Iyyar 29 – They smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles…

May 27, 2025

02 – Iyyar, 2 Chronicles, Benjamin, Ephraim, Israel, Judah, King Hezekiah, Levite, Manasseh, Months, Sabbath (Shabbat)

Iyyar 29, 5785; from sunset May 26, 2025, to sunset May 27, 2025

(The twenty-ninth day of the second month)

This is an image of a bulla, a clay impression, that was used to seal documents. The bulla reads “Belonging to Hezekiah, (son of) Ahaz, king of Judah.” It was discovered near the Temple Mount in 2015.

Last week we remembered King Hezekiah and those loyal to the LORD – those who had kept the Passover in the second month – and were so joyful they decided to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread another seven days! Now the second seven days are over.

Since Hezekiah became king, they have cleansed the Temple. They have celebrated the Passover. They have extended that celebration another seven days. And now, they have set their sights on cleansing the towns of Judah. The destruction of the high places, sacred stones, altars and Asherah poles begins. Though the text doesn’t give us a specific date, it does say, “when all this had ended,” referring to the Passover celebrations.

When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Israelites returned to their own towns and to their own property.

Hezekiah assigned the priests and Levites to divisions– each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites– to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to minister, to give thanks and to sing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.

The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the LORD. – 2 Chronicles 31:1-3 (NIV)

He’s only been king for a couple of months, but Hezekiah has earnestly been setting straight that which had been made crooked.

To read all of our posts about Hezekiah, please click on the image above.