2 Kings 23:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

The idolatrous priests, Heb. the chemarim; which were ministers of idols, Hosea 10:5, distinct from the priests, Zephaniah 1:4. Possibly they were the highest rank of priests, because they are here employed in the highest work, which was to burn incense. Baal; a particular god, of greatest esteem with them, so called; though elsewhere the name of Baal is common to all false gods.

2 Kings 23:5

5 And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.