Ver. 1. Josiah was eight years old.] Woe to that land whose prince is a child, saith Solomon; (Ecclesiastes 10:16) but Josiah was an extraordinary child, and a great blessing to his people. So was our Edward VI, that second Josiah, who began early likewise, and lived much in a little time, in brevi vitae spacio tempora virtutum multa replevit. See 2 Kings 22:1. Jerome.
Ver. 2. And he did that which was right.] See 2 Kings 22:2.
Ver. 3. For in the eighth year of his reign.] So soon as he had the reins in his own hands, he began. He began to seek.] That is, Publicly to show his zeal for God; which was in him of a little child. And in the twelfth year.] See 2 Kings 23:4,5, &c.
Ver. 4. In his presence.] He would see it done; that so it might be thoroughly done. He cut down…he brake in pieces, &c.] Notanda est congeries verborum, saith Lavater. Five or six several words are here used, to show how he mauled them, and made mortar of them, as we say; such was his holy indignation, zeal, and revenge.
Ver. 5. And he burnt the bones.] That those altars might be defiled, discredited, and abhorred for ever. He cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.] Cleansed it as well as he could; bringing them to an outward conformity, whose hearts were still full of harlotry; as well appeared when Josiah’s head was laid.
Ver. 6. And so did he in the cities of Manasseh.] Wherever he had to do; and in all places else where he could come; so great was his zeal, so diffusive his charity.
Ver. 7. And when he had broken.] See 2 Chronicles 34:4. And cut down all the images.] Which have their name from burning or raging heat; because idolaters, quasi aestu perciti, followed their idols with much heat of desire, through any danger. Some render it the sun images.
Ver. 8. Now in the eighteenth year.] See on 2 Kings 22:3. To repair the house of the Lord.] This had been done before by Joash, (2 Kings 12:5) but that was two hundred and thirty-four years since: so that now there was need of new reparations. Tempus edax rerum.
Ver. 9. And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest.] See 2 Kings 22:4. They delivered the money, &c.] The like was done. (2 Kings 12:10,11) Only things are here more exactly set down. Which the Levites had gathered.] The Pope, under pretext of repairing St Peter’s Church in Rome, gathered great sums of money by his pardon mongers in Germany, and England, and elsewhere, till people grew wiser.
Ver. 10. And they put it in the hand.] See on 2 Kings 22:5.
Ver. 11. Even to the artificeres, &c.] See on 2 Kings 22:6.
Ver. 12. The men did the work faithfully.] As in the presence of God: to whom if men would but do eye-service, it were well: but a faithful servant is a rare bird. All that could skill of instruments of music.] This was then a great praise; and haply they used their skill in the hearing of the workmen, to cheer them up: as Amphion did those that built the walls of Thebes; the poets feign, that by his sweet music he drew together the stones of those walls. Alexander Aphrodisaeus gives this reason, why porters go singing under their burdens: because their minds being delighted with the sweetness of their music, the body may feel the less weight under the burden. Probl. 1, Num 78.
Ver. 13. Also they were over the bearers of burdens.] To see they did their work carefully; and to make them do it cheerfully. See on 2 Chronicles 34:12.
Ver. 14,15. Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law.] See 2 Kings 22:8.
Ver. 16. And Shaphan carried the book.] See 2 Kings 22:10.
Ver. 17-21. See on 2 Kings 22:9-12.
Ver. 22-26. See 2 Kings 22:14-18.
Ver. 27. Because thine heart was tender.] So was King Edward VI when he heard Ridley or Latimer; whose sermons he did usually excerpt and note with his own hand.
Ver. 28. Behold, I will gather thee.] See 2 Kings 22:20. All the evil.] War, and all the evils that attend it, as filth falleth into a sink. So they brought the king word.] They were no way guilty of that fault which the Greeks call παραπρεσβεια, or delivering a wrong message.
Ver. 29-33. See 2 Kings 23:1-3, &c.
Ver. 33. And made all that were present.] He constrained them by royal power and authority, saith Diodate, to forsake idolatry, and serve God according to the exterior form by him appointed, &c. Tantam adhibuit severitatem disciplinae, saith Junius. That of Lavater also here is very good: Good God, saith he, how great need have we of another Josiah at this time, when so many errors and enormities abound amongst us!