And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

2 KINGS 23:7KJV
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2 Kings 23:7 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 23:7 mean?

2 Kings 23:7 describes how King Josiah destroyed the houses of the "sodomites" that were located near the temple of the LORD, where women made hangings for a "grove"—a site connected with pagan worship. This verse shows Josiah’s effort to remove practices and places linked to idol worship from Jerusalem.

King Josiah is leading a religious reform in Judah, trying to restore worship of the LORD (Yahweh) alone. The verse points out that there were structures near the temple associated with cultic prostitution (the "sodomites") and ritual weaving by women for Asherah (the "grove"), both connected to Canaanite religious customs. Josiah’s actions here are part of a larger campaign to purify the worship in Jerusalem and remove foreign religious influences.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 23:7

  • "sodomites" (קָדֵשׁ, qadesh): This word refers to male cult prostitutes, often associated with pagan temples in the ancient Near East. Their presence near the temple shows how far foreign religious practices had crept into Israelite worship.
  • "grove" (אֲשֵׁרָה, asherah): This term refers to a wooden idol or sacred pole representing the goddess Asherah, a common object in Canaanite religion. The hangings woven by women were likely decorations or coverings for this idol.
  • "down" (נָתַץ, nathats): This verb means to tear down or demolish, emphasizing the thoroughness of Josiah’s reforms—he did not just ban these practices, he physically destroyed their places.

Why 2 Kings 23:7 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Josiah’s reforms were not just about changing laws but involved actively removing physical places and objects tied to idol worship.
  • The mention of both male cult prostitutes and women weaving for Asherah highlights how deeply these foreign practices had become part of daily life, even near the temple itself.
  • Understanding the specific words used here helps show the seriousness of Josiah’s commitment to restoring exclusive worship of the LORD and the extent of religious syncretism he was fighting against.