2 Kings 23:16
And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.
2 Kings 23:16 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse from the book of 2 Kings, King Josiah discovers the sepulchres on a mount and decides to disturb them by taking out the bones and burning them on the altar. This action was not done out of disrespect or malice, but rather as an act of fulfilling the word of the Lord as proclaimed by a man of God. The act of burning the bones was seen as a way of polluting the altar, which was in line with the instructions given by the man of God. This story serves as a reminder of the importance of following the word of the Lord, even if the actions may seem unusual or taboo. It emphasizes the idea that obedience to God's commands is paramount, and sometimes may require going against societal norms or traditions. The verse showcases King Josiah's dedication to carrying out God's will, even when it may have been a difficult or controversial decision.
Theological Overview
The theological interpretation of this verse revolves around the concept of obedience to the word of the Lord. In this passage, Josiah discovers the sepulchres on the mount and takes the bones out, burning them upon the altar as instructed by the man of God. This act may seem disrespectful, but it was a way for Josiah to enforce the commands of the Lord and demonstrate his commitment to following God's word. By carrying out this action, Josiah was purifying the land and eliminating any associations with false gods or idols that may have been present. This act of obedience reflects Josiah's dedication to upholding the teachings of the Lord and serves as a reminder for believers to remain steadfast in their faith and allegiance to God, even when faced with difficult or unsettling tasks.
2 Kings 23:16 in other translations
American Standard Version
And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount; and he sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Jehovah which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things.
World English Bible
As Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain; and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to Yahweh’s word which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things.
Douay-Rheims
And as Josias turned himself, he saw there the sepulchres that were in the mount: and he sent and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burnt them upon the altar, and defiled it according to the word of the Lord, which the man of God spoke, who had foretold these things.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And as Iosiah turned himselfe, he spied the graues, that were in the mount, and sent and tooke the bones out of the graues, and burnt them vpon the altar and polluted it, according to the word of the Lord, that the man of God proclaimed, which cryed the same wordes.