Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 34:30
And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people great and small—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The king summons the elders, priests, Levites, and all citizens of Judah and Jerusalem to assemble at the temple after a recovered scroll is discovered.
The words — וַיַּעַל (va.Ya'al) means "and he went up," describing the monarch's physical ascent to the sanctuary, while הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha.Melekh) identifies the king as the one who initiates and leads the gathering.
The thread — This temple assembly and public reading directly echoes the covenant renewal in Exodus 24:7 and parallels Josiah's later reform gathering in 2 Kings 23:2.
Why it lands — The text records the king reading every word of the found Book of the Covenant aloud to all present, requiring the entire community to hear the written terms before any agreement is formed.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord.
Cross-references
- Exodus 24:7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”
- 2 Kings 23:2 And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 1:17 Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”
- Deuteronomy 17:18 When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
- 2 Kings 23:21 The king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover of the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:1 Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
- 2 Chronicles 15:12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.
- 2 Chronicles 17:7 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah,
- 2 Chronicles 18:30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”
- 2 Chronicles 34:15 And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan.