2 Kings 23:26

“Notwithstanding, the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, etc.] Notwithstanding the great reformation wrought among them; for though Josiah was a sincere reformer, and did what he did heartily, as to the Lord, according to his will, and for his glory; yet the people were not sincere in their compliance, they turned to the Lord not with their whole heart, but feignedly, (<240310>Jeremiah 3:10) because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal; by shedding innocent blood and committing idolatry, which the people consented to and approved of, and even now privately committed idolatry, as the prophecies of…”

“Notwithstanding, the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his wrath,--&c. The national reformation which Josiah carried on was acquiesced in by the people from submission to the royal will; but they entertained a secret and strong hankering after the suppressed idolatries. Though outwardly purified, their hearts were not right towards God, as appears from many passages of the prophetic writings; their thorough reform was hopeless; and God, who saw no sign of genuine repentance, allowed His decree (Kg2 21:12-15) for the subversion of the kingdom to take fatal effect.”

“See the marginal references. True repentance might have averted God’s anger. But the people had sunk into a condition in which a true repentance was no longer possible. Individuals, like Josiah, were sincere, but the mass of the nation, despite their formal renewal of the covenant 2 Kings 23:3, and their outward perseverance in Yahweh-worship 2 Chronicles 34:33, had feigned rather than felt repentance. The earlier chapters of Jeremiah are full at once of reproaches which he directs against the people for their insincerity, and of promises if they would repent in earnest. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Notwithstanding - Because though the king was most hearty in his repentance and acceptable to God, and therefore the judgment was delayed for his time; yet the people were in general corrupt, and secretly averse from Josiah's pious reformation, as appears from the complaints of the prophets, especially Jeremiah and Zephaniah, against them: and by the following history, wherein we see, that as soon as ever Josiah was gone, his children, and the princes, and the people, suddenly and greedily returned to their former abominations. Because - The sins of Manasseh, and for the men of his generation; who concurred with him in his idolatrous and cruel practices, are justly punished in this…”

“23:26-27 I will also banish Judah: Despite Josiah’s strong reforms, Manasseh’s wickedness had become so deeply entrenched among the people that not even Josiah could change their apostate hearts, and the penalties for violation of God’s covenant would be applied (Deut 28:15-68).”

“Notwithstanding: Kg2 21:11-13, Kg2 22:16, Kg2 22:17, Kg2 24:2, Kg2 24:4; Ch2 36:16; Jer 3:7-10, Jer 15:1-4 provocations: Heb. angers 4 Kings (2 Kings) 23:27”