Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
When all this was finished, all the Israelites who were there went out to the cities of Judah and smashed the idols to pieces. They cut down the sacred poles, tore down the worship sites on hills, and destroyed the altars throughout all of Judah and Benjamin, and also in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had completely destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned home, each person to their own property and cities.
The writer is describing how the Israelites, after celebrating Passover, went throughout the land and completely destroyed all the places and objects used for idol worship before returning to their homes.
📚 Historical Context
During the reign of King Hezekiah in Judah, the people had just completed a major Passover celebration and Temple reforms, which were part of a broader effort to restore true worship of God. The Israelites then traveled to various cities to destroy idols, Asherah poles, and pagan altars, fulfilling God's commands against idolatry as outlined in the Mosaic Law. This action reflected a national commitment to spiritual renewal amid threats from surrounding nations like Assyria.
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