He broke down the altars …: As in the previous verses, it is unlikely that Josiah alone did the actual breaking down of all the altars and performed all the other actions described in this verse. So it may be better to translate “he had the altars destroyed…” or “he supervised the smashing of the altars….”

And beat the Asherim and the images into powder: See verse 4. To say that these idols were ground into powder is a way of emphasizing the thoroughness with which the destruction was carried out.

And hewed down all the incense altars: See verse 4.

Throughout all the land of Israel clearly refers to the northern kingdom of Israel. Good News Translation makes this clear with “Throughout the territory of the Northern Kingdom.” Contemporary English Version is similar with “Everywhere in the northern kingdom of Israel,” and so are Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie with “within all the tribes of the north.”

Then he returned to Jerusalem: After Josiah destroyed all the idols and their altars in the northern kingdom, he went back to Jerusalem.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .