Bible Strands
2 Kings 23:18
“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Josiah addresses his officials at Bethel immediately after the city men identify the monument as the tomb of the prophet who came from Judah.
The words — The command הַנִּיחוּ (ha.Ni.chu) translates literally as "leave alone," reinforced by אַל־יָנַע (al-ya.na') meaning "may not he disturb" regarding the bones (עַצְמֹתָיו, 'atz.mo.Ta/v).
The thread — The passage fulfills the burial instruction in 1 Kings 13:31 and directly responds to the prophecy delivered in 1 Kings 13:1.
Why it lands — The text records Josiah’s explicit order to preserve the prophet’s remains intact and notes the officials’ immediate compliance in leaving the bones undisturbed.
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 he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 13:31 After he had buried him, the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones,
- 1 Kings 13:1 Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD.