Contradictions and Paradoxes in 2 Kings 23:8

Check out Contradictions Catalog of 2 Kings 23:8 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts 2 Kings 23:8. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of 2 Kings, this verse shows how a king wanted to clean up all the places where people prayed to other gods. He did this because he wanted everyone to pray only to the true God.

2 Kings 23:8: And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that [were] in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which [were] on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.

Contradiction with 2 Kings 18:4

2 Kings 23:8 suggests Josiah removed high places, but 2 Kings 18:4 indicates that Hezekiah had already removed high places, suggesting they might not have been there to remove.

2 Kings 18:4: He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. [images: Heb. statues] [Nehushtan: that is, A piece of brass]

Contradiction with 1 Kings 22:43

Implies that high places were not entirely removed during Jehoshaphat’s reign, contradicting the complete removal described in 2 Kings 23:8.

1 Kings 22:43: And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing [that which was] right in the eyes of the LORD:

Contradiction with 2 Chronicles 15:17

States that Asa did not take away the high places, contradicting the implication in 2 Kings 23:8 that they were removed.

2 Chronicles 15:17: But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

Contradiction with 1 Kings 15:14

Similar to 2 Chronicles 15:17, mentions high places were not removed during Asa's reign, contrasting the action in 2 Kings 23:8.

1 Kings 15:14: But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.

Contradiction with 2 Kings 17:9-11

Describes Israel worshipping in high places prior to Josiah's reign, contradicting the idea that they could all be removed as easily as suggested in 2 Kings 23:8.

2 Kings 17:9-11: And the children of Israel did secretly [those] things that [were] not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

Paradox #1

There might be a historical inconsistency regarding the locations and the extent of Josiah's reforms mentioned in the verse. Some scholars point out that the geographical details and the mention of various high places may not align perfectly with other historical records or archaeological findings. This could lead to questions about the accuracy or completeness of the biblical account.

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