And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,

And he brought the priests and the Levites, and assembled them in the east street.

And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them into the open place eastward;

and bringeth in the priests and the Levites, and gathereth them to the broad place to the east.

And he sent for the priests and the Levites, and got them together in the wide place on the east side,

And he brought together the priests and Levites. And he gathered them in the wide eastern street.

The east street - Rather, some open space before the eastern gate of the outer temple court is intended.

And he brought in the priests and Levites,.... The persons that officiated in the service of the temple:
and gathered them together into the east street; which led to the eastern gate of the temple.

the east street--the court of the priests, which fronted the eastern gate of the temple. Assembling the priests and Levites there, he enjoined them to set about the immediate purification of the temple. It does not appear that the order referred to the removal of idols, for objects of idolatrous homage could scarcely have been put there, seeing the doors had been shut up [2-Chronicles 29:3]; but in its forsaken and desolate state the temple and its courts had been polluted by every kind of impurity.

And he brought in, &c - He found Judah low and naked, yet did not make it his first business to revive the civil interests of his kingdom, but to restore religion to a good posture. Those that begin with God, begin at the right end of their work; and it will prosper accordingly.