Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 34:29–end
We have here an account of the further advances which Josiah made towards the reformation of his kingdom upon the hearing of the law read and the receipt of the message God sent him by the prophetess. Happy the people that had such a king; for here we find that, 1. They were well taught. He did not go about to force them to do their duty, till he had first instructed them in it. He called all the people together, great and small, young and old, rich and poor, high and low. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear the words of the book of the covenant; for they are all concerned in those words. To put an honour upon the service, and to engage attention the more, though there were priests and L…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 34:19
AND, CAUSING THE LAW TO BE READ, RENEWS THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND THE PEOPLE. (Ch2 34:19-33)
when the king had heard the words of the law, &c.--(See on Kg2 22:11-20; Kg2 23:1-3).
Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 35
Adam Clarke on 2 Chronicles 34:32
To stand to it - It is likely that he caused them all to arise when he read the terms of the covenant, and thus testify their approbation of the covenant itself, and their resolution to observe it faithfully and perseveringly.
John Gill on 2 Chronicles 34:29
Then the king sent and gathered,.... From hence, to the end of 2 Chronicles 34:32, the same account is given of the reading of the law to the people, and of the covenant the king and they made to serve the Lord, as in 2 Kings 23:1.
Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Chronicles 34:29-32
The reading of the book of the law in the temple, and the solemn renewal of the covenant, to which the king assembled the elders of Judah and Jerusalem, with all the people, after the saying of the prophetess Huldah had been reported to him, are recorded in Kg2 23:1-3 as they are in the Chronicle, and have been commented upon at the former passage. Only Ch2 34:32, the contents of which correspond to the words, "And the whole people entered into the covenant" (Kg2 23:3), will need explanation. ויּעמד is usually translated, "he caused the people to enter into the covenant" (after 2 Kings). This is in substance correct, but exegetically cannot be defended, since בּבּרית does not precede, so as…
