דברי הימים ב, פרק ל״ד, פסוק ו׳

Josiah's sweeping campaign to purify the land from idol worship expanded far beyond the borders of Judah, reaching deep into the former northern kingdom of Israel. At this time, the vast majority of the northern tribes had already been exiled. However, the ruling Assyrian empire was growing weak, and its grip on the region was fading. This power vacuum allowed Josiah to step in. Driven by both political strategy and religious duty, he took control of these northern territories to completely wipe out any remaining idol worship [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

These northern areas were not entirely empty. A small remnant of survivors, who had escaped the devastation of the Assyrian conquests, still lived in the land [רש י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. As Josiah traveled through the region to eliminate the pagan altars, commentators offer different perspectives on the exact setting and method of his campaign.

One approach suggests that Josiah conducted his thorough search and destruction of idols among the physical ruins of the devastated Israelite cities [רלב ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective shifts the focus to the violent dismantling of the altars, suggesting that the historical account highlights the heavy tools, axes, and hammers used to smash the places of worship to pieces [רד ק, מצודת דוד].

A third perspective, rooted in an ancient spelling tradition, reveals that Josiah encountered these communities specifically in the mountains [מנחת שי]. This detail offers a glimpse into the fragile reality of the survivors. Paralyzed by fear and feeling completely exposed in the flat lowlands, these remaining people sought safety by building their homes in the secure, elevated mountain ranges [רש י].