Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

2 KINGS 23:24KJV
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2 Kings 23:24 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 23:24 mean?

2 Kings 23:24 describes how King Josiah removed all forms of pagan practices and objects—such as those who claimed to communicate with spirits, magicians, idols, and other detestable things—from Judah and Jerusalem. Josiah did this to fully obey the laws written in the book of the law that the priest Hilkiah had found in the temple.

This verse is part of a larger story about Josiah’s religious reforms. After the discovery of the book of the law (most likely part of Deuteronomy), Josiah took strong action to purify the land from anything that went against the worship of the LORD. The verse highlights both the seriousness of the idolatry in Judah and Josiah’s commitment to restoring true worship according to what was written in the sacred text.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 23:24

  • The word for "workers with familiar spirits" is אוֹב (’ov), often understood as people who claimed to consult the dead or spirits. This shows Josiah’s concern with removing occult practices.
  • "Wizards" comes from יִדְּעֹנִי (yidde‘oni), meaning those who claimed secret knowledge or magical power. This highlights the effort to eliminate all sources of forbidden supernatural guidance.
  • "Images" uses the word תְּרָפִים (terafim), which refers to household gods or idols. These were often used for personal or family worship, so Josiah’s removal of them shows how thorough his reforms were.
  • "Abominations" is from שִׁקּוּץ (shiqquṣ), a word used for things considered especially offensive or detestable, often in the context of idol worship. This underlines the seriousness of what Josiah was removing.

Why 2 Kings 23:24 matters

  • This verse clears up that Josiah’s reforms were not just about public ceremonies but also about rooting out private and hidden practices that went against the law found by Hilkiah.
  • The verse emphasizes that Josiah’s actions were motivated by a desire to "perform the words of the law," showing a direct link between scripture and reform.
  • It connects to the wider passage by showing how the rediscovery of the law led to a sweeping transformation in Judah’s religious life, setting Josiah apart as a king who responded wholeheartedly to God’s word.