Chapter 23

1And the king summoned, and they assembled before him all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.   אוַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיַּאַסְפ֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו כָּל־זִקְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָֽםִ:
2And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were with him, and the priests and the prophets, and all the people from small to great, and he read within their hearing all the words of the scroll of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord.   בוַיַּ֣עַל הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֡ה וְכָל־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָה֩ וְכָל־ישְׁבֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜םִ אִתּ֗וֹ וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַנְּבִיאִ֔ים וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם לְמִקָּטֹ֣ן וְעַד־גָּד֑וֹל וַיִּקְרָ֣א בְאָזְנֵיהֶ֗ם אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי֙ סֵ֣פֶר הַבְּרִ֔ית הַנִּמְצָ֖א בְּבֵ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה:
3And the king stood on his place, and enacted the covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord and to observe His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all their heart and soul, to fulfill the words of this covenant, which are written in this scroll. And all the people were steadfast in their acceptance of the covenant.   גוַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ עַֽל־הָ֨עַמּ֜וּד וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת אֶֽת־הַבְּרִ֣ית | לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה לָלֶ֜כֶת אַחַ֚ר יְהֹוָה֙ וְלִשְׁמֹ֨ר מִצְו‍ֹתָ֜יו וְאֶת־עֵדְו‍ֹתָ֚יו וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתָיו֙ בְּכָל־לֵ֣ב וּבְכָל־נֶ֔פֶשׁ לְהָקִ֗ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַבְּרִ֣ית הַזֹּ֔את הַכְּתֻבִ֖ים עַל־הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד כָּל־הָעָ֖ם בַּבְּרִֽית:
on his place. the place where the king would stand in the Temple.   עַל הָעַמּוּד.  מְקוֹם מַעֲמַד הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ.
4And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second rank and the guards of the threshold, to take out of the Temple of the Lord all the utensils that were made for the Baal and for the asherah, and for the entire host of the heaven, and he burnt them outside Jerusalem in the plains of Kidron, and he carried their ashes to Bethel.   דוַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־חִלְקִיָּהוּ֩ הַכֹּהֵ֨ן הַגָּד֜וֹל וְאֶת־כֹּהֲנֵ֣י הַמִּשְׁנֶה֘ וְאֶת־שֹׁמְרֵ֣י הַסַּף֒ לְהוֹצִיא֙ מֵהֵיכַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה אֵ֣ת כָּל־הַכֵּלִ֗ים הָֽעֲשׂוּיִם֙ לַבַּ֣עַל וְלָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֔ה וּלְכֹ֖ל צְבָ֣א הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַֽיִּשְׁרְפֵ֞ם מִח֚וּץ לִירוּשָׁלַ֙םִ֙ בְּשַׁדְמ֣וֹת קִדְר֔וֹן וְנָשָֹ֥א אֶת־עֲפָרָ֖ם בֵּֽית־אֵֽל:
and the priests of the second rank. the assistants of the priesthood, who were in second rank to the high priests.   וְאֶת כֹּהֲנֵי הַמִּשְׁנֶה.  סְגָנֵי כְּהֻנָּה, שֶׁהֵם שְׁנִיִּים לַכֹּהֲנִים גְּדוֹלִים.
and the guards of the threshold. the superintendents appointed over all the necessities of the Temple, and the keys of the Temple court were in their charge.   שֹׁמְרֵי הַסַּף.  אֲמַרְכָּלִים הַמְמֻנִּים עַל כָּל צָרְכֵי הַבַּיִת, וּמַפְתְּחוֹת הָעֲזָרָה בְּיָדָם.
in the plains of Kidron. in the plains of Kidron.   בְּשַׁדְמוֹת קִדְרוֹן.  (תַּרְגּוּם:) בְּמֵישָׁר קִדְרוֹן.
and he carried their ashes to Bethel. to an unclean place, where he defiled the altar that Jeroboam had made, and he burnt the priests of the high places upon it.   וְנָשָׂא אֶת עֲפָרָם בֵּית אֵל.  אֶל מָקוֹם טָמֵא, אֲשֶׁר טִמֵּא שָׁם אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁעָשָׂה יָרָבְעָם, וְשָׂרַף עָלָיו אֶת כֹּהֲנֵי הַבָּמוֹת.
5And he abolished the pagan priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed and who had burnt incense on the high places in the cities of Judah and the environs of Jerusalem, and those who burnt incense to the Baal, to the sun, to the moon, and to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.   הוְהִשְׁבִּ֣ית אֶת־הַכְּמָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֚ר נָֽתְנוּ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיְקַטֵּ֚ר בַּבָּמוֹת֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וּמְסִבֵּ֖י יְרוּשָׁלָ֑םִ וְאֶת־הַֽמְקַטְּרִ֣ים לַבַּ֗עַל לַשֶּׁ֚מֶשׁ וְלַיָּרֵ֙חַ֙ וְלַמַּזָּל֔וֹת וּלְכֹ֖ל צְבָ֥א הַשָּׁמָֽיִם:
and who had burnt incense. and those who had burnt incense on the high places in the cities of Judah.   וַיְקַטֵּר בַּבָּמוֹת.  וְאוֹתָן שֶׁקִּטְּרוּ בַּבָּמוֹת בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה.
6And he took the asherah out of the house of the Lord to the outside of Jerusalem, to the Kidron Valley, and he burnt it in the Kidron Valley and he pulverized it into dust; and he threw its dust on the graves of the members of the people.   ווַיֹּצֵ֣א אֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרָה֩ מִבֵּ֨ית יְהֹוָ֜ה מִח֚וּץ לִירוּשָׁלַ֙םִ֙ אֶל־נַ֣חַל קִדְר֔וֹן וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף אֹתָ֛הּ בְּנַ֥חַל קִדְר֖וֹן וַיָּ֣דֶק לְעָפָ֑ר וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֙ אֶת־עֲפָרָ֔הּ עַל־קֶ֖בֶר בְּנֵ֥י הָעָֽם:
7And he demolished the houses devoted to pagan worship that were in the house of the Lord, where the women weave enclosures for the asherah.   זוַיִּתֹּץ֙ אֶת־בָּתֵּ֣י הַקְּדֵשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הַנָּשִׁ֗ים אֹרְג֥וֹת שָׁ֛ם בָּתִּ֖ים לָאֲשֵׁרָֽה:
the houses devoted to pagan worship. [Heb. בָּתֵי הַקְדֵשִׁים,] the houses of immorality   אֶת בָּתֵּי הַקְּדֵשִׁים.  בָּתֵּי הַזִּמָּה.
where the women weave enclosures. curtains.   אֹרְגוֹת שָׁם בָּתִּים.  יְרִיעוֹת.
8And he brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and he defiled the high places where the priests had burnt incense, from Geba as far as Beersheba, and he demolished the high places near the gates, the one that was at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the mayor of the city, which is on a person's left in the gate of the city.   חוַיָּבֵ֚א אֶת־כָּל־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ מֵעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיְטַמֵּ֣א אֶת־הַבָּמ֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֚ר קִטְּרוּ־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים מִגֶּ֖בַע עַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וְנָתַ֞ץ אֶת־בָּמ֣וֹת הַשְּׁעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־פֶּ֜תַח שַׁ֚עַר יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ שַׂר־הָעִ֔יר אֲשֶֽׁר־עַל־שְׂמֹ֥אול אִ֖ישׁ בְּשַׁ֥עַר הָעִֽיר:
9However, the priests of the high places would not go up to the Lord's altar in Jerusalem, but they would eat unleavened cakes among their brethren.   טאַ֗ךְ לֹ֚א יַֽעֲלוּ֙ כֹּהֲנֵ֣י הַבָּמ֔וֹת אֶל־מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהֹוָ֖ה בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑םִ כִּ֛י אִם־אָכְל֥וּ מַצּ֖וֹת בְּת֥וֹךְ אֲחֵיהֶֽם:
However,… would not go up. The priests who burnt incense on the high places to idols, may not ascend anymore to serve on the altar of the Lord.   לֹא יַעֲלוּ.  הַכֹּהֲנִים שֶׁקִּטְּרוּ בַּבָּמוֹת לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, לֹא יַעֲלוּ עוֹד לְשָׁרֵת עַל מִזְבַּח ה'.
.    כִּי אִם אָכְלוּ מַצּוֹת.  כְּלוֹמַר כִּי אִם בְּדָבָר זֶה לֹא יָצְאוּ מִכְּהֻנָּתָם, שֶׁמֻּתָּרִין לֶאֱכֹל בַּקֳּדָשִׁים, הֲרֵי הֵם כְּבַעֲלֵי מוּמִין, חוֹלְקִין וְאוֹכְלִין אֲבָל לֹא מַקְרִיבִין.
they would eat unleavened cakes. meal-offerings, and likewise, all hallowed things.   אָכְלוּ מַצּוֹת.  מְנָחוֹת, וְהוּא הַדִּין לְכָל הַקֳּדָשִׁים.
10And he defiled the Topheth that was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so that no man would pass his son or his daughter in the fire to the Molech.   יוְטִמֵּ֣א אֶת־הַתֹּ֔פֶת אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּגֵ֣י בֶן־ (כתיב בֶני־) הִנֹּ֑ם לְבִלְתִּ֗י לְהַעֲבִ֨יר אִ֜ישׁ אֶת־בְּנ֧וֹ וְאֶת־בִּתּ֛וֹ בָּאֵ֖שׁ לַמֹּֽלֶךְ:
the Tofeth. This was the Molech. Since priests would bang on drums so that the father would not hear the groans of the child when he would be burned by the hands of the pagan image, Molech, they called it Topheth.   הַתֹּפֶת.  הוּא הַמֹּלֶךְ, וְעַל שֵׁם שֶׁהָיוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים מַקִּישִׁים בְּתֻפִּים, שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁמַע הָאָב אֶת נַהֲמַת הַבֵּן כְּשֶׁהוּא נִכְוָה בִּידֵי הַצּוּרָה שֶל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מֹלֶךְ, קְרָאוּהוּ תֹּפֶת.
11And he abolished the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, from the entrance of the house of the Lord until the chamber of Nethan-melech the eunuch who was in the outskirts, and he burnt the sun chariots with fire.   יאוַיַּשְׁבֵּ֣ת אֶת־הַסּוּסִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתְנוּ֩ מַלְכֵ֨י יְהוּדָ֚ה לַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ מִבֹּ֣א בֵית־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־לִשְׁכַּת֙ נְתַן־מֶ֣לֶךְ הַסָּרִ֔יס אֲשֶׁ֖ר בַּפַּרְוָרִ֑ים וְאֶת־מַרְכְּב֥וֹת הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ שָׂרַ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ:
the horses. Those who prostrated themselves to the sun, had horses ready to go out toward the sun in the morning.   אֶת הַסּוּסִים.  אוֹתָם הַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוִים לַחַמָּה, הָיוּ לָהֶם סוּסִים מוּכָנִים לָצֵאת לִקְרַאת הַחַמָּה בַּבֹּקֶר.
Nethan-melech. That was his name.   נְתַן מֶלֶךְ.  כָּךְ שְׁמוֹ.
in the outskirts. [Heb. בַּפַּרְוָרִים.] I do not know what they are.   אֲשֶׁר בַּפַּרְוָרִים.  לֹא יָדַעְתִּי מָה הֵם.
12And the altars that were on the roof, [the roof of] Ahaz's upper chamber, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars that Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the Lord, the king demolished, and he hurriedly removed [them] from there and threw their dust into the Kidron Valley.   יבוְאֶֽת־הַֽמִּזְבְּח֡וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הַגָּג֩ עֲלִיַּ֨ת אָחָ֜ז אֲשֶׁר־עָשֹ֣וּ | מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וְאֶת־הַֽמִּזְבְּחוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁר־עָשָֹ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה בִּשְׁתֵּ֛י חַצְר֥וֹת בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֖ה נָתַ֣ץ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיָּ֣רָץ מִשָּׁ֔ם וְהִשְׁלִ֥יךְ אֶת־עֲפָרָ֖ם אֶל־נַ֥חַל קִדְרֽוֹן:
and he hurriedly removed them. and he eliminated them from there.   וַיָּרָץ מִשָּׁם.  וּבִעֲרָם מִשָּׁם.
13And the high places that were before Jerusalem, that were on the right of the Mount of the Destroyer, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Amon, did the king defile.   יגוְֽאֶת־הַבָּמ֞וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר | עַל־פְּנֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֗םִ אֲשֶׁר֘ מִימִ֣ין לְהַר־הַמַּשְׁחִית֒ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּ֠נָה שְׁלֹמֹ֨ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לְעַשְׁתֹּ֣רֶת | שִׁקֻּ֣ץ צִידֹנִ֗ים וְלִכְמוֹשׁ֙ שִׁקֻּ֣ץ מוֹאָ֔ב וּלְמִלְכֹּ֖ם תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֑וֹן טִמֵּ֖א הַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
the Mount of the Destroyer. The Mount of Olives, which is known as the Mount of Oil (הַר הַמִּשְׁחָה). Since he mentioned its name in reference to idolatry, he changed its name to a pejorative.   לְהַר הַמַּשְׁחִית.  הַר הַזֵּיתִים, הוּא הַר הַמִּשְׁחָה, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִזְכִּיר אֶת שְׁמוֹ עַל יְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שִׁנָּה שְׁמוֹ לִגְנַאי.
14And he broke down the monuments, and cut down the asherim, and filled their place with human bones.   ידוְשִׁבַּר֙ אֶת־הַמַּצֵּב֔וֹת וַיִּכְרֹ֖ת אֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרִ֑ים וַיְמַלֵּ֥א אֶת־מְקוֹמָ֖ם עַצְמ֥וֹת אָדָֽם:
15And also the altar that was in Bethel, the high place that Jeroboam the son of Nebat-who caused Israel to sin-had made, also that altar and the high place he demolished, and he burnt the high place; he pulverized it and burnt the asherah.   טווְגַ֨ם אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֜חַ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּבֵֽית־אֵ֗ל הַבָּמָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָֹ֜ה יָרָבְעָ֚ם בֶּן־נְבָט֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶחֱטִ֣יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל גַּ֣ם אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֧חַ הַה֛וּא וְאֶת־הַבָּמָ֖ה נָתָ֑ץ וַיִּשְׂרֹ֧ף אֶת־הַבָּמָ֛ה הֵדַ֥ק לְעָפָ֖ר וְשָׂרַ֥ף אֲשֵׁרָֽה:
16And Josiah turned and saw the graves that were there on the mount, and he sent and took the bones out of the graves and burned them on the altar and defiled it, according to the word of the Lord that the man of God had called, who had called out these words.   טזוַיִּ֣פֶן יֹאשִׁיָּ֗הוּ וַיַּ֨רְא אֶת־הַקְּבָרִ֚ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁם֙ בָּהָ֔ר וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח וַיִּקַּ֚ח אֶת־הָֽעֲצָמוֹת֙ מִן־הַקְּבָרִ֔ים וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ וַֽיְטַמְּאֵ֑הוּ כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֚ר קָרָא֙ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָרָ֔א אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה:
17And he said, "What is this marker that I see?" And the people of the city said to him, "The grave of the man of God who came from Judah and called out these things that you did on the altar of Bethel."   יזוַיֹּ֕אמֶר מָה הַצִּיּ֣וּן הַלָּ֔ז אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֲנִ֣י רֹאֶ֑ה וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו אַנְשֵׁ֣י הָעִ֗יר הַקֶּ֚בֶר אִישׁ־הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּקְרָ֗א אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֚ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִֹ֔יתָ עַ֖ל הַמִּזְבַּ֥ח בֵּֽית־אֵֽל:
“What is this marker?”. He saw a grave, one side of which was overgrown with thorns and thistles, and whose other side was [graced with] myrtles and spices. He wondered about it and said, “What is this?” And they replied,…   מַה הַצִּיּוּן הַלָּז.  רָאָה קֶבֶר, מִצִּדּוֹ אֶחָד עָלָה קִמְּשׁוֹנִים וַחֲרוּלִים, וְצִדּוֹ אֶחָד הֲדַסִּים וּבְשָׂמִים, וְתָמַהּ עָלָיו וְאָמַר מַה זֶּה. וְהֵשִׁיבוּ:
The grave of the man of God. and the false prophet, who commanded his sons that they bury him next to him.   הַקֶּבֶר אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים.  וּנְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר שֶׁצִּוָּה לְבָנָיו שֶׁיִּקְבְּרוּהוּ אֶצְלוֹ.
18And he said, "Let him be. Let no one move his bones. " And they spared his bones with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.   יחוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַנִּ֣יחוּ ל֔וֹ אִ֖ישׁ אַל־יָנַ֣ע עַצְמֹתָ֑יו וַֽיְמַלְּטוּ֙ עַצְמֹתָ֔יו אֵת עַצְמ֣וֹת הַנָּבִ֔יא אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֖א מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן:
19And also all the temples of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria that the kings of Israel had made [in order] to anger, Josiah removed, and he did to them like all the deeds he had done in Bethel.   יטוְגַם֩ אֶת־כָּל־בָּתֵ֨י הַבָּמ֜וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר | בְּעָרֵ֣י שֹׁמְר֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשֹ֜וּ מַלְכֵ֚י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְהַכְעִ֔יס הֵסִ֖יר יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ לָהֶ֔ם כְּכָל־הַֽמַּעֲשִֹ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֹ֖ה בְּבֵֽית־אֵֽל:
that were in the cities of Samaria. for Josiah was king over all Israel, those who returned from the ten tribes through Jeremiah.   אֲשֶׁר בְּעָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן.  שֶׁהָיָה יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, מַה שֶּׁחָזְרוּ מֵעֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים עַל יְדֵי יִרְמְיָהוּ.
20And he slaughtered all the priests of the high places who were there, on the altars, and he burnt human bones upon them, and he returned to Jerusalem.   כוַ֠יִּזְבַּח אֶת־כָּל־כֹּהֲנֵ֨י הַבָּמ֚וֹת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁם֙ עַל־הַֽמִּזְבְּח֔וֹת וַיִּשְׂרֹ֛ף אֶת־עַצְמ֥וֹת אָדָ֖ם עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַיָּ֖שָׁב יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ:
21And the king commanded all the people, saying, "Perform a Passover sacrifice to the Lord your God, as it is written in this scroll of the covenant."   כאוַיְצַ֚ו הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר עֲשֹ֣וּ פֶ֔סַח לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם כַּכָּת֕וּב עַ֛ל סֵ֥פֶר הַבְּרִ֖ית הַזֶּֽה:
22For such a Passover sacrifice had not been performed since the time of the judges who judged Israel, and all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah.   כבכִּ֣י לֹ֚א נַֽעֲשָׂה֙ כַּפֶּ֣סַח הַזֶּ֔ה מִימֵי֙ הַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁפְט֖וּ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכֹ֗ל יְמֵ֛י מַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וּמַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה:
such a Passover sacrifice had not been performed. So many people had not assembled at any Passover sacrifice as assembled at this one.   לֹא נַעֲשָׂה כַּפֶּסַח הַזֶּה.  לֹא נִתְקַבְּצוּ רֹב עַם בְּכָל פֶּסַח כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְקַבְּצוּ בָּזֶה.
since the days of the judges. In II Chron. 35:18, it is written, “Since the days of Samuel,” because Samuel, too, led Israel to improve [their ways], and he assembled them to Mizpah (I Sam. 7:5, 6). Alternatively, such a Passover had not been performed to the Lord in Jerusalem. Since the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah reigned, all Israel did not perform a Passover sacrifice in Jerusalem, because the kingdom had been divided in two since Jeroboam, and they would go to the calf in Bethel and in Dan until now that the ten tribes were exiled, and Jeremiah brought them back, and Josiah reigned over them, and they all came to Jerusalem.   מִימֵי הַשֹּׁפְטִים.  מִימֵי שְׁמוּאֵל, כָּתוּב בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים (דה"ב לה יח), לְפִי שֶׁאַף שְׁמוּאֵל הֶחֱזִיר יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמוּטָב, וְקִבְּצָם הַמִּצְפָּתָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר: לֹא נַעֲשָׂה כַּפֶּסַח הַזֶּה בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, (אֲבָל) מִשֶּׁמָּלְכוּ מַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה, לֹא עָשׂוּ פֶּסַח כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, לְפִי שֶׁנֶּחְלְקָה הַמַּלְכוּת לִשְׁנַיִם מִיָּרָבְעָם, וְהָיוּ הוֹלְכִים לָעֵגֶל שֶׁבְּבֵית אֵל וּבְדָן, עַד עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁגָּלוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים, וְהֶחֱזִירָם יִרְמְיָהוּ וּמָלַךְ עֲלֵיהֶם יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, וּבָאוּ כֻּלָּם לִירוּשָׁלַיִם.
23Except in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover sacrifice was performed to the Lord, in Jerusalem.   כגכִּ֗י אִם־בִּשְׁמֹנֶ֚ה עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לַמֶּֽלֶךְ יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ נַעֲשָֹ֞ה הַפֶּ֧סַח הַזֶּ֛ה לַיהֹוָ֖ה בִּירוּשָׁלָֽםִ:
24And also the necromancers and those who divine by the Jidoa bone and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, Josiah abolished, in order to fulfill the words of the Torah which were written in the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the Lord.   כדוְגַ֣ם אֶת־הָאֹב֣וֹת וְאֶת־הַ֠יִּדְּעֹנִים וְאֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֨ים וְאֶת־הַגִּלֻּלִ֜ים וְאֵ֣ת כָּל־הַשִּׁקֻּצִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֚ר נִרְאוּ֙ בְּאֶ֚רֶץ יְהוּדָה֙ וּבִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔םִ בִּעֵ֖ר יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ לְ֠מַעַן הָקִ֞ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֚י הַתּוֹרָה֙ הַכְּתֻבִ֣ים עַל־הַסֵּ֔פֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָצָ֛א חִלְקִיָּ֥הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה:
the teraphim. images that speak through sorcery, and the one who makes them must determine one hour in the year and one year that is fit for this.   הַתְּרָפִים.  צוּרוֹת שֶׁמְּדַבְּרִים עַל יְדֵי כְשָׁפִים, וְהָעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָן צָרִיךְ לְכַוֵּן שָׁעָה אַחַת בְּשָׁנָה, וְשָׁנָה אַחַת רְאוּיָה לְכָךְ.
25Now, before him there was no king like him, who returned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his possessions, according to the entire Torah of Moses, and after him no one arose.   כהוְכָמֹהוּ֩ לֹֽא־הָיָ֨ה לְפָנָ֜יו מֶ֗לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֚ב אֶל־יְהֹוָה֙ בְּכָל־לְבָב֚וֹ וּבְכָל־נַפְשׁוֹ֙ וּבְכָל־מְאֹד֔וֹ כְּכֹ֖ל תּוֹרַ֣ת משֶׁ֑ה וְאַחֲרָ֖יו לֹֽא־קָ֥ם כָּמֹֽהוּ:
26Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn back from His great wrath, for His wrath was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked Him.   כואַ֣ךְ | לֹֽא־שָׁ֣ב יְהֹוָ֗ה מֵחֲר֚וֹן אַפּוֹ֙ הַגָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁר־חָרָ֥ה אַפּ֖וֹ בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה עַל כָּל־הַכְּעָסִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִכְעִיס֖וֹ מְנַשֶּֽׁה:
27And the Lord said, "I will remove Judah too from before Me as I have removed Israel and I will reject this city, which I have chosen-Jerusalem-and the Temple concerning which I said, 'My Name shall be there.' "   כזוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה גַּ֚ם אֶת־יְהוּדָה֙ אָסִיר֙ מֵעַ֣ל פָּנַ֔י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲסִרֹ֖תִי אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּ֠מָאַסְתִּי אֶת־הָעִ֨יר הַזֹּ֚את אֲשֶׁר־בָּחַ֙רְתִּי֙ אֶת־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔םִ וְאֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔רְתִּי יִהְיֶ֥ה שְׁמִ֖י שָֽׁם:
28And the rest of the events of Josiah and all that he did, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah.   כחוְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֹ֑ה הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה:
29In his days, Pharaoh-Neco went up against the king of Assyria by the Euphrates River, and King Josiah went toward him, and he killed him in Megiddo when he saw him.   כטבְּיָמָ֡יו עָלָה֩ פַרְעֹ֨ה נְכֹ֧ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם עַל־מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּׁ֖וּר עַל־נְהַר־פְּרָ֑ת וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַמֶּ֚לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ וַיְמִיתֵ֙הוּ֙ בִּמְגִדּ֔וֹ כִּרְאֹת֖וֹ אֹתֽוֹ:
30And his servants transported him dead from Megiddo, and they brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his grave. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king instead of his father.   לוַיַּרְכִּבֻ֨הוּ עֲבָדָ֥יו מֵת֙ מִמְּגִדּ֔וֹ וַיְבִאֻ֙הוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔םִ וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֖הוּ בִּקְבֻֽרָת֑וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח עַם־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־יְהֽוֹאָחָז֙ בֶּן־יֹ֣אשִׁיָּ֔הוּ וַיִּמְשְׁח֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֹת֖וֹ תַּ֥חַת אָבִֽיו:
and anointed him. He required anointing only because Jehoiakim his brother was two years older than he, as is explained in this episode.   וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ.  לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ מְשִׁיחָה, אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה יְהוֹיָקִים אָחִיו גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּעִנְיָן.
31Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.   לאבֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְשָׁל֚שׁ שָׁנָה֙ יְהוֹאָחָ֣ז בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ וּשְׁלשָׁ֣ה חֳדָשִׁ֔ים מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑םִ וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ חֲמוּטַ֥ל בַּֽת־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ מִלִּבְנָֽה:
32And he did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, like all that his forefathers had done.   לבוַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשֹ֖וּ אֲבֹתָֽיו:
33And Pharaoh-Neco imprisoned him in Riblah in the land of Hamath, to prevent him from reigning in Jerusalem, and he imposed a fine on the land consisting of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.   לגוַיַּאַסְרֵהוּ֩ פַרְעֹ֨ה נְכֹ֚ה בְרִבְלָה֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֲמָ֔ת מִמְּלֹ֖ךְ (כתיב בִמְּלֹ֖ךְ) בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑םִ וַיִּתֶּן־עֹ֙נֶשׁ֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵאָ֥ה כִכַּר־כֶּ֖סֶף וְכִכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב:
34And Pharaoh-Neco crowned Eliakim the son of Josiah instead of his father Josiah, and he changed his name to Jehoiakim, and he took Jehoahaz, and he came to Egypt and died there.   לדוַיַּמְלֵךְ֩ פַּרְעֹ֨ה נְכֹ֜ה אֶת־אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֗הוּ תַּחַת יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ אָבִ֔יו וַיַּסֵּ֥ב אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ יְהוֹיָקִ֑ים וְאֶת־יְהוֹאָחָ֣ז לָקַ֔ח וַיָּבֹ֥א מִצְרַ֖יִם וַיָּ֥מָת שָֽׁם:
35And Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh but he assessed the land to give the silver according to Pharaoh's orders; each one according to his assessment, he exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land to give to Pharaoh-Neco.   להוְהַכֶּ֣סֶף וְהַזָּהָ֗ב נָתַ֚ן יְהוֹיָקִים֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה אַךְ הֶעֱרִ֣יךְ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ לָתֵ֥ת אֶת־הַכֶּ֖סֶף עַל־פִּ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה אִ֣ישׁ כְּעֶרְכּ֗וֹ נָגַ֞שׂ אֶת־הַכֶּ֚סֶף וְאֶת־הַזָּהָב֙ אֶת־עַ֣ם הָאָ֔רֶץ לָתֵ֖ת לְפַרְעֹ֥ה נְכֹֽה:
each one according to his assessment. according to his wealth.   אִישׁ כְּעֶרְכּוֹ.  כְּפִי עָשְׁרוֹ.
36Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.   לובֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֚שׁ שָׁנָ֨ה יְהוֹיָקִ֣ים בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ וְאַחַ֚ת עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑םִ וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ זְבוּדָּ֥ה (כתיב זְביּדָּ֥ה) בַת־פְּדָיָ֖ה מִן־רוּמָֽה:
37And he did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, like all that his forefathers had done.   לזוַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשֹ֖וּ אֲבֹתָֽיו: