2 Chronicles 31:1

Contextual Overview

¹When all this was completed, all Israel who had attended went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, to the last one. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own possession.¹ Now when all this was finished, all Yisra'el who were present went out to the cities of Yehudah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Yehudah and Binyamin, in Efrayim also and Menashsheh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Yisra'el returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. ¹ Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. ¹ Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke in pieces the pillars and cut down the Asherim and broke down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned to their cities, every man to his possession. ¹ When the Passover celebration was finished, all the Israelites in Jerusalem went out to the towns of Judah. There they smashed the stone pillars used to worship gods. They cut down the Asherah idols and destroyed the altars and places for worshiping gods in all of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Israelites returned to their own towns and homes. ¹ When all this was over, the Israelites who were in the cities of Judah went out and smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and demolished all the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Then all the Israelites returned to their own homes in their cities. ¹Now when all of this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and smashed the [pagan] pillars (obelisks, memorial stones) in pieces, cut down the Asherim (wooden symbols of a female deity), and tore down the high places and the altars [of idolatry] throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons (descendants) of Israel returned to their own cities, each to his own property.¹ Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the memorial stones in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.¹ Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. ¹ And when all these thinges were finished, all Israel that were found in the cities of Iudah, went out and brake the images, and cut downe the groues, and brake downe the hie places, and the altars thorowout all Iudah and Beniamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, vntil they had made an ende: afterwarde all the children of Israel returned euery man to his possession, into their owne cities.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Now when: 2 Chronicles 30:1-27

all Israel: 1 Kings 18:38-40, 2 Kings 23:2-20

present: Heb. found, Genesis 19:15, Esther 4:16

brake: 2 Chronicles 14:3, 2 Chronicles 23:17, 2 Chronicles 32:12, 2 Chronicles 34:3-7, Exodus 23:24, Deuteronomy 7:5, 2 Kings 18:4

images: Heb. statues, 2 Chronicles 30:14

in Ephraim: 2 Chronicles 30:1, 2 Chronicles 30:18, 2 Chronicles 34:6, 2 Chronicles 34:7, 2 Kings 17:2, 2 Kings 18:4, 2 Kings 23:15

until: etc. Heb. until to make an end

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:13 - ye shall Leviticus 26:30 - I will destroy Deuteronomy 12:3 - ye shall 1 Kings 8:66 - the eighth day 2 Kings 18:22 - whose high places 2 Kings 23:19 - the cities 2 Chronicles 17:6 - he took away 2 Chronicles 33:3 - which Hezekiah 2 Chronicles 34:9 - Manasseh Isaiah 17:7 - General Isaiah 30:22 - defile Isaiah 36:7 - is it not Hosea 8:6 - shall Hosea 10:8 - their altars Amos 3:14 - I will Micah 1:7 - all the graven

Cross-References

Genesis 31:3
The LORD said to Ya`akov, "Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3
And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

Genesis 31:3
And Yahweh said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your ancestors and to your family, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3
The Lord said to Jacob, "Go back to the land where your ancestors lived, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3
The Lord said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3
Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your people, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3
Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3
And the Lorde had said vnto Iaakob, Turne againe into the lande of thy fathers, and to thy kinred, and I wilbe with thee.

Genesis 31:3
Then Yahweh said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your kin, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3
One day the Lord said, "Jacob, go back to your relatives in the land of your ancestors, and I will bless you."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now when all this was finished,.... The temple cleansed, the priests and Levites sanctified, the passover and feast of unleavened bread observed, and other seven days of rejoicing kept:

all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin; which had been erected by Ahaz, 2 Chronicles 28:2 at or about this time also the brasen serpent was broke to pieces, 2 Kings 18:4,

in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all; which must be understood of such cities in those tribes that had been taken in former times by the kings of Judah from the kings of Israel; or such as were now in the hands of the Assyrians, who might not concern themselves in matters of religion; or this might be done at the connivance of Hoshea king of Israel, who had no regard to any other idolatry than the worship of the calves; and besides, having met with trouble from the Assyrians, and fearing more, might be willing to have his kingdom cleared of idolatry, in hope the divine displeasure would be removed:

then all the children of Israel returned every man to his possession into their own cities; and not till then, when all monuments of idolatry were removed.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jerusalem had been cleansed 2 Chronicles 30:14; now the land had to be purged. Hezekiah therefore gave his sanction to a popular movement directed as much against the “high places” which had been maintained since the times of the patriarchs, as against the remnants of the Baal-worship, or the innovations of Ahaz. See 2 Kings 18:4 note. The invasion of the northern kingdom “Ephraim and Manasseh” by a tumultuous crowd from the southern one, and the success which attended the movement, can only be explained by the state of weakness into which the northern kingdom had fallen (see the note at 2 Chronicles 29:24).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XXXI

The people destroy all traces of idolatry throughout Judah,

Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, 1.

Hezekiah reforms the state of religion in general; and the

tithes are brought in from all quarters, and proper officers

set over them, 2-13.

They bring to also the freewill-offerings, and regulate the

priests and Levites and their families, according to their

genealogies, 14-19.

Hezekiah does every thing in sincerity and truth, and is

prosperous, 20, 21.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXI

Verse 2 Chronicles 31:1. Brake the images in pieces — This species of reformation was not only carried on through Judah, but they carried it into Israel; whether through a transport of religious zeal, or whether with the consent of Hoshea the Israelitish king, we cannot tell.