Josiah's Early Reforms and Temple Repair
2 Chronicles 34:1-13
2 C.34.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמונה: NUM,card,f
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יאשיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במלכו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ושלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- ואחת: CONJ+NUM,card,sg,f
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 22:1 (verbal): Direct parallel in the Deuteronomistic history — same basic wording: Josiah began to reign at eight years old and reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
- 2 Kings 23:25 (thematic): Evaluative summary of Josiah's reign — praises his wholehearted return to the LORD and uniqueness among Judah's kings, thematically linked to the reign introduced in 2 Chronicles 34:1.
- 2 Kings 12:1 (structural): Typical royal introduction formula in Kings — gives the king's age at accession and length of reign (Joash began to reign at seven and reigned forty years), a structural parallel to Josiah's notice.
- 2 Chronicles 24:1 (structural): Chronicles’ own pattern for royal introductions (age and years of reign) as seen in Joash's entry; shows the Chronicler's consistent formula used for Josiah as well.
Alternative generated candidates
- Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
- Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
2 C.34.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הישר: ADJ,m,sg,def
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בדרכי: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cstr+1s
- דויד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- סר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ימין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושמאול: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 22:2 (quotation): Nearly identical wording describing Josiah: 'did right in the sight of the LORD, walked in the ways of David his father, did not turn to the right or left' — direct parallel in the Deuteronomistic history.
- 2 Chronicles 29:2 (verbal): Hezekiah is said to have 'done what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done' — a close verbal and theological parallel linking kings' fidelity to Davidic patterns.
- 2 Chronicles 17:3 (thematic): Jehoshaphat 'walked in the first ways of his father David' and the LORD was with him — thematic connection emphasizing walking in David's ways as the mark of a faithful king.
- 1 Kings 3:3 (verbal): Solomon 'loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father' — another royal characterization that uses similar language about following David's example.
Alternative generated candidates
- He did what was right in the sight of the LORD; he walked in the ways of David his father and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
- He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of David his father; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
2 C.34.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובשמונה: CONJ+PREP,NUM,card,f
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- למלכו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- עודנו: ADV
- נער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- החל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לדרוש: VERB,qal,inf
- לאלהי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,const
- דויד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- ובשתים: CONJ+PREP+NUM,card,f,sg
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- החל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לטהר: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- וירושלם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- הבמות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- והאשרים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- והפסלים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והמסכות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,def
Parallels
- 2 Kings 22:1-2 (verbal): Parallel narrative: Josiah’s age and his turning to the LORD (seeking the God of his father David) correspond closely to Chronicles’ statement about beginning to seek God while still young.
- 2 Kings 23:4-20 (verbal): Direct parallel account of Josiah’s reforms—removal of high places, Asherim, carved and molten images in Judah and Jerusalem, matching the actions described in Chronicles 34:3.
- 2 Kings 18:3-4 (thematic): Hezekiah’s reform: removed high places, cut down Asherah poles and broke images—a thematic precedent for Josiah’s purging of idolatry.
- 1 Kings 15:11-14 (thematic): Asa’s reforms in Judah (removing foreign altars and high places and commanding the people to seek the LORD) parallel Josiah’s pattern of covenantal reform and centralization of worship.
- Deuteronomy 12:2-3 (allusion): Deuteronomic injunction to destroy the high places and Asherim provides the legal/theological framework alluded to by royal reformers who purge Israel and Judah of local shrines and idols.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images, and the incense altars.
- In the eighth year of his reign, while still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the molten images.
2 C.34.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וינתצו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- מזבחות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- הבעלים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והחמנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- למעלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מעליהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- גדע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- והאשרים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- והפסלים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והמסכות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,def
- שבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והדק: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויזרק: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הקברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- הזבחים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- 2 Kings 23:4–7 (quotation): Parallel account of Josiah’s iconoclastic reform—breaking down altars of Baal, cutting down Asherah poles, smashing images and defiling sites where sacrifices were offered; the narrative closely corresponds to 2 Chronicles 34:4.
- 2 Kings 18:4 (verbal): Hezekiah’s reform language echoes Josiah’s: removal of high places, breaking sacred pillars and cutting down Asherah poles (and destroying idolatrous objects), a similar act of iconoclasm and covenant reform.
- 1 Kings 15:12 (thematic): Asa’s reforms—removal of foreign altars and high places, smashing sacred stones and cutting down Asherah poles—provide a thematic precedent for royal campaigns against idolatry like Josiah’s.
- 2 Chronicles 29:16–17 (structural): Hezekiah’s cleansing and removal of altars and high places in Chronicles parallels Josiah’s actions within the Chronicler’s reform motif: purging Judah of foreign worship and defiling pagan cult sites.
Alternative generated candidates
- Before him he broke down the altars of the Baals; the incense altars that stood above them he cut down. The Asherim, the carved images, and the incense stands he smashed and crushed, and he scattered their dust upon the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
- He broke down the altars of the Baals before him; and the incense altars that were above them he cut down. He smashed the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the molten images; he dashed them to pieces and scattered the dust on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
2 C.34.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועצמות: CONJ
- כהנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שרף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- מזבחותם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- ויטהר: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ואת: CONJ
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 23:20 (verbal): Same event in the Deuteronomistic history: Josiah burns the bones of idolatrous priests on their altars and returns to Jerusalem — a near-verbatim parallel to Chronicles' report.
- 2 Kings 23:15-16 (thematic): Account of Josiah removing altars, groves, and cultic objects from places in Judah and defiling high places — provides the Kings narrative counterpart to Chronicles' description of reform and purification.
- Deuteronomy 12:2-3 (thematic): Law commanding Israel to destroy foreign altars, break pillars, and burn their high places — provides the legal/theological rationale behind Josiah’s destruction and purification of cultic sites.
- 2 Chronicles 29:16 (structural): Hezekiah’s temple-cleansing: priests remove defilements and the king purifies Judah and the sanctuary; a parallel episode of royal-initiated cultic purification in Chronicles.
Alternative generated candidates
- He burned the bones of the priests on their altars and purified Judah and Jerusalem.
- He burned the bones of the priests upon their altars and purified Judah and Jerusalem.
2 C.34.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובערי: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cons
- מנשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואפרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושמעון: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- נפתלי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בחרבתיהם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff(3mp)
- סביב: ADV
Parallels
- 2 Kings 23:8-20 (quotation): Parallel Deuteronomic account of Josiah’s purge of idolatry — the king destroys high places and altars throughout the land, corresponding to Chronicles’ report of removing shrines in Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon to Naphtali.
- 1 Kings 12:31 (thematic): Describes Jeroboam’s establishment of rival high places in the northern kingdom; provides background contrast to Josiah’s later removal of such local sanctuaries.
- 1 Kings 15:12-14 (thematic): Account of King Asa removing idolatrous objects and high places in Judah — an earlier royal reform motif echoed by Josiah’s actions in Chronicles.
- 2 Chr 34:3-7 (structural): Immediate chapter context in Chronicles narrating Josiah’s reforms (seeking the LORD, tearing down altars and Asherah poles) that frames verse 34:6 and repeats its actions within the same editorial unit.
Alternative generated candidates
- He removed them also from the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, in their ruined places round about.
- He did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, around their ruined places.
2 C.34.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וינתץ: CONJ+VERB,qal,impr,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- המזבחות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואת: CONJ
- האשרים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- והפסלים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- כתת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להדק: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- החמנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- גדע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לירושלם: PREP+NOUN,prop,f,sg
Parallels
- 2 Kings 23:14-15 (structural): The parallel account of Josiah’s reforms in Kings recounts breaking down altars, cutting down Asherim and destroying images—same episode retold with overlapping actions and sequence.
- 1 Kings 15:13 (verbal): King Asa ‘took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherim’—uses the same terminology and reform motifs (cutting down Asherim, destroying sacred poles).
- 2 Chronicles 31:1 (structural): Hezekiah’s and the people’s removal of altars, cutting down Asherim and smashing sacred stones uses the same verbs and imagery—another royal reform account in Chronicles with closely related language and actions.
- Deuteronomy 12:2-3 (allusion): The Deuteronomic law commands Israel to destroy altars and cut down Asherah poles; Josiah’s actions echo this legal/theological imperative and provide a scriptural rationale for the reforms.
- Judges 6:25-27 (thematic): Gideon’s cutting down of his father’s Asherah pole and building an altar to Yahweh parallels the recurring theme of destroying local cultic objects and reestablishing exclusive worship of YHWH.
Alternative generated candidates
- He broke down the altars and the Asherim and the carved images, and he beat the incense altars to pieces; he cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.
- He broke down the altars and the Asherah poles and the carved images, he shattered the pillars and broke them in pieces; and all the incense altars he cut down throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
2 C.34.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובשנת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- שמונה: NUM,card,f
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- למלכו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- לטהר: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- והבית: NOUN,m,sg,def,pref:v
- שלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- שפן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אצליהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- מעשיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ואת: CONJ
- יואח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יואחז: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המזכיר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לחזק: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Kings 22:3 (verbal): Almost identical account: Josiah in his eighteenth year sends Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city official, and Joah the recorder to repair the house of the LORD — a direct narrative parallel to this verse.
- 2 Kings 22:8 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: after sending the officials to repair the temple, Hilkiah the priest finds the book of the law. Shows the same sequence of temple repair leading to the discovery of the scroll.
- 2 Chronicles 29:3–11 (thematic): Hezekiah’s earlier reforms and purification/repair of the temple: a royal restoration of the house of the LORD involving priests and officials, paralleling Josiah’s temple-repair initiative and religious renewal.
- Ezra 6:15 (thematic): Post-exilic account of the temple’s rebuilding and completion by communal effort and official oversight; thematically parallels royal/official actions to restore God’s house and reestablish proper worship.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the eighteenth year of his reign, to repair and to purify the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city officer, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder, to strengthen the house of the LORD his God.
- In the eighteenth year of his reign, to cleanse the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city officer, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder, to strengthen the house of the LORD his God.
2 C.34.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- חלקיהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הגדול: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ויתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הכסף: NOUN,m,sg,def
- המובא: VERB,nip,ptc,-,m,sg,def
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אספו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- הלוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- שמרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הסף: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מיד: PREP
- מנשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואפרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומכל: CONJ
- שארית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומכל: CONJ
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ובנימן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 22:4-6 (quotation): Direct parallel account of Hilkiah receiving the money brought into the house of the LORD collected by the Levites from Manasseh, Ephraim, the remnant of Israel, Judah and Benjamin during Josiah’s reforms.
- 2 Chronicles 34:8 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the preceding verse describes Josiah’s work to repair the temple and the Levites’ role, forming the same episode as v.9.
- 2 Chronicles 31:5-12 (thematic): Hezekiah’s reform: people bring offerings and money for the house of the LORD and Levites/officials are appointed to receive and guard them—a parallel instance of collecting resources for temple restoration and administration.
- Exodus 35:21-29 (thematic): The Israelites’ voluntary contributions of silver, gold and materials for the sanctuary—shared motif of gathering resources from the people for God’s house.
- 1 Chronicles 26:20-28 (verbal): Passage describing the 'keepers of the thresholds' and treasurers of the house; parallels the language and the Levites’ custodial role over temple funds in 2 Chr 34:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- They came to Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned it to Jerusalem.
- They came to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the gatekeepers, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
2 C.34.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- יד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלאכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- המפקדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- עושי: PART,qal,ptcp,mp
- המלאכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לבדוק: VERB,pi,inf
- ולחזק: VERB,hif,inf
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 2 Kings 22:3-5 (quotation): Parallel account of Josiah ordering the temple repairs; same action of appointing overseers and workmen to examine and repair the house of the LORD (same narrative material as Chronicles).
- 2 Chr.34:11 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the same episode in Chronicles describing how the overseers and workmen carried out the repair and strengthening of the temple — closely related wording and action.
- 2 Chr.24:4-5 (thematic): Earlier temple restoration under Joash where officials/Levites are organized and resources set aside to repair and maintain the house of the LORD; similar pattern of appointing supervisors and workers for sacred building projects.
- Nehemiah 2:17-18 (thematic): Nehemiah’s call to ‘rise and build’ the broken places and the people’s response to strengthen their hands for the work parallels the communal appointment and mobilization of labor to repair God’s house in Chronicles.
Alternative generated candidates
- They entrusted it to the overseers of the work in the house of the LORD, and the workmen of the house of the LORD received it to repair and to strengthen the house.
- They entrusted it to the overseers appointed over the work in the house of the LORD, and the workmen who carried out the work in the house of the LORD received it to repair and strengthen the house.
2 C.34.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לחרשים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ולבנים: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לקנות: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- אבני: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- מחצב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועצים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- למחברות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ולקרות: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הבתים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- השחיתו: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,pl
- מלכי: NOUN,pl,m,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
Parallels
- 2 Kings 22:3-7 (verbal): Parallel account of Josiah's reforms: funds given to overseers, masons and carpenters to repair the temple and related buildings—the wording and actions closely mirror the Chronicles passage.
- 2 Chronicles 34:12 (structural): Immediate sequel within the same chapter describing how the workmen strengthened and repaired the temple and other houses—an internal continuation of v.11's activity.
- 1 Kings 5:15-18 (thematic): Solomon's large-scale building program: organization of carriers, stonecutters and carpenters and the hewing of stones and preparation of timber—parallels the practical aspects of procuring labor and materials for sacred/royal construction.
- Nehemiah 2:8 (thematic): Nehemiah obtains the king's letter and timber for reconstruction (and provides resources for workers); thematically similar in securing timber and provisioning craftsmen to rebuild sacred/urban structures.
Alternative generated candidates
- They gave it to the masons and to the carpenters to buy quarried stone and timber for beams and for joists, and to lay the roofing of the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed.
- They gave it to the masons and carpenters to buy quarried stone and timbers for beams and to roof the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed.
2 C.34.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והאנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
- באמונה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- במלאכה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועליהם: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,pl
- מפקדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יחת: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ועבדיהו: CONJ+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הלוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- מן: PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- מררי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וזכריה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומשלם: CONJ+VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- הקהתים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- לנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והלוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- כל: DET
- מבין: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בכלי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Chronicles 15:16 (verbal): David instructs the Levites to appoint singers and musicians with cymbals, harps, and lyres—paralleling the note here that the Levites were 'skilled in musical instruments' and organized for temple service.
- 1 Chronicles 25:1-7 (thematic): Lists Levites appointed as singers and musicians and their divisions and skill (Heman, Asaph, Jeduthun), echoing 2 Chr 34:12’s emphasis on Levites expert in musical instruments and organized ministry.
- 2 Chronicles 29:12-13 (structural): During Hezekiah’s temple reforms Levites are set over the work and to give praise with musical instruments—closely paralleling Josiah’s reform context where overseers and musically skilled Levites supervise the work.
- Ezra 3:10 (thematic): At the rebuilding of the temple the Levites and priests praise God with musical instruments because many were skilled—a post-exilic parallel to the chronicler’s motif of trained Levites serving with instruments during temple restoration.
Alternative generated candidates
- The men did the work faithfully; and over them were supervisors — Jachath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites — to oversee; and the Levites, all of them, were skilled in musical instruments.
- The men labored faithfully; their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of Kohath as officials; and all the Levites were skilled in musical instruments.
2 C.34.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- הסבלים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ומנצחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לכל: PREP
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מלאכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לעבודה: PREP,NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועבודה: CONJ,NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומהלוים: CONJ,PREP,NOUN,m,pl,def
- סופרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ושטרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ושוערים: CONJ,NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 22:12-20 (structural): Same narrative episode of Josiah’s temple reforms and the officials (priests, scribes, officers) who carried out the work; a close structural parallel to Chronicles’ account.
- Numbers 3:5-10 (thematic): Assigns the Levites to attend, carry, and guard the sanctuary — parallels the Chronistic listing of carriers, workers and Levites assigned to temple service.
- 1 Chronicles 26:1-5 (verbal): Lists the gatekeepers (sha‘arim) by families and their duties for the house of the LORD, paralleling Chronicles’ mention of 'gatekeepers' (שוערים).
- 1 Chronicles 9:22-27 (verbal): Catalogues temple functionaries — porters/gatekeepers, Levites, scribes and officers — closely matching the offices enumerated in 2 Chronicles 34:13.
- Ezra 7:6 (allusion): Identifies Ezra as 'a skilled scribe' and associates scribal/administrative leadership with temple and community reform, echoing the mention of 'scribes' (סופרים) among the temple officers.
Alternative generated candidates
- There were overseers of the bearers and of the singers, and over all the work of the service and of the house; and among the Levites were scribes, officers, and gatekeepers.
- And over the bearers and the overseers for every kind of service and task — and with the Levites were the scribes, the officers, and the gatekeepers.
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD; he walked in the ways of David his father and did not turn either to the right or to the left.
In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the molten images.
They tore down before him the altars of the Baals and the incense altars that stood above them; he cut down the Asherah poles and the carved images, broke the pillars and shattered them, and scattered their dust on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
He burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. So he did in the towns of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon as far as Naphtali, in their ruined places all around.
He smashed the altars and the Asherah poles and the carved images; he beat down the incense altars and cut down all the Asherah poles throughout the whole land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
In the eighteenth year of his reign, to cleanse the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city officer, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder, to strengthen the house of the LORD his God.
They came to Hilkiah the high priest and handed over the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD—the money that the Levites, guardians of the threshold, had collected from Manasseh, Ephraim and from the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin—and brought it back to Jerusalem.
They delivered it into the hands of the overseers of the workers in the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the craftsmen who worked in the house of the LORD to repair and strengthen the house.
They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried stone and timber for the rafters, and to repair the houses that the kings of Judah had ruined.
The men labored faithfully in the work; and over them were supervisors—Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the sons of Merari—and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of Kohath for oversight. All the Levites were experienced in song and in the use of musical instruments. And over the carriers and the overseers for every work of service and for the regular tasks there were supervisors; and among the Levites were scribes, officers, and gatekeepers.