⁵ Then he did away with the idolatrous priests the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense at the high places^(A) in the cities of Judah and in the areas surrounding Jerusalem. They had burned incense to Baal, and to the sun, moon, constellations, and all the stars in the sky.^(B)

⁸ Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and he defiled the high places^(A) from Geba^(B) to Beer-sheba,^(C) where the priests had burned incense. He tore down the high places of the city gates at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city (on the left at the city gate).

¹⁶ As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mountain. He sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar.^(A) He defiled it according to the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God^[a] who proclaimed these things.^(B)

²⁰ He slaughtered on the altars all the priests of those high places,^(A) and he burned human bones on the altars.^(B) Then he returned to Jerusalem.