Joe: Alright, so what have we got for 2 Kings 23?
Bible Expert: Well Joe, this chapter is all about the reforms of King Josiah of Judah.
Joe: Oh wow, what was he reforming?
Bible Expert: Well, he started by getting rid of the idols and foreign gods that had been worshiped in Judah. He also removed the high places, the Asherah poles, and the carved images and metal images from the land.
Joe: That's a lot of changes!
Bible Expert: Yeah, it was. He also destroyed the altars of the Baals and the incense altars that were in the Lord's temple. And even burned the bones of the false priests on their own altars.
Joe: Whoa, that's intense!
Bible Expert: Sure is. Josiah also commanded that the priests and the people should keep the Passover feast and they did so. He also commanded that no one should offer sacrifices in any of the high places, only at the Lord's temple.
Joe: What else did he do?
Bible Expert: Well, he also got rid of all the male cult prostitutes and the mediums and fortunetellers. He also got rid of the idols and foreign gods that were in the land.
Joe: Wow, it sounds like he really was trying to clean things up and make some serious changes.
Bible Expert: That's right. He even got rid of the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
Joe: Holy cow, that's some serious dedication.
Bible Expert: Absolutely. Josiah also tore down the houses of the male cult prostitutes that were in the temple, and made everyone in Judah and Jerusalem to swear to serve the Lord and keep his laws and rules.
Joe: Wow, it sounds like he really was trying to make a difference.
Bible Expert: Definitely. And he even destroyed the altars of the false gods on the hills. So Josiah made some big changes in Judah and Jerusalem.