2 Kings 23: Group Study Handout

How to use: read 2 Kings 23 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Josiah gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to Yahweh's house. He read the book of the covenant found in the temple (vv. 1-2).

Key verse

“The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring out of Yahweh’s temple all the vessels that were made for Baal, for the Asherah, and for all the army of the sky, and he burned them outside of Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.”
2 Kings 23:4 (WEB)

Outline

2 Kings 23:1–3 Josiah's Covenant with Yahweh
2 Kings 23:4–20 Destruction of Idolatry
2 Kings 23:21–24 Celebration of Passover
2 Kings 23:25–27 Josiah's Unique Faithfulness
2 Kings 23:28–37 Josiah's Death and Aftermath

Discussion questions

In v6, what does Josiah do with the Asherah that he brings out of Yahweh's house?
What does Josiah command the people in v21 regarding the Passover?
In v26, why does the text say Yahweh's wrath did not turn away despite Josiah's reforms?
In v25, what does the phrase 'with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might' indicate about Josiah’s commitment?
When have you felt compelled to remove something detrimental from your life, like Josiah did with idolatry?

Go deeper

Passages that echo 2 Kings 23: 1 Kings 13, 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 34.

Before next time: read 2 Kings 24.