A parenthesis giving the earlier reforms of Josiah.

2 Kings 23:4

The priests of the second order - This is a new exp…

Topheth. —Heb. the Topheth; i.e., the burning place, or hearth, if the word is rightly derived from the Persian tôften, “…

And he defiled Topheth
A place so called, as is generally thought, from the beating of drums or timbrels in it, that…

What abundance of wickedness in Judah and Jerusalem! One would not have believed it possible that in Judah, where God was known, in Israel, where h…