Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 23:1

"And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem." — 2 Kings 23:1 (ASV)

JOSIAH RENEWS THE COVENANT, ROOTS OUT IDOLATRY, AND HOLDS A SOLEMN PASSOVER. HIS END.

They gathered. —The right reading is probably that of the Syriac and Vulgate, there gathered. Chronicles, Septuagint, and Arabic have he gathered.

All the elders. —The representatives of the nation.