He brokein piecesthe [sacred] pillarsand cutdownthe Asherimand filledtheir placeswith humanbones.
He removedthe highplacesand brokedownthe [sacred] pillarsand cutdownthe Asherah.He also brokein piecesthe bronzeserpentthat Moseshad made,for untilthosedaysthe sonsof Israelburnedincenseto it; and it was calledNehushtan.
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.
"You shall not worshiptheir gods,norservethem, nordoaccording to their deeds;but you shall utterlyoverthrowthem and breaktheir [sacred] pillarsin pieces.
"But [rather], you are to teardowntheir altarsand smashtheir [sacred] pillarsand cutdowntheir Asherim--
Thereforethrough thisJacob'siniquitywill be forgiven;And thiswill be the fullpriceof the pardoningof his sin:When he makesallthe altarstoneslike pulverizedchalkstones;[When] Asherimand incensealtarswill not stand.
Noone recalls,noris there knowledgeor understandingto say,"I have burnedhalfof it in the fireand alsohave bakedbreadoverits coals.I roastmeatand eat[it]. Then I makethe restof it into an abomination,I falldownbefore a blockof wood!"
"I will also laythe deadbodiesof the sonsof Israelin frontof their idols;and I will scatteryour bonesaroundyour altars.
Allof her idolswill be smashed,Allof her earningswill be burnedwith fireAnd allof her imagesI will makedesolate,For she collected[them] from a harlot'searnings,And to the earningsof a harlotthey will return.
Also, anyonewhoin the openfieldtouchesonewhohas been slainwith a swordorwho has died[naturally], ora humanboneora grave,shall be uncleanfor sevendays.
A cleanpersonshall takehyssopand dip[it] in the water,and sprinkle[it] on the tentand on allthe furnishingsand on the personswhowere there,and on the one who touchedthe boneorthe oneslainorthe one dying[naturally] orthe grave.
then you shall driveout allthe inhabitantsof the landfrom beforeyou, and destroyalltheir figuredstones,and destroyalltheir moltenimagesand demolishalltheir highplaces;
"But thusyou shall doto them: you shall teardowntheir altars,and smashtheir [sacred] pillars,and hewdowntheir Asherim,and burntheir gravenimageswith fire.
