מלכים ב, פרק כ״ג, פסוק י״ג

Josiah's unprecedented campaign to purify the land reaches deep into the past, targeting ancient sites of idol worship around Jerusalem that had stood for centuries since the kingdom was divided. He goes beyond merely stopping the forbidden practices; he actively defiles and destroys the physical structures built for the gods of neighboring nations. The location of these shrines is identified near the Mount of Olives. Originally known as the Mount of Anointing, its title was deliberately altered in the historical record to the Mount of Corruption. This change serves as an intentional insult, reflecting the historical presence of idols and forbidden worship at the site [רש"י, מצודת דוד, רד"ק, מנחת שי, חומת אנך, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Furthermore, the narrative deliberately employs harsh, repulsive terms to describe the foreign gods, serving as clear insults against them [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The historical record attributes the construction of these shrines to King Solomon, raising the question of whether he personally built them. The primary approach among commentators is that Solomon did not actually construct these altars himself. Rather, he turned a blind eye and allowed his foreign wives to build them. Because he failed to stop them, the responsibility is placed squarely on him, as if he had built them with his own hands [מצודת דוד, רלב"ג].

A significant question remains regarding how these ancient altars survived for so many generations, especially during the reigns of earlier righteous kings like Asa and Jehoshaphat. One perspective suggests that the altars were spared out of respect for King Solomon, given his connection to their establishment [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, other commentators explain that the earlier kings did, in fact, eliminate the active idol worship. However, they left the physical structures standing because the people had grown accustomed to using them to offer sacrifices to God. Josiah's unique greatness lay in his decision to shatter even these remaining structures. He took this definitive action either because the very foundations of the altars were rooted in idolatry, or to permanently eliminate any opportunity for the people to offer sacrifices outside the Temple [רד"ק].