just hearers, and show others who see you that you are indeed a doer.

…familiar spirits…=Dr. Bullinger notes concerning familiar spirits in his Companion Bible the following: “in Leviticus 19:31 These are evil spirits impersonating dead human beings, and attaching themselves only to “mediums” and those who give up their will to them. A dread reality is provided against by these enactments, compare Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; I Chronicles 10:13-14; and Isaiah 8:19. The Hebrew “יôb” is borrowed from the Akkadian word ubi=a charm, used of one who has a mistress of the spell, or spirit, Isaiah 29:4. See Acts 16:16 where it is defined as “a spirit of python” (=pythius Apollo), i.e., the devil.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find that the word familiar spirits is Hebrew word number: H178, - אוֹבi, - יôb, - pronounced: obe, and means: From the same as H1 (apparently through the idea of prattling a father’s name); properly a mumble, that is, a water skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar): - bottle, familiar spirit. Total KJV occurrences: 17.. † Now from the Easton’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Sorcerers or necormancers, who professed to call up the dead to answer questions, were said to have a “familiar spirit” (Deuteronomy 18:11; II Kings 21:6; II Chronicles 33:6; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; Isaiah 8:19; 29:4). Such a person was called by the Hebrews an יôb, Which properly means a leathern bottle; for sorcerers were regarded as vessels containing the inspiring demon. This Hebrew word was equivalent to the pytho of the Greeks, and was used to denote both the person and the spirit which possessed him (Leviticus 20:27; I Samuel 28:8; Compare Acts 16:16). The word “familiar” is from the Latin familiaris, meaning a “household servant,” and was intended to express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands.”.

wizzards=Dr. Bullinger notes concerning wizards in Leviticus 19:31 the following: “knowing ones: those having occult knowledge.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find that the word wizards is Hebrew word number: H3049, - יִדְּעֹנִי, - yidde‛ônı̂y, - pronounced: yid-deh-o-neeי, and means: From H3045; properly a knowing one; specifically a conjurer; (by implication) a ghost: - wizard. Total KJV occurrences: 11.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “see: Divination; or Magic.” † Now from Dr. Easton’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “A pretender to supernatural knowledge and power, “a knowing one,” as the original Hebrew word signifies. Such an one was forbidden on pain of death to practise his deceptions (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6,27; I Samuel 28:3; Isaiah 8:19; 19:3).”.

23:25 Event. Personal
    well-doing.
1A25
II Kings 23:25 And like unto him^H3644 was^H1961 there no^H3808 king^H4428 before^H6440 him, that^H834 turned^H7725 to^H413 the LORD^H3068 with all^H3068 his heart,^H3824 and with all^H3605 his soul,^H5315 and with all^H3605 his might,^H3966 according to all^H3605 the law^H8451 of Moses;^H4872 (Drawing out [of the water], that is, rescued; and, “drawn,” i.e., from the water) (mo-shehי) neither^H3808 after^H310 him arose^H6965 there any like him.^H3644   —>   This is quite the statement concerning Josiah, think about all which has been said in this verse: there was no king like him before he took the throne, nor none after him, who turned to Father with all his heart, who was a reader, a hearer, and a doer of 𝔗he Law, he followed 𝔗he Law to the letter of the law. Now, think of some of the kings before him, some of his great grand-fathers: David, Solomon, Asa, Hezekiah, each in his own right was a great king who Loved Father and did righteously, and here is Josiah who is now said to have been better than all of them; yeah, that’s quite a powerful statement indeed.

Moses=For a detailed description of Moses, including his birth, history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

23:26 Manasseh’s.
    Provocation.
1A26
II Kings 23:26 Notwithstanding^H389 the LORD^H3068 turned^H7725 not^H3808 from the fierceness^H4480 ^H2740 of His great^H1419 wrath,^H639 wherewith^H834 His anger^H639 was kindled^H2734 against Judah,^H3063 because^H5921 of all^H3605 the provocations^H3708 that^H834 Manasseh^H4519 (causing to forget; and, forgetting) (men-ash-shehי) had provoked^H3707 Him withal.   —>   When Manasseh’s righteous father Hezekiah had Returned Home to Father and Manasseh had destroyed all the righteous things in Judah, many of the people were all too happy to return to the ways of evilness which Hezekiah’s father and many of the kings before him had instituted; now though, Josiah has put his foot down because Father has told him what He plans to do to Judah because of the vile happenings in Judah; and even though he is turning the People back to Father, Father knows their hearts, and knows that as soon as Josiah returns Home to Him, they’ll go right back to their old ways of idolatry. Therefore, Father’s wrath won’t be quenched.

Manasseh=For a detailed description of Manasseh, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

23:27 Manasseh’s.
    Provocation.
1A27
II Kings 23:27 And the LORD^H3068 said,^H559 “I will remove^H5493 ^(H853) Judah^H3063 also^H1571 out of^H4480 ^H5921 My sight,^H6440 as^H834 I have removed^H5493 ^(H853) Israel,^H3478 and will cast off^H3988 ^(H853) this^H2063 city^H5892 ^(H853) Jerusalem^H3389 which^H834 I have chosen,^H977 and the house^H1004 of which^H834 I said,^H559 ‘My Name^H8034 shall be^H1961 there.’M”^H8033   —>   What did Father say His Way was? To do the same as He had done to Judah’s Brother Nation, the House of Israel; yes, He is going to send them into captivity, though it will not be to the Assyrians; it’ll be to the Babylonians.

Even though He is going to send them into captivity, we can read in Jeremiah 25 that it will only be for seventy years, and then, like as when He sent their and our forefathers into captivity to the Egyptians for those 400 years, it is only for a set number of years, and at the end of that time, He will allow them to return to their land, His Land where He put His name, His most favorite place in All His Created Universe. This is just as it will be at the end of this Age brethren, satan will come to Jerusalem in his role of the pretend-to-be jesus—see II Thessalonians 2—(Click here)—he’ll try to desecrate it and make it an abomination to Father so that Father won’t want it, not His People; but, he’ll not succeed, Father will still reclaim His Land and His People.

23:28-30 Josiah. Conclusion.
1A28
II Kings 23:28 Now the rest^H3499 of the acts^H1697 of Josiah,^H2977 and all^H3605 that^H834 he did,^H6213 are they^H1992 not^H3808 written^H3789 in^H5921 the book^H5612 of the chronicles^H1697 ^H3117 of the kings^H4428 of Judah?^H3063   —>   Yes, they are indeed written in II Chronicles 34:1—(Click here)—through II Chronicles 35:27—(Click here). Josiah was an extremely devout and pious king who put forth a valiant effort to save as many souls as he could before he returned Home to Father; and for both: his sincere reverence for Father, and his righteous efforts, Father Blessed him richly. Now though, it’s time for him to return Home to Father, and we’ll read of his death in the next verse.

23:29 Josiah’ death
    in battle.
1A29
II Kings 23:29 In his days^H3117 Pharaoh-nechoh^H6549 (lame; and, lame) (par-oי nek-oי) king^H4428 of Egypt^H4714 (land of the copts; and, land of the copts) (mits-rahי-yim) went up^H5927 against^H5921 the king^H4428 of Assyria^H804 ([in the sense of successful]; and, a step) (Ash-shoorי) to^H5921 the river^H5104 Euphrates:^H6578 (to break forth; rushing; and, the good and abounding river (per-awthי) and king^H4428 Josiah^H2977 went^H1980 against^H7122 him; and he slew^H4191 him at Megiddo.^H4023 (rendezvous; and, place of crowns) (meg-id-doי) when he had seen^H7200 him.   —>   Dr. Bullinger states in his Companion Bible the following: “Nechoh II, the sixth king of the twenty-sixth dynasty. His father was a tributary to Assyria; but, had secured independence for Egypt.”. II Chronicles 35:20-23—(Click here)—gives a pretty good accounting of what happened here; so, let’s read it: II Chronicles 35:20 After^H310 all^H3605 this,^H2063 when^H834 Josiah^H2977 had prepared^H3559 ^(H853) the temple,^H1004 Necho^H5224 king^H4428 of Egypt^H4714 came up^H5927 to fight^H3898 against Carchemish^H3751 by^H5921 Euphrates:^H6578 and Josiah^H2977 went out^H3318 against^H7125 him.   —>   Let’s put this into a little better perspective as to what had actually taken place brethren. Necho, or also called Pharaoh-Necho, was actually going to the capital city of Assyria, Nineveh. Why was he going there? Because, when Nebuchadrezzar and his Babylon army had defeated the Assyrians, Necho figured he could best the Babylonians and then share their spoils of war. In order to get to Nineveh, Necho had to cross Judean territory, however, Josiah was not about to allow that to happen. So, Josiah mustered-up his troops to go out to meet Necho’s army as they were trying to come into his territory. [35:21] But he sent^H7971 ambassadors^H4397 to^H413 him, saying,^H559 “What^H4100 have I to do with thee, thou king^H4428 of Judah?^H3063 I come not^H3808 against^H5921 thee^H859 this day,^H3117 but^H3588 against^H413 the house^H1004 wherewith I have war:^H4421 for God^H430 commanded^H559 me to make haste:^H926 forbear^H2308 thee from meddling with God,^H4480 ^H430 Who^H834 is with^H5973 me, that He destroy^H&843 thee not.”^H408   —>   Necho, seeing Josiah and his army mustering on their border, sent a messenger to Josiah, telling him he had no issue with Josiah and Judah, he was on a mission from Father ELOHIM, and therefore, he just wanted to pass through Josiah’s territory in order to get to Assyria. Necho warns him, should you, Josiah, decide to interfere with the mission I’m embarking on, you would actually be interfering with ELOHIM’S plans for me and it’ll be to your own demise, therefore, it’ll be better for you to just sit this out and allow me to pass through. [35:22] Nevertheless Josiah^H2977 would not^H3808 turn^H5437 his face^H6440 from^H4480 him, but^H3588 disguised himself,^H2664 that he might fight^H3898 with him, and hearkened^H8085 not^H3808 unto^H413 the words^H1697 of Necho^H5224 from the mouth^H4480 ^H6310 of God,^H430 and came^H935 to fight^H3898 in the valley^H1237 of Megiddo.^H4023   —>   …disguised himself…=Much as Ahab had convinced Jehoshaphat to go to war with him against Ben-hadad the king of Syria, and Ahab figuring the Syrians would kill the king when they saw him; so Ahab told Jehoshaphat he would disguise himself while Jehoshaphat should put on his royal robes, it was still to Ahab’s demise; as, one of the Syrian soldiers innocently let loose an arrow which, guided by Father, found its mark and struck Ahab, mortally wounding him. Here, Josiah, for some unknown reason, disguises himself, and, he goes out onto the battlefield. Why? There was no need for him to go out onto the battlefield; as, this young man, yes he is now 39 years of age; but, have we read of him having to engage any other nation in battle in his lifetime? No. Have we read of him having any great conquests over any other king? Again, No. So, here he is, an untested, unbattle-hardened warrior, with no reason for him to be on the battlefield. Now, Father’s Word does not say as to whether Necho gave any orders to his soldiers to not kill the king of Judah; but, even if he had, foolishly, Josiah disguised himself, therefore, none of the Egyptians would have known they were slaying the king anyway. [35:23] And the archers^H3384 shot^H3384 at king^H4428 Josiah;^H2977 and the king^H4428 said^H559 to his servants,^H5650 “Have me away;^H5674 for^H3588 I am sore wounded.”^H2470 ^H3966   —>   Remember brethren, Josiah had disguised himself, so the archer who launched his arrow had no idea he was shooting at king Josiah; but, in any case the arrow had found its mark, mortally wounding Josiah, and he told his servants to remove him from the battlefield.

Biblical historian Josephus also gives a good accounting of what transpired in all this, and I’ll include his writing here as well: “NOW Neco, king of Egypt, raised an army, and marched to the river Euphrates, in order to fight with the Medes and Babylonians, who had overthrown the dominion of the Assyrians, for he had a desire to reign over Asia. Now when he was come to the city Mendes, which belonged to the kingdom of Josiah, he brought an army to hinder him from passing through his own country, in his expedition against the Medes. Now Neco sent a herald to Josiah, and told him that he did not make this expedition against him, but was making haste to Euphrates; and desired that he would not provoke him to fight against him, because he obstructed his march to the place whither he had resolved to go. But Josiah did not admit of this advice of Neco, but put himself into a posture to hinder him from his intended march. I suppose it was fate that pushed him on this conduct, that it might take an occasion against him; for as he was setting his army in array, and rode about in his chariot, from one wing of his army to another, one of the Egyptians shot an arrow at him, and put an end to his eagerness of fighting; for being sorely wounded, he command a retreat to be sounded for his army, and returned to Jerusalem, and died of that wound; and was magnificently buried in the sepulcher of his fathers, when he had lived thirty-nine years, and of them had reigned thirty-one.”.

…the king of Assyria…=i.e., the king of Babylon, who had just conquered Nineveh the rival capital.

Pharaoh-Nechoh=For a detailed description of Necho, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Egypt=For a detailed description of Egypt, including the nations history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Assyria=For a detailed description of Assyria, including the town’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Euphrates=For a detailed description of the River Euphrates, including it’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

Megiddo=For a detailed description of Megiddo, including the town’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

23:30 Josiah’s death.
1A30
II Kings 23:30 And his servants^H5650 carried^H7392 him in a chariot dead^H4191 from Megiddo,^H4480 ^H4023 and brought^H935 him to Jerusalem,^H3389 and buried^H6912 him in his own sepulchre.^H6900 And the people^H5971 of the land^H776 took ^H3947 ^(H853) Jehoahaz^H3059 (YHVH-seized; or, whom YHVH sustains) (yeh-ho-aw-khawzי) the son^H1121 of Josiah,^H2977 and anointed^H4886 him, and made him king^H4427 ^(H853) in his father’s stead.^H8478 ^H1   —>   When Josiah had disguised himself, he had even changed chariots in order that the Egyptians not recognize that he was the king, even that had not helped him. Anyway, they put him in his kingly chariot, and took him back to Jerusalem where he died. After properly preparing his body, they buried him with the other good kings, an then all the People of Judah mourned the death of the righteous king, the Nations last good king.

Josiah died at the young age of 39 years. Did he have to die at that young of an age? Father knows. Had he not disguised himself and gotten into that chariot and onto the battlefield, again, we’ll never know. What we do know is that Father said he would not see the fall of his Nation. Let’s turn to II Chronicles 34:26-28—(Click here)—and read the words of Father through His Prophetess Huldah: II Chronicles 34:26 And as for^H413 the king^H4428 of Judah,^H3063 who sent^H7971 you to enquire^H1875 of the LORD,^H3068 so^H3541 shall ye say^H559 unto^H413 him, ‘Thus^H3541 saith^H559 the LORD^H3068 God^H430 of Israel^H3478 concerning the words^H1697 which^H834 thou hast heard;^H8085 [34:27] ‘Because^H3282 thine heart^H3824 was tender,^H7401 and thou didst humble thyself^H3665 before^H4480 ^H6440 God,^H430 when thou heardest^H8085 ^(H853) his words^H1697 against^H5921 this^H2088 place,^H4725 and against^H5921 the inhabitants^H3427 thereof, and humbledst thyself^H3665 before^H6440 Me, and didst rend^H7167 ^(H853) thy clothes,^H899 and weep^H1058 before^H6440 Me; ℑ^H589 have even heard^H8085 thee also,^H1571 saith^H5002 the LORD.^H3068 [34:28] “Behold,^H2009 I will gather^H622 thee to^H413 thy fathers,^H1 and thou shalt be gathered^H622 to^H413 thy grave^H6913 in peace,^H7965 neither^H3808 shall thine eyes^H5869 see^H7200 all^H3605 the evil^H7451 that^H834 ℑ^H589 will bring^H935 upon^H5921 this^H2088 place,^H4725 and upon^H5921 the inhabitants^H3427 of the same. So they brought^H7725 ^(H853) the king^H4428 word^H1697 again.”i’i’   —>   Father kept His Promise to Josiah, he did not see the fall of his People, and he did not see the calamity which Father will bring upon the Nation in another 23 years. Josiah accomplished many good things in Judah, he cleaned the Nation of all the idolatrous idols and false gods, he got rid of the images and high places, he led his People back to Father and they Honored, Loved, Served and Worshipped Him all the days of Josiah. But, thus ends the reign and rule of the man whom Father Prophesied of his birth some three hundred and sixty plus years before his birth.

We read in II Chronicles 35:24-25—(Click here)—that the people mourned greatly for their beloved king; and then, after burying Josiah with full honors in the burial place with all the righteous kings of Judah, they then made his son Jehoahaz king over the Nation. Josiah was the last righteous king of the Nation of the House of Judah. It’s all downhill from here and it’ll only be roughly 23 years until Judah is taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.

It’s funny; as, in making Jehoahaz king, the people by-passed Josiah’s eldest son, whose name was Eliakim, to do so. I like what Josephus wrote concerning the mourning of the people for Josiah, and will include it here: “But all the people mourned greatly for him, lamenting and grieving on his account many days; and Jeremiah the prophet composed an elegy to lament him, which is extant till tills time also. Moreover, this prophet denounced beforehand the sad calamities that were coming upon the city. He also left behind him in writing a description of that destruction of our nation which has lately happened in our days, and the taking of Babylon; nor was he the only prophet who delivered such predictions beforehand to the multitude, but so did Ezekiel also, who was the first person that wrote, and left behind him in writing two books concerning these events. Now these two prophets were priests by birth, but of them Jeremiah dwelt in Jerusalem, from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, until the city and temple were utterly destroyed. However, as to what befell this prophet, we will relate it in its proper place.”.
Jehoahaz
Jehoahaz=Jehoahaz, also called Shallum—I Chronicles 3:15—(Click here), and Jeremiah 22:11—was the youngest son of king Josiah and his wife Hamutal—Josiah actually had four sons, two—Jehoahaz and Zedekiah—with Hamutal, one—Jehoiakim—with Zebudah, and one—Jehoiachin—with Nehushta. Jehoahaz became king at the age of twenty-three years old in the year 500B.C., and was the sixteenth king of the House of Judah. The People of Judah had taken him and set him as king over them when his father Josiah returned Home to Father, he reigned a whopping 3 months; but, even in that short span of time, he only did evil in Father’s eyes. Pharaoh-Necho the king of Egypt came in and captured him in Riblah, bound him in chains, and then carried him off to Egypt where he died and returned Home to Father. † For the etymology of the name Jehoahaz, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Jehoahaz consists of two elements. The first part of our name is יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH, or YAHVEH. The second part of Jehoahaz comes from the verb אחז (ahaz, meaning to take hold of, seize or grasp: For a meaning of the name Jehoahaz, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Yahveh Has Taken Hold Of. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Whom The Lord Holds Fast, and Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary suggests Yah Hath Grasped.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that the name Jehoahaz is Hebrew word number: H3059, - יְהוֹאָחָז, - y^ehô'âchâz, pronounced - yeh-ho-aw-khawzי, and means: From H3068 and H270; YHVH seized; Jehoachaz, the name of three Israelites: - Jehoahaz. Compare H3099. Total KJV occurrences: 23.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Whom YHVH sustains. Jehoahaz, otherwise called Shallum, son of Josiah, whom he succeeded as king of Judah. He was chosen by the people, in preference to his elder brother, compare II Kings 23:31 and II Kings 23:36, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. Pharaoh-necho sent to Jerusalem to depose him, and to fetch him to Riblah. There he was cast into chains, and from thence, he was taken into Egypt, where he died.”.

23:31-35 Jehoahaz.
23:31-35 JEHOAHAZ.
    (Division.)
23:31 Appointment
    by the People. (v 30.)
1A31
II Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz^H3059 was twenty^H6242 and three^H7969 years^H8141 old^H1121 when he began to reign;^H4427 and he reigned^H4427 three^H7969 months^H@030 in Jerusalem.^H3389 And his mother’s^H8517 name^H8034 was Hamutal,^H2537 (father in law of dew; and, akin to the dew) (kham-oo-talי) the daughter^H1323 of Jeremiah^H3414 (YAH will rise; and, whom YAH has appointed) (yir-meh-yawי-hoo) of Libnah.^H4480 ^H3841 (some sort of whitish tree; and, whitness) (lib-nawי) —> In their by-passing Josiah’s other three sons in favor of Jehoahah, it really didn’t do them any good; as, as we read here, Jehoahaz only reigned for three months; because, as we’ll read in another few verses, while pharaoh-nechoh the king of Egypt was returning from engaging and defeating the Assyrians in war, he took Jehoahaz—who was acting very much as his great-grand father Manasseh had, and again turned the people’s hearts after other false gods and idols—into custody, chaining him and carrying him back to Egypt with him, where he ended up dying. Pharaoh-nechoh set Jehoahaz’s older brother Jehoiakim as king over the Nation, and then instituted a tribute on Judah of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
Hamutal
Hamutal=Hamutal was the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah and the wife of Josiah, king of the Nation of the House of Judah—531-500B.C.—and the mother of Zedekiah and Jehoahaz. She is only mentioned three times in Father’s Word—II Kings 23:31—(Click here), II Kings 24:18—(Click here) and Jeremiah 52:1—and all three times, only as being Zedekiah and Jehoahaz’s mother. We know nothing of the woman, we don’t know what Tribe she was from, nor how long she lived. † For the etymology of the name Hamutal, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Hamutal consists of two elements, the latter one being the noun טל (tal), meaning dew: The first part of the name Hamutal may be the word חם (ham), meaning either hot or father-in-law: The first part of the name Hamutal may be the adjective חם (ham) meaning hot. But that would give this name a meaning of Hot Dew, and that’s most likely incorrect. More likely is a kinship with the identical word חם (ham) meaning father-in-law. The whole name thus means My Father-In-Law Is The Dew. Whatever poetic or other image the Hebrews had with this name is unclear, but that there must have been something is strongly argued by the existence of the similar name Abital, meaning My Father Is The Dew. For a meaning of the name Hamutal, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads a timid (and ultimately incorrect) Kinsman Of Dew. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads an evenly deviated Akin To The Dew. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary states “meaning dubious, perhaps, if Kethib is right, My Husband’s Father Is The Dew,” and the Kethib is a collection of difficult or improbable spellings in the Hebrew Scriptures. The companion called Qere offers possible substitutes.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that the name Hamutal is Hebrew word number: H2537, - חֲמוּטַלi, or חֲמִיטַל, - chămûṭali, or chămı̂yṭal, - pronounced: kham-oo-talיi, or kham-ee-talי, and means: From H2524 and H2919; father in law of dew; Chamutal or Chamital, an Israelitess: - Hamutal. Total KJV occurrences: 3.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Akin to the dew. Daughter of Jeremiah, of Libnah; one of the wives of King Josiah, II Kings 23:31; II Kings 24:18; Jeremiah 52:1.”.
Jeremiah
Jeremiah=Father’s Word does not say who Jeremiah’s father was; ℑt only tells us that he was the father of Hamutal, Josiah’s wife, grand-father of Zedekiah and Jehoahaz, and that he resided in Libnah, one of the sanctuary cities, thus making him a Levite and most likely a Priest. He is mentioned only three times in Father’s Word and other than what I mentioned above, we know nothing else of the man: we don’t know when he was born, nor how long he lived. † For the etymology of the name Jeremiah, we read the following in Abarim Publications, “The name Jeremiah consists of two parts, the final one being יה, the abbreviated form of יהוה, the Name of God (see YHVH). It’s not exactly clear where the first part of the name Jeremiah may derive of, although Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary and New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List agree it’s from the verb רמה (rama): NOBSE Study Bible Name List favors relations with rama and reads Yahveh Throws, and since this may be a bit odd, continuous to explain that it may be in the sense of laying a foundation, and translates the name Jeremiah with Yahveh Establishes, Appoints or Sends. This seems, however, a bit too creative. This root group is never used to indicate the fixing of something, but always quite the opposite. Reading the name Jeremiah this way may seem to make him a Human Arrow On God’s Bow, but in fact it will mean He’ll Be Dumped By The Lord. BDB Theological Dictionary tries to solve this problem by first of all go with an assumed secondary root that only means to loosen, and then referring to an Assyrian name or phrase meaning “whose womb is loosened”. That way, proclaims BDB, the name Jeremiah may mean Yah Looseneth, and thus conveying the gladness of parents for conceiving (compare Genesis 29:31). Still, in Hebrew this verb is never used in relation to giving birth. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names abandons this troublesome root-group altogether but also seeks refuge in a word that has no Biblical precedent: the unused root ירם (yaram), to be elevated. Jones reports that this root has to do with the familiar Hebrew verb רום (rum), to be high, lofty: Hence Jones reads Elevated Of The Lord. However, the derivation רמה (rama) means height, high place. Using that particular word would render the name Jeremiah as My High Place Is The Lord.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H3414, - יִרְמְיָהi, or יִרְמְיָהוּ, - yirmeyâh, or yirmeyâhû, - pronounced: yir-meh-yawיi, or yir-meh-yawי-hoo, and means: From H7311 and H3050; YAH will rise, Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites: - Jeremiah. Total KJV occurrences: 147.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Jeremiah of Libnah, father of Hamutal, wife of Josiah, II Kings 23:31.”.

Libnah=For a detailed description of Libnah, including the town’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.

23:32 Personal character.
1A32
II Kings 23:32 And he did^H6213 that which was evil^H7451 in the sight^H5869 of the LORD,^H3068 according to all^H3605 that^H834 his fathers^H1 had done.^H6213   —>   Jehoahaz’s father Josiah had set a good example for his sons, he cleansed the Temple, brought back the reading of Father’s Word, and he even went so far as re-instituting the Passover, and not only re-instituting it; but, conducting and holding one of the grandest Passovers of all time in the Nation of the House of Jacob’s history. Now, though, here we read that his son Jehoahaz was an unrighteous king and followed in the footsteps of—by doing exactly like—his grand-father Amon, his great grand-father Manasseh, and many other of his evil grand-fathers before him.

Who knows what caused Jehoahaz to go back to the ways of his grand-fathers; for, it happens in every generation when the son of a good man turns out to be evil. For whatever the reason, Jehoahaz sought to do unrighteousness in all that he did; and as we know from reading of the history of our forefathers and seeing over and over again, as the king goes, so goes the Nation.

23:33-35 Appointment by
    Pharaoh-Nechoh
1A33
II Kings 23:33 And Pharaoh-nechoh^H6549 put him in bands^H631 at Riblah^H7247 (to be fruitful, fertile; and, fertility) (rib-lawי) in the land^H776 of Hamath,^H2574 (walled; and, fortress) (kham-awthי) that he might not reign^H4480 ^H4427 in Jerusalem;^H3389 and put^H5414 ^H5921 the land^H776 to a tribute^H6066 of an hundred^H3967 talents^H3603 of silver,^H3701 and a talent^H3603 of gold.^H2091   —>   So, as pharaoh-nechoh was returning to Egypt from defeating the Assyrians, he stopped in Hamath—eyes and ears open brethren; as, we know who the inhabitants of Hamath are, i.e., satan’s children: the kenites—anyway, while Nechoh is there, he sends a message to Jerusalem for Jehoahaz to come to Hamath, once there, he put him in chains and will take him back to Egypt with him.

It’s sad really; as, as the people of Judah are rapidly finding out, Nechoh has complete dominion over them and their lives. When Josiah was killed on the battlefield, the people of Judah made his son Jehoahaz the younger brother of Eliakim king over them; however, as they’re now seeing, Nechoh didn’t agree with their decision, and said in essence, “not so fast;” as, he is exerting his authority and will place his puppet Eliakim as ruler—read that, his vassal—over them.

…an hundred talents of silver…a talent of gold=Remember brethren, one talent in Father’s Word usually equates to approximately 110 pounds. So, Necho is exacting 11,000 pounds of silver and 110 pounds of gold from Eliakim. Let’s put this in perspective: 11,000 pounds is 176,000 ounces, and the price of silver at today’s market, comes to approximately 4,496,800 US dollars. For the talent of gold, 110 pounds is 1,760 ounces, which at today’s market comes to approximately 3,995,024 US dollars; a substantive sum of monies.
Riblah
Riblah=Riblah was in the land of Hamath, and the first occurrence of it in Father’s Word—II Kings 23:33—(Click here)—is not until near the end of the House of Judah as a Nation. We read that when Pharaoh-necho was returning from Assyria and Carchemish, where he suffered a defeat at the hands of Nebuchadrezzar, he summoned Jehoahaz to Riblah, where he put Jehoahaz in bands, made his brother Eliakim king over the House of Judah, and carried Jehoahaz back to Egypt where he slew him. The next we read of Riblah is after Nebuchadnezzar had besieged, and then captured Jerusalem and Judah during the reign and rule of Zedekiah. It was then that the Chaldees came and captured Zedekiah and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah, Nebuchadnezzar then slew Zedekiah’s son and then put out the eyes of Zedekiah and then took him to Babylon. After this Nebuzar-adan, Nebuchadnezzar’s captain of his guard the chief priest, the second priest, three keepers of the door, an officer who was set over the men of war, and five men who were in the kings’s presence, the principle scribe of the host, and three-score people and brought them to Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah where Nebuchadnezzar slew them all. † Abarim Publications does not provide an etymology for the name Riblah, and as such, neither can I. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that the name Hamutal is Hebrew word number: H7247, - רִבְלָה, - riblâhi, - pronounced: rib-lawי, and means: From an unused root meaning to be fruitful; fertile; Riblah, a place in Syria. Total KJV occurrences: 11.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Fertility. Riblah, in the land of Hamath, a place on the great road between Palestine and Babylonia, at which the kings of Babylonia were accustomed to remain, while directing the operations of their armies in Palestine and Phoenicia. Here, Nebuchadnezzer waited, while the sieges of Jerusalem and of Tyre were being conducted by his lieutenants, Jeremiah 39:5-6; Jeremiah 62:9-10; Jeremiah 62:26-27; II Kings 25:6; II Kings 25:20-21. In like manner, Pharaoh-necho, after his victory over the Babylonians at Carchemish, returned to Riblah and summoned Jehoahaz from Jerusalem before him, II Kings 23:33. This Riblah still retains its ancient name, on the right (east) bank of the l-Asy (Orontes) upon the great road which connects Baalbek and Hums, about 36 miles northeast of the former, and 20 miles southwest of the latter place.”.
Hamath
Hamath=Whether it’s spelled “Hamath,” or “Hemath,” it is still one-and-the-same; the home of the offspring of Cain, otherwise known as “the kenites—to read my Study of the kenites (Click here).” Therefore, our hackles should be starting to rise as a warning indicator that something is amiss. See, this is the way the kenites work, and we can see evidence of them at work in many places in Father’s Word: most notable in I Chronicles 2:55—(Click here)—where we read: I Chronicles 2:55 And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.; we can also read of them in the Book of Ezra and The Book of Nehemiah where they had taken over the priesthood—though, there they were called the “nethinim(s)”—as our forefathers were coming out of captivity to the Babylonians to re-establish and rebuild Jerusalem. We can read in Jeremiah 35—(Click here)—where Father tells His Prophet Jeremiah to bring them into His House—His Temple—then offer them wine—the symbolical blood of our Lord Jesus—to drink, of course, being satan’s children, they refused, saying: Jeremiah 35:6 But they said,^H559 “We will drink^H8354 no^H3808 wine:^H3196 for^H3588 Jonadab^H3122 the son^H1121 of Rechab^H7394 our father^H1 commanded^H6680 ^H5921 us, saying,^H559 ‘Ye shall drink^H8354 no^H3808 wine,^H3196 neither ye,^H859 nor your sons^H1121 for ever:^H5704 ^H5769   —>   Their father—and I know it says “Jonadab,” but think deep on this,—their father—lower case “f”—said drink no wine forever, in other words, never let wine pass your lips, again, in other words do not ever partake of Christ’s Life-giving Blood!!! Remember also, this is Our Father showing this to us for this very reason. [35:7] Neither^H3808 shall ye build^H1129 house,^H1004 nor^H3808 sow^H2232 seed,^H2233 nor^H3808 plant^H5193 vineyard,^H3754 nor^H3808 have^H1961 any: but^H3808 all^H3605 your days^H3117 ye shall dwell^H3724 in tents;^H168 that^H4616 ye may live^H2421 many^H7227 days^H3117 in^H5921 ^H6440 the land^H127 where^H834 ^H8033 ye^H859 be strangers.’^H1481   —>   Is the picture starting to come into focus yet brethren? Remember what Father told Cain when He drove him out of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 4:12—(Click here)?! Genesis 4:12 When^H3588 thou tillest^H5647 ^(H853) the ground,^H127 it shall not^H3808 henceforth^H3254 yield^H5414 unto thee her strength;^H3581 a fugitive^H5128 and a vagabond^H5110 shalt thou be^H1961 in the earth.”^H776   —>   So, we can see, even to the time of Jeremiah, they still don’t\couldn’t sow seed because the earth won’t yield her strength; or build houses, so that they can live hidden while living among other people. To this day, they still live as such, most who live in Jerusalem today are such, “non-Israelites—but claiming to be of Judah” and the world doesn’t even know it. Cain and his offspring—these kenites—are not part of Adam’s genealogy of Genesis 5—(Click here)—and that’s because, Cain, though born of Eve, was NOT of Adam. He was the “fruit of the labor” of the sexual union between satan—(Click here), the tree of knowledge of good and evil—in his role(s) of deceiver and serpent—and Eve in the Garden. But our Father, ELOHIM, has a plan for these kenites, and this is why He is allowing all this. Remember, there is a “test on Father’s Word” coming and sadly most will fail. How many people know and understand this basic but key portion of Father’s Word and\or that there is a test coming, yet here is Father showing us all this. But, if you don’t read Verse–by–Verse, Chapter–by–Chapter, and Book–by–Book you’ll never come to a full understanding of His Word. This is also part of the “Key of David” from Revelation 3:6-10 and 2:7-11, and why that is so very important. Let’s turn there for a second: Revelation 2:7 He that hath^G2192 an ear,^G3775 let him hear^G191 what^G5101 the^G3588 Spirit^G4151 saith^G3004 unto the^G3588 churches;^G1577 To him^G846 that overcometh^G3528 will I give^G1325 to eat^G5315 of^G1537 the^G3588 tree^G3586 of life,^G2222 which^G3739 is^G2076 in^G1722 the midst^G3319 of the^G3588 paradise^G3857 of God.^G2316 [2:8] And^G2532 unto the^G3588 angel^G32 of the^G3588 church^G1577 in Smyrna^G4668 write;^G1125 ‘These things^G3592 saith^G3004 the^G3588 First^G4413 and^G2532 the^G3588 Last,^G2078 Which^G3739 was^G1096 dead,^G3498 and^G2532 is alive;^G2198 [2:9] I know^G1492 thy^G4675 works,^G2041 and^G2532 tribulation,^G2347 and^G2532 poverty,^G4432 (but^G1161 thou art^G1488 rich)^G4145 and^G2532 I know the^G3588 blasphemy^G988 of them which say^G3004 they^G1438 are^G1511 Jews,^G2453 and^G2532 are^G1526 not,^G3756 but^G235 are the synagogue^G4864 of Satan.^G4567 [2:10] Fear^G5399 none^G3367 of those things which^G3739 thou shalt^G3195 suffer:^G3958 behold,^G2400 the^G3588 devil^G1228 shall^G3195 cast^G906 some of^G1537 you^G5216 into^G1519 prison,^G5438 that^G2443 ye may be tried;^G3985 and^G2532 ye shall have^G2192 tribulation^G2347 ten^G1176 days:^G2250 be^G1096 thou faithful^G4103 unto^G891 death,^G2288 and^G2532 I will give^G1325 thee^G4671 a crown^G4735 of life.^G2222 [2:11] He that hath^G2192 an ear,^G3775 let him hear^G191 what^G5101 the^G3588 Spirit^G4151 saith^G3004 unto the^G3588 churches;^G1577 He that overcometh^G3528 shall not^G3364 be hurt^G91 of^G1537 the^G3588 second^G1208 death.’^G2288, and now Revelation 3:6 He that hath^G2192 an ear,^G3775 let him hear^G191 what^G5101 the^G3588 Spirit^G4151 saith^G3004 unto the^G3588 churches.^G1577 [3:7] And^G2532 to the^G3588 angel^G832 of the^G3588 church^G1577 in^G1722 Philadelphia^G5359 write;^G1125 ‘These things^G3592 saith^G3004 He That is Holy,^G40 He That is True,^G228 He That hath^G2192 the^G3588 key^G2807 of David,^G1138 He That openeth,^G455 and^G2532 no man^G3762 shutteth;^G2808 and^G2532 shutteth,^G2808 and^G2532 no man^G3762 openeth;^G455 [3:8] I know^G1492 thy^G4675 works:^G2041 behold,^G2400 I have set^G1325 before^G1799 thee^G4675 an open^G455 door,^G2374 and^G2532 no man^G3762 can^G1410 shut^G2808 it:^G846 for^G3754 thou hast^G2192 a little^G3398 strength,^G1411 and^G2532 hast kept^G5083 My^G3450 word,^G3056 and^G2532 hast not^G3756 denied^G720 My^G3450 name.^G3686 [3:9] Behold,^G2400 I will make^G1325 them^G3588 of^G1537 the^G3588 synagogue^G4864 of Satan,^G4567 which say^G3004 they^G1438 are^G1511 Jews,^G2453 and^G2532 are^G1526 not,^G3756 but^G235 do lie;^G5574 behold,^G2400 I will make^G4160 them^G846 to^G2443 come^G2440 and^G2532 worship^G4352 before^G1799 thy^G4675 feet,^G4228 and^G2532 to know^G1097 that^G3754 ℑ^G1473 have loved^G25 thee.^G4571 [3:10] Because^G3754 thou hast kept^G5083 the^G3588 word^G3056 of My^G3450 patience,^G5281 ℑ also^G2504 will keep^G5083 thee^G4571 from^G1537 the^G3588 hour^G5610 of temptation,^G3986 which shall^G3195 come^G2064 upon^G1909 all^G3605 the^G3588 world,^G3625 to try^G3985 them^G3588 that dwell^G2730 upon^G1909 the^G3588 earth.^G1093 [3:11] Behold,^G2400 I come^G2064 quickly:^G5035 hold that fast^G2902 which^G3739 thou hast,^G2192 that^G2443 no man^G3367 take^G2983 thy^G4675 crown.^G473 [3:12] Him^G846 that overcometh^G3528 will I make^G4160 a pillar^G4769 in^G1722 the^G3588 temple^G3485 of My^G3450 God,^G2316 and^G2532 he shall go^G1831 no^G3364 more^G2089 out:^G1854 and^G2532 I will write^G1125 upon^G1909 him^G846 the^G3588 name^G3686 of My^G3450 God,^G2316 and^G2532 the^G3588 name^G3686 of the^G3588 city^G4172 of My^G3450 God,^G2316 which is new^G2537 Jerusalem,^G2419 which^G3739 cometh down^G2597 out of^G1537 heaven^G3772 from^G575 My^G3450 God:^G2316 and^G2532 I will write upon him My^G3450 new^G2537 name.^G3686 [3:13] He that hath^G2192 an ear,^G3775 let him hear^G191 what^G5101 the^G3588 Spirit^G4151 saith^G3004 unto the^G3588 churches.’^G1577   —>   What was it that Smyrna and Philadelphia knew? That there are “those who claim to be Jews, but do lie, and are not, but are of the synagogue of satan.” In other words, those who claim to be Adam’s—Judah was descended from Adam—offspring but, in reality are satan’s offspring. Let’s return now to Jeremiah 35 and continue reading to see what else Father says about these kenites here. [35:8] Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine in all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;   —>   Our Father knew that wine in Jeremiah’s future would come to symbolize the Blood of Christ, as did satan, and, his offspring Rechab told his offspring, to tell theirs to not drink it as a statute forever, as he wanted them to have nothing to do with salvation or the partaking of Jesus’ blood during communion. Are you a Christian and still refusing to partake of wine during communion? [35:9] Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed; [35:10] But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.   —>   Yes they have been very obedient to their father haven’t they?! WATCH Brethren, WATCH!!! [35:11] But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, “Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.   —>   They dwell where?! in Jerusalem. Remember “those who say they are Jews but do lie and are of the synagogue of satan” from above? Again, this is our Father showing us this so we may learn. He also showed us more of this to this same Prophet of His, in this same Book, in Jeremiah 24—(Click here)—which is another superb read. Let’s read two or three verses: Jeremiah 24:1 The LORD^H3068 shewed^H7200 me, and, behold,^H2009 two^H8147 baskets^H1736 of figs^H8384 were set^H3259 before^H6440 the temple^H1964 of the LORD,^H3068 after that^H310 Nebuchadrezzar^H5019 king^H4428 of Babylon^H894 had carried away captive^H1540 ^(H853) Jeconiah^H3204 the son^H853 of Jehoiakim^H3079 king^H4428 of Judah,^H3063 and the princes^H8269 of Judah,^H3063 with^H854 the carpenters^H2796 and smiths,^H4525 from Jerusalem,^H4480 ^H3389 and had brought^H935 them to Babylon.^H894   —>   Every one of the verses in this chapter are for both the current time of Judah’s captivity in the year 600B.C. and also in the future sense, future even to our time, but some of the events will take place during the last—our—the final—generation. This portion of the parable unfolds with Father YHVH showing Jeremiah His Temple in Jerusalem however, Nebuchadrezzar had already carried the House of Judah away from Jerusalem to Babylon and into captivity. Notice the House of Israel is split in two: “House of Israel” — the ten tribes that were taken into captivity over 200 hundred years prior by the Assyrians and the “House of Judah” — the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. All of Jeremiah’s prophesies deal with the the House of Judah — the two tribes. We know they are in captivity because of the name of Judah’s king Jeconiah, which in the Hebrew it means “one who Yah will establish;” and it was Father YHVH Who sent the House of Judah into captivity and established Jeconiah as their king while in captivity. So, what is transpiring here? Father is showing our prophet — Jeremiah, the Temple of God, in Jerusalem and in front of it are two baskets of figs. Why is this significant? We’re about to find out. Jeremiah 24:2 One^H258 basket^H1731 had very^H3966 good^H2896 figs,^H8384 even like the figs^H8384 that are first ripe:^H1073

and the other^H259 basket^H1731 had very^H3966 naughty^H7451 figs,^H8384 which^H834 could not^H3808 be eaten,^H398 they were so bad.^H4480 ^H7455   —>   So, we have these two baskets of figs — one of which is “good,” which as used in this verse in the Hebrew means: H2896, - טוֹב, - ṭôb, - pronounced: tobe, and means: From H2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good, a good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women) Total KJV occurrecnes: 554.. So, as we see it being used in this verse, it is in reference to people, places or things; not fruit. In contrast we have “naughty figs” which, as used in this verse is in the Strong’s Concordance, Hebrew word number: H7451, - רַעi, or רָעָה, - raיi, or râיâh, - pronounced: rah or raw-awי, and means: From H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (naturally or morally). This includes the second (feminine) form; as adjective or noun: - adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease (-ure), distress, evil ([-favouredness], man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief, (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, + not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st) wretchedness, wrong. [Including feminine raיah, as adjective or noun.] Total KJV occurrences: 664.. Let’s continue reading so that we can see that the word “naughty” as used in this verse, in no way means — fruit spoiling. These two baskets of “fruit” which are set in front of Father’s Temple represent people. Jeremiah 24:3 Then said^H559 the LORD^H3068 unto^H413 me, “What^H4100 seest^H7200 thou,^H859 Jeremiah?”^H3414 And I said,^H559 “Figs;^H8384 the good^H2896 figs,^H8384 very^H3966 good;^H2896

and the evil,^H7451 very^H3966 evil,^H7451 that^H834 cannot^H3808 be eaten,^H398 they are so evil.”^H4480 ^H7455   —>   Father told Jeremiah to describe to Him what he was seeing, not because He didn’t know or understand but, because He wanted Jeremiah and more importantly, us to know and understand. So, what was it that Jeremiah was seeing? Two manner of peoples, one who was True Judah and who loved our Father, YHVH — God, and one who was not of Judah who did not and does not love our Father, but loves their father — satan. Jesus goes into great depth with this when He teaches His disciples and us, the “Parable of the Sower” and the “Parable of the Tares” in Matthew 13:34-42—(Click here)—our Lord also points them out while confronting the Chief priest, the scribes and the pharisees in John 8—(Click here). So now we know who the inhabitants of Hamath were. † For the etymology of the name Hamath, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “Scholars appear to agree that the name Hamath derives from an unused root חמה, which probably meant something like to surround or protect: For a meaning of the name Hamath, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Fortification. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary derives our name via חומה (homa), meaning wall, to Fortress. Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) derives the name Hamath from the same root, and renders it the meaning Defence, Citadel. A Hebrew audience, on the other hand, would surely have noticed the obvious similarity between our name Hamath and the noun חמת (hemet), meaning Waterskin.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find the name Hamath is Hebrew word number: H2574, - חֲמָת, - chămâth, - kham-awthי, and means: From the same as H2346; walled; walled; Chamath, a place in Syria: - Hamath; Hemath. Total KJV occurrences: 36.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Fortress. The principal city of upper Syria, was situated in the valley of the Orontes, which it commanded from the low screen of hills, which forms the water-shed between the source of the Orontes and Antioch. The Hamathites were a Hamitic race, and are included among the descendants of Canaan, Genesis 10:18. Nothing appears of the power of Hamath, until the time of David, II Samuel 8:9. Hamath seems clearly to have been included in the dominions of Solomon, I Kings 4:21-24. The “store-cities” which Solomon “built in Hamath,” II Chronicles 8:4, were perhaps staples for trade. In the Assyrian inscriptions of the time of Ahab, Hamath appears as a separate power, in alliance with the Syrians of Damascus, the Hittites and the Phoenicians. About three-quarters of a century later, Jeroboam, the Second, “recovered Hamath,” II Kings 14:28. Soon afterwards, the Assyrians took it, II Kings 18:34; II Kings 19:13, etc., and from this time, it ceased to be a place of much importance. Antiochus Epiphanes changed its name to Epiphaneia. The natives, however, called it Hamath even in St. Jerome’s time, and its present name, Hamah, is but slightly altered from the ancient form.”.
1A34
II Kings 23:34 And Pharaoh-nechoh^H6549 made^H4427 ^(H853) Eliakim^H471 (YAH of raising; and, raised up by YAH) (el-yah-keemי) the son^H1121 of Josiah^H2977 king^H4427 in the room^H8478 of Josiah^H2977 his father,^H1 and turned^H5437 ^(H853) his name^H8034 to Jehoiakim,^H3079 (YHVH will raise; and, whom YHVH sets up) (yeh-ho-yaw-keemי) and took^H3947 Jehoahaz^H3059 away: and he came^H935 to Egypt,^H4714 and died^H4191 there.^H8033 —> Not only did Necho show the people that he was in charge of their lives by replacing their choice of Jehoahaz with his older brother Eliakim as their king; but, he went even further by changing his name from Eliakim to Jehoiakim.

…he came to Egypt…he died there=Thus fulfilling Father’s Prophesy of Jeremiah 22:11-12, where we also read that Jehoahaz had another name: Shallum.
Eliakim   Jehoiakim
Jehoiakim=Jehoiakim is identified as such in I Chronicles 3:15—(Click here),16—(Click here)—however, we read and learn in II Kings 23:34—(Click here)—and II Chronicles 36:4—(Click here)—that it was Pharaoh-nechoh, the king of Egypt who set him as king after deposing his younger brother and also changed his name from Eliakim to Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim was 25 years old in 499 B.C. when he was set up as king over the House of Judah, he reigned for 11 years, doing only that which was evil in Father’s eyes. Since it was Necho who set him as king, he taxed the day-lights out of his fellow countrymen, giving all their gold and silver to Necho. After this, came Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon who overthrew Necho and made Jehoiakim a vassal for 3 years before Jehoiakim rebelled against his yoke so, Nebuchadnezzar carried him back to Babylon where he later died. † For the etymology of the name Jehoiakim, we read the following in Abraim Publications: “The name Jehoiakim consists of two elements, the first one being יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH, or Yahveh. The second part of our name comes from the verb קום, meaning to rise or stand up.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find it is Hebrew word number: H3079, - יהויקים, - Yehôyâqı̂ym, - pronounced: Yeh-ho-yaw-keemי, and means: From H3068 abbreviated, and H6965; Jehovah will raise; Jehojakim, a Jewish king: - Jehoiakim. Compare H3113.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Whom YHVH sets up. He is called Eliakim, son of Josiah and king of Judah. After deposing Jehoahaz, Pharaoh-necho set Eliakim, his elder brother, upon the throne, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. For four years Jehoiakim was subject to Egypt, when Nebuchadnezzar, after a short siege, entered Jerusalem, took the king prisoner, bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon, and took also some of the precious vessels of the temple and carried them to the land of Shinar. Jehoiakim became tributary to Nebuchadnezzar after his invasion of Judah, and continued so for three years, but at the end of that time broke his oath of allegiance and rebelled against him II Kings 24:1. Nebuchadnezzar sent against him numerous bands of Chaldeans, with Syrians, Moabites and Ammonites II Kings 24:7, and who cruelly harassed the whole country. Either in an engagement with some of these forces or else by the hand of his own oppressed subjects Jehoiakim came to a violent end in the eleventh year of his reign. His body was cast out ignominiously on the ground, and then was dragged away and buried “with the burial of an ass,” without pomp or lamentation, “beyond the gates of Jerusalem” Jeremiah 22:18-19; 36:30. All the accounts we have of Jehoiakim concur in ascribing to him a vicious and irreligious character II Kings 23:37; 24:9; II Chronicles 36:5.”.
1A35
II Kings 23:35 And Jehoiakim^H3079 gave^H5414 the silver^H3701 and the gold^H2091 to Pharaoh;^H6547 but^H389 he taxed^H6186 ^(H853) the land^H776 to give^H5414 ^(H853) the money^H3701 according^H5921 to the commandment^H6310 of Pharaoh:^H6547 he exacted^H5065 ^(H853) the silver^H3701 and the gold^H2091 of^(H853) the people^H5971 of the land,^H776 of every one^H376 according to his taxation,^H6187 to give^H5414 it unto Pharaoh-nechoh.^H6549   —>   Every single ounce of the taxation collected from each of the land owners went not to anything in Judah; but, to the king of Egypt. My how they have fallen, during David and Solomon’s reigns, Israel was the mightiest Nation in the world and all the surrounding nations paid tribute to them; not any longer, now they are paying out tribute to other nations more mighty and powerful than they.

This will be the very last time that the children of the House of Judah would have a time of blessing from our Father; however, shortly, they will go into captivity to the Babylonians, and Father is going to punish them because of their forsaking Him, and, for leaning on their false gods and idols, and now Egypt. We have seen over the past ten Chapters, that the House of Judah had come to a point of sinning far more than their brothers of the House of Israel ever had, and Father had punished their brethren Israel and sent them into captivity and then scattered them over the face of the earth.

23:36-24:7 Jehoiakim.
23:36-24:7 JEHOIAKIM.
    (Alternation.)
23:36 Introduction.
1A36
II Kings 23:36 Jehoiakim^H3079 was twenty^H6242 and five^H2568 years^H8141 old^H1121 when he began to reign;^H4427 and he reigned^H4427 eleven^H259 ^H6240 years^H8141 in Jerusalem.^H3389 And his mother’s^H517 name^H8034 was Zebudah,^H2080 (giving; and, bestowed) (zeb-ee-dawי) the daughter^H1323 of Pedaiah^H6305 (YAH has ransomed; and, whom YHVH redeems) (ped-aw-yawי) of^H4480 Rumah.^H7316 (height; and, high) (roo-mawי)   —>   Jehoiakim may have reigned in Jerusalem for 11 years; however, his reign is really nothing; as, he is only king in title; for, he is nothing more than a vassal king of necho’s, meaning, he is only there to do necho’s bidding and collect the tribute which necho has burdened Judah with.

…he reigned eleven years=Jehoiakim was put over the Nation of the House of Judah in the year 499B.C. until his death in the year 488B.C., which means that it will only be another 11 to 12 years before the Nation goes into captivity to Babylon for 70 years. When Jehoiakim dies, his son Jehoiachin will take the throne for 3 months, and then Judah’s last king, Mattaniah—Jehoiachin’s uncle, Josiah’s youngest son—who will have his name changed to Zedekiah will be set upon the throne for Judah’s last 11 years. In any case, the last three kings of the House of Judah were set upon the throne by man, not Father.

What is not stated here, is that, Jehoiakim also made an arrangement with necho for him to protect Judah from the king of Babylon. In this, we see that Jehoiakim is now leaning on man and not Father, and not only that; but, which man? The king of Egypt, the same people who had held Israel captive and put them in bondage for 400 years, the same who Father commanded to never go back to.
Zebudah
Zebudah=Zebudah was the daughter of a man named Pedaiah who was from Rumah, the wife of Josiah, king of the Nation of the House of Judah—531-500B.C.—and the mother of Jehoiakim. She is only mentioned once in Father’s Word—II Kings 23:36—(Click here)—and only what I mentioned above. We know nothing else of the woman, we don’t know what Tribe she was from, when she was born, or how long she lived. † For the etymology of the name Zebudah, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The name Zebidah comes from the verb זבד (zabad), meaning to give: For a meaning of the name Zebidah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Given. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has Bestowing A Gift. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not translate this name but does list it under the verb זבד (zabad), meaning to give.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find the name Zebudah is Hebrew word number: H2080, - זְבִידָה, - z^ebı̂ydâh, - pronounced: zeb-ee-dawי, and means: Feminine from H2064; giving, Zebidah, an Israelitess: - Zebudah. Total KJV occurrences: 1.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Bestowed. Wife of Josiah and mother of King Jehoiakim II Kings 23:36.”.
Pedaiah
Pedaiah=The only thing Father’s Word tells us of Pedaiah—II Kings 23:36—(Click here)—is that he was from Rumah, he was the father of Zebudah, the wife of king Josiah, and grandfather of king Jehoiakim. We know nothing else of the man, we don’t know when he was born, anything he did, or how long he lived. † For the etymology of the name Pedaiah, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The name Pedaiah consists of two elements. The first part comes from the verb פדה (pada), to pay an individual price for a collective higher level of freedom: The second part of our name is יה (YAH) = יהו (YAHU) = יו (YU), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices: YHVH, YAHVEH, or YEHOVAH, (the sacred and personal name of Father). While ELOHIM is God as the Creator of all things, YEHOVAH is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (compare II Chronicles 18:31). YEHOVAH means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21:33. He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now “in Christ”. We can say “My God,” but not “My YEHOVAH,” for YEHOVAH is “MY God.”. For a meaning of the name Pedaiah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List has Yahveh Redeems. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Redemption Of The Lord. And Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary proposes Yah Hath Ransomed.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find the name Pedaiah is Hebrew word number: H6305, - פְּדָיָהi, or פְּדָיָהוּ, - p^edâyâhi, or p^edâyâhû, - pronounced: ped-aw-yawיi, or ped-aw-yawי-hoo, and means: From H6299 and H3050; Jah has ransomed; Pedajah, the name of six Israelites: - Pedaiah. Total KJV occurrences: 8.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Whom YAH redeems. The father of Zebudah, mother of King Jehoiakim II Kings 23:38.”.
Rumah
Rumah=Rumah—Hebrew word number: H7316—is mentioned only one time in Father’s Word—II Kings 23:36—(Click here)—it was where Pedaiah, the father of Zebudah, wife of Josiah and mother to Jehoiakim was from. With that being said, the Biblical scholars cannot agree on it’s actual location; with some proposing it was in a location of it’s own—(Click here)—some proposing that it was the Arumah of Judges 9:41—(Click here)—which was also a location of it’s own—(Click here)—and also only mentioned once, with no history except for what we read in Father’s Word, i.e., it was “The town in which Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon), dwelt when driven from Shechem.”; and some proposing it was Dumah—(Click here)—of which we read of four times in Father’s Word—Genesis 25:14—where we read this Dumah was a son of Ishmael—Joshua 15:52—this Dumah was a town given as part of the inheritance to the Tribe of Judah—I Chronicles 1:30—(Click here)—this coinsides with Genesis 25:14 the son of Ishmael—and Isaiah 21:11, where Dr. Bullinger notes “Dumah=Edom. An abbreviated from of fuller name “Idumea”.m”—this Pastor and author of this writing will leave it to the reader to decide for themselves as to which location it was in. † For the etymology of the name Rumah, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The name Rumah comes from the verb רום (rum), meaning to be high: For a meaning of the name Rumah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads High Place. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes High. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary doesn’t interpret this name but does list it under the verb רום (rum), meaning to be high.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find the name Rumah is Hebrew word number: H7316, - רוּמָה, - rûmâh, - pronounced: roo-mawי, and means: From H7311; height; Rumah, a place in Palestine: - Rumah. Total KJV occurrences: 1.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “High. Mentioned once only — II Kings 23:36. It has been conjectured to be the same place as Arumah Judges 9:41, which was apparently near Shechem. It is more probable that it is identical with Dumah Joshua 15:52.”.

23:37 Events. Personal.
1A37
II Kings 23:37 And he did^H6213 that which was evil^H7451 in the sight^H5869 of the LORD,^H3068 according to all^H3605 that^H834 his fathers^H1 had done.^H6213   —>   The House of Judah—because of their own rebellious actions against Father—is now riding the rails, and are on a collision course with their destiny of going into captivity to the king of Babylon.

Dec 2016, Updated: Apr 2024.

This Bible Study was written by Scott Reis and is provided in order to be used as a private Bible Study Tool. Therefore, it may be copied in whole or in part and shared for private Bible Study; however, it may not be reproduced and published as an original work.

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II KINGS CHAPTER 23

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Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.

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II KINGS CHAPTER 23

Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.