John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And the king went up into the house of the Lord , etc.] To the temple, from his palace: and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him : they met him there: and the priests, and the prophets ; the prophets Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Uriah, who, though they might not be at Jerusalem when the book of the law was found, yet, upon this message of the king’s, might come up thither from the countries where they were; the Targum interprets the word “scribes”: and some take them to be the sons of the prophets, their disciples; in ( 2 Chronicles 34:30) they are called Levites: and all the people, both small and great ; a very numerous assembly: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord : that is, he caused it to be read by others, and perhaps by more than one, the congregation being so large.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - Josiah had received a message from God, that there was no preventin the ruin of Jerusalem, but that he should only deliver his own soul yet he does his duty, and leaves the event to God. He engaged the people in the most solemn manner to abolish idolatry, and to serve God in righteousness and true holiness. Though most were formal of hypocritical herein, yet much outward wickedness would be prevented and they were accountable to God for their own conduct.
Original Hebrew ויעל5927 המלך4428 בית1004 יהוה3068 וכל3605 אישׁ376 יהודה3063 וכל3605 ישׁבי3427 ירושׁלם3389 אתו854 והכהנים3548 והנביאים5030 וכל3605 העם5971 למקטן6996 ועד5704 גדול1419 ויקרא7121 באזניהם241 את853 כל3605 דברי1697 ספר5612 הברית1285 הנמצא4672 בבית1004 יהוה׃3068
