14. Yaphahlaza izinsika, yanquma o-Ashera,* yagcwalisa izindawo zabo ngamathambo abantu.
15. I-altare elaliseBethele, nendawo ephakemeyo eyenziwe nguJerobowamu indodana kaNebati owonisa u-Israyeli, nalelo altare kanye nendawo ephakemeyo yakudiliza, yayishisa indawo ephakemeyo, yayicolisisa yaba yincushuncushu, yashisa no-Ashera.*
16. UJosiya waphenduka, wabona amathuna ayelapho entabeni; wathumela wakhipha amathambo emathuneni, wawashisa e-altare, walingcolisa njengezwi likaJehova alimemeza lowo muntu kaNkulunkulu owamemezela lezi zinto.
17. Wayesethi: “Yitshe lini leli engilibonayo na?”Abantu bomuzi bamtshela bathi: “Yithuna lalowo muntu kaNkulunkulu owavela kwaJuda, wamemezela lezi zindaba osuzenzile nge-altare laseBethele.”
18. Wathi: “Myekeni; mawanganyakaziswa muntu amathambo akhe.” Base beyeka amathambo akhe kanye namathambo alowo mprofethi owavela eSamariya.
19. Nazo zonke izindlu zezindawo eziphakemeyo ezazisemizini yaseSamariya, ezenziwa ngamakhosi akwa-Israyeli acunula ngazo, uJosiya wazisusa, wenza kuzona njengazo zonke izenzo azenzileyo eBethele.
20. Wabulala ema-altare bonke abapristi basezindaweni eziphakemeyo ababe lapho, washisa amathambo abantu phezu kwawo, wabuyela eJerusalema.
21. Inkosi yayisiyala bonke abantu ngokuthi: “Yenzelani uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu iphasika njengokulotshiwe kule ncwadi yesivumelwano.”
22. Ngokuba iphasika elinjalo lalingagcinwanga kusukela emihleni yabahluleli abahlulela u-Israyeli, nasemihleni yonke yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli, nakweyakwaJuda.
23. Kepha ngomnyaka weshumi nesishiyagalombili wenkosi uJosiya leli phasika lenzelwa uJehova eJerusalema.
24. Futhi abanamadlozi, nabathakathi, namatherafi,* nezithombe, nazo zonke izinengiso ezazibonwa ezweni lakwaJuda naseJerusalema uJosiya wakuqeda ukuba afeze amazwi omthetho alotshwe encwadini uHilikiya umpristi ayifumanayo endlini kaJehova.
25. Kwakungekho nkosi phambi kwakhe eyaphendukela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yayo nangawo onke amandla ayo njengawo wonke umthetho kaMose, nangasemva kwakhe akuvelanga enjengaye.