Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
Ver. 1. Now when all this was finished.] Now that they had heard the law, received the sacrament, and had their hearts filled with the joy of the Lord, which was their strength, and graciously lifted up in the Lord's ways, as 2 Chronicles 17:6, they returned not home, till they had first done these zealous acts.
And brake the images in pieces.] They with their king. 2Ki 18:4
In Ephraim also and Manasseh.] Such cities therein as were subject to Hezekiah. Or if they went further, they looked upon Hoshea then king of Israel as a usurper: and he being rather an atheist than idolater, suffered the people haply to do herein as they would, so that he might be suffered to sit in the throne.
Returned every man to his possession.] They did not cast off their callings, and all care of their affairs, now that they were enlightened, as some of our sectaries hold themselves bound to do.