5 He did away with the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the surrounding area of Jerusalem , also those who burned incense to Baal , to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations and to all the host of heaven . 6 He brought out the Asherah from the house of the Lord outside e Jerusalem to the brook Kidron , and burned it at the brook Kidron , and ground it to dust , and threw its dust on the graves of the common people . 7 He also broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes which were in the house of the Lord , where e the women were weaving hangings for the Asherah . 8 Then he brought all the priests from the cities of Judah , and defiled the high places where e the priests had burned incense , from Geba to Beersheba ; and he broke down the high places of the gates which were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city , which were on one's left at the city gate . 9 Nevertheless the priests of the high places did not go up to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem , but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:5-9
Commentary on 2 Kings 23:4-14
(Read 2 Kings 23:4-14)
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 his name was great, in Salem, in Zion, where his dwelling-place was, such abominations should be found. Josiah had reigned eighteen years, and had himself set the people a good example, and kept up religion according to the Divine law; yet, when he came to search for idolatry, the depth and extent were very great. Both common history, and the records of God's word, teach, that all the real godliness or goodness ever found on earth, is derived from the new-creating Spirit of Jesus Christ.