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 .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 23:8

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.