Who is King Josiah in the Bible?

Quick Facts

Father: King Amon, 2Ki 21:24
Mother: Jedidah, 2Ki 22:1
Predecessor: King Amon, 2Ki 21:24
Succession: 16th king
Length of reign: 31 years, 2Ki 22:1
Successor: Jehoahaz of Judah, 2Ki 23:30
Enthroned age: 8 years, 2Ki 22:1
Kingdom: Kingdom of Judah
Reign: 640 BC to 609 BC
Age when he died: 39 years, 2Ki 22:1
Morality: good king, 2Ki 22:2
Biblical history: 2Ch 34, 2Ch 35, 2Ki 22, 2Ki 23:1-30

Josiah reigns in Judah

The name Josiah means founded by God. Josiah became a king at the tender age of 8 years and he reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem. He was the son of King Amon and the grandson of King Manasseh. However, he did not follow the dark path of any of them. Rather, he chose well to be pious. Josiah born to King Amon was a child of prophecy.

Many years ago, while King Jeroboam of Israel was standing near his altar to make a sacrifice to his gods, a young prophet from Judah was there, and he prophesied loudly, saying, “O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.” (1 Kings 13:2) Josiah was born to fulfill this prophecy which was made many years ago in Bethel.

Josiah cleanses the temple and the land

In the 12th year of his reign, Josiah embarked on a mission to rid the land of the high places, Asherim, carved images, metal images, altars of the Baals, and incense altars that had been erected by the idolatrous people and the idolatrous kings who preceded him.

With determination and zeal, Josiah ordered that these idols be broken into pieces and their dust scattered over the graves of those who had worshipped them. He even went as far as to remove the bones of the priests of the idols from their graves and burn them on the altars of the idols they had served. (2 Chronicles 34:1-7)

Repairing the temple and the Book of the Law found

Not stopping there, Josiah also set out to repair the Temple of Solomon, which had fallen into disrepair. To fund this restoration project, he gathered money from the people and entrusted it to Hilkiah the high priest. During the repairs, a remarkable discovery was made – the book of the law. This book, believed to be the Torah, had been lost and forgotten for many years.

Realizing the significance of this find, the book was taken to the palace and read to Josiah. Upon hearing what was written in the Book of the Law and realizing that the Kingdom of Judah and all of Israel had transgressed profoundly before the Lord, he tore his clothes in despair. (2 Chronicles 34:1-21)

Huldah prophesies disaster

Then he sent Hilkiah, Shaphan, and others to consult with the prophetess Huldah. She confirmed that disaster and wrath would come upon the land because the people had forsaken the commandments of God. However, she also conveyed a message of hope, stating that because Josiah had humbled himself and torn his clothes in repentance, the disaster would not occur during his lifetime. In response to this revelation, Josiah gathered all the people of Israel and made a covenant with God to keep His commandments. (2 Chronicles 34:22-33)

Josiah keeps the Passover

In the 18th year of his reign, Josiah and his entire kingdom celebrated the Passover in Jerusalem. Josiah contributed lambs and young goats for the sacrifice. In total, 30,000 lambs and goats and 3,000 bulls were offered by Josiah during this momentous occasion. The celebration lasted for seven days, filled with offerings, sacrifices, and rejoicing. (2 Chronicles 35:1-19)

Josiah killed in battle

Over time, Pharaoh Neco of Egypt was on his way to Carchemish to join his ally, the Assyrian Empire, to fight against the Babylonian Empire. Then Josiah mustered his army to face him. Though the Pharaoh tried to avoid this war by sending envoys to Josiah to talk peace, Josiah did not listen but disguised himself and went out to meet Neco on the plain of Megiddo for war. However, in the course of the battle, he was struck by the archers and mortally wounded and he died. He was brought to Jerusalem and buried there. His death was greatly mourned, and the prophet Jeremiah composed a lamentation in his honor. (2 Chronicles 35:20-27)

Achievement of King Josiah

  • He cleansed and repaired the Temple of Solomon (2Ch 34:1-21).
  • He purged the land of Israel of idolatry (2Ch 34:1-7).
  • Josiah brought a reformation, leading the people into a covenant to serve God. (2Ch 34:1-7; 2Ch 34:22-33)
  • He organized the grandest Passover in the history of Israel and Judah (2Ch 35:1-19).

Contemporaries of King Josiah

  • There was no king of Israel during Josiah’s reign since the Kingdom of Israel was in exile.
  • Pharaoh Necho of Egypt  – though Necho and Josiah were not enemies, Josiah went to war against him and lost. (2Ch 35:20-27)

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