Then he burnedthe bonesof the priestson their altarsand purgedJudahand Jerusalem.
He criedagainstthe altarby the wordof the LORD,and said,"O altar,altar,thussaysthe LORD,'Behold,a sonshall be bornto the houseof David,Josiahby name;and on you he shall sacrificethe priestsof the highplaceswho burnincenseon you, and humanbonesshall be burnedon you.'"
Now when Josiahturned,he sawthe gravesthat [were] thereon the mountain,and he sentand tookthe bonesfrom the gravesand burned[them] on the altarand defiledit according to the wordof the LORDwhichthe manof Godproclaimed,whoproclaimedthesethings.
Allthe priestsof the highplaceswho[were] therehe slaughteredon the altarsand burnedhumanboneson them; then he returnedto Jerusalem.
Josiahremovedallthe abominationsfrom allthe landsbelonging to the sonsof Israel,and made allwho were presentin Israelto servethe LORDtheir God.Throughouthis lifetimethey did not turnfrom followingthe LORDGodof their fathers.
he also toredownthe altarsand beatthe Asherimand the carvedimagesinto powder,and choppeddownallthe incensealtarsthroughoutthe landof Israel.Then he returnedto Jerusalem.
"Yetin spite of allthisher treacheroussisterJudahdid not returnto Me with allher heart,but ratherin deception,"declaresthe LORD.
Washyour heartfrom evil,O Jerusalem,That you may be saved.Howlongwill your wickedthoughtsLodgewithinyou?
"Sonof man,sayto her, 'You are a landthat is not cleansedor rainedon in the dayof indignation.'
So you shall not pollutethe landin whichyou are; for bloodpollutesthe landand noexpiationcan be madefor the landfor the bloodthat is shedon it, exceptby the bloodof him who shedit.
