And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.
He did the same thing in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, all the way to Naphtali, tearing down idols with their tools all around those areas.
King Josiah extended his religious reforms beyond Judah into the northern territories, destroying idols and false worship sites throughout the land.
📚 Historical Context
In the 7th century BC, King Josiah of Judah led a widespread religious reform to eliminate idolatry and restore true worship of God after years of spiritual decline in the nation. This verse highlights how Josiah extended his efforts beyond Judah into the northern territories of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and Naphtali, areas that had been affected by Assyrian invasions and pagan influences following the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel. He used mattocks, tools for digging and breaking up the ground, to physically destroy idolatrous sites as part of his campaign.
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