Topical Bible: Idolatry: The Good Kings of Judah Endeavoured to Destroy

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Idolatry, the worship of idols or false gods, was a persistent issue in the history of Israel and Judah, often leading the people away from the worship of Yahweh, the one true God. Throughout the biblical narrative, several kings of Judah are noted for their efforts to eradicate idolatry and restore the worship of Yahweh. These kings are often referred to as "good kings" due to their faithfulness to God and their attempts to lead the nation back to righteousness.

Asa

King Asa, who reigned over Judah from approximately 911 to 870 BC, is one of the earliest kings noted for his efforts against idolatry. Asa "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done" (1 Kings 15:11). He removed the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made. Asa also deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole, which he cut down and burned in the Kidron Valley (1 Kings 15:12-13).

Jehoshaphat

Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, continued his father's reforms during his reign from approximately 873 to 849 BC. He strengthened the kingdom spiritually by removing the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. Jehoshaphat sent officials, along with Levites and priests, throughout the land to teach the people the Book of the Law of the LORD (2 Chronicles 17:6-9). His commitment to God is summarized in 2 Chronicles 17:3-4 : "Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek out the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel."

Hezekiah

King Hezekiah, who reigned from approximately 715 to 686 BC, is renowned for his extensive religious reforms. Hezekiah "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done" (2 Kings 18:3). He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also broke into pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it (2 Kings 18:4). Hezekiah's reforms were part of a broader effort to centralize worship in Jerusalem and eliminate idolatrous practices.

Josiah

Perhaps the most zealous reformer was King Josiah, who reigned from approximately 640 to 609 BC. His reforms were sparked by the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple during its renovation. Upon hearing the words of the Law, Josiah tore his clothes in distress and sought to renew the covenant with the LORD (2 Kings 22:11). Josiah ordered the removal of all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the starry hosts from the temple of the LORD. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel (2 Kings 23:4). Josiah also desecrated the high places and removed the shrines at the gates, leading a comprehensive campaign to cleanse the land of idolatry (2 Kings 23:8-20).

These kings of Judah exemplified a commitment to the covenantal relationship with Yahweh, striving to lead their people away from idolatry and back to the worship of the one true God. Their efforts are recorded as acts of faithfulness and obedience, serving as reminders of the importance of exclusive devotion to God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 15:16
And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 34:7
And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Ahaziah
... work and watch the training of the future kings? ... of women in forming lives for evil
or for good. ... still worshipped God and was comparatively free from idolatry. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/ahaziah.htm

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party ...
... God, and God's forsaking of men, beside idolatry and false ... when otherwise we have
choice of good instruments ... Seeing the judges and the reforming kings of Judah ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section iii that the employing.htm

The Assumption of Moses
... The, proneness of the Jews to idolatry, the likelihood that the ... is unadulterated
Judaism, and there is good reason, as ... "But the last four kings shall worship ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the assumption of moses.htm

The Sibylline Oracles.
... shall conspire in conjunction with certain barbarian kings; but after ... of which Rome
shall be overthrown and idolatry abolished; then shall good men have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the sibylline oracles.htm

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
... bring again into view, is the sin of idolatry"a breach ... and hast made us unto our
God kings and priests ... token of good, yea, as the abiding reality of all good. ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xi covenanting enforced by.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... the sons of Noah; the introduction of idolatry by Ur ... xxxviii.): "There were kings
who reigned over Edom, before ... among mankind, one of the good angels taught ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

Psalm CXXXII.
... Thus, though there were thorns of idolatry there, still we ... shall rejoice: because
all that is good in themselves ... them in the woodland plains." [Note 1 Kings 6:7 ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxxii.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... spirit, whose supremacy he threatened, endeavoured to destroy ... specifying which of
the four kings named Vologesus ... James Darmesteter has given good reasons for ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... have noticed any other crime, eg, fornication, idolatry, etc., is ... p.741 ff., says:
"God sends good angels to punish ... Hebrew: emd] with [Hebrew: el] 1 Kings 13:1 ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... come to Jerusalem, he was to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem ... the godly of
that day, that with good words and ... beast, a man, or woman; and the kings of the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm