Josiah: King of Judah: Prophecies Concerning
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Josiah, the son of Amon and the grandson of Manasseh, reigned as the king of Judah from approximately 640 to 609 BC. His reign is noted for significant religious reforms and a return to the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Josiah's life and reign were marked by prophecies that underscored his role in the divine plan for Judah.

Prophecy of the Birth of Josiah

The earliest prophecy concerning Josiah is found in 1 Kings 13:1-2. During the reign of King Jeroboam of Israel, a man of God from Judah prophesied against the altar at Bethel, declaring, "Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and upon you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you" . This prophecy, made over three centuries before Josiah's birth, highlights the divine foreknowledge and the specific role Josiah would play in purging idolatry from the land.

Fulfillment of the Prophecy

Josiah's fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in 2 Kings 23:15-16. During his extensive reforms, Josiah destroyed the altar at Bethel, fulfilling the words spoken by the man of God. "Even the altar at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and he burned the Asherah pole" . Josiah's actions were a direct fulfillment of the prophecy, demonstrating his commitment to eradicating idolatry and restoring true worship.

Prophecy of Josiah's Death

Despite his piety and reforms, Josiah's death was also foretold. In 2 Kings 22:18-20, the prophetess Huldah conveyed a message from God to Josiah, stating that he would be "gathered to your fathers in peace, and your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am going to bring on this place" . This prophecy indicated that Josiah would not witness the impending judgment on Judah due to his faithfulness.

Josiah's death occurred in battle at Megiddo, as recorded in 2 Kings 23:29-30. Although he died in conflict, the prophecy's essence was fulfilled in that he did not live to see the Babylonian conquest and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem.

Significance of the Prophecies

The prophecies concerning Josiah underscore the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations and individuals. Josiah's life was a testament to the fulfillment of divine promises and the importance of obedience to God's commands. His reign serves as a reminder of the blessings that accompany faithfulness and the certainty of God's word.
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1 Kings 13:1-3
And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
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Library

Approaching Doom
... fast day, "in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah ... words that
were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 35 approaching doom.htm

Manasseh and Josiah
... our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as King of kings ... During the reign of Josiah the
word of the Lord ... His prophecies of impending judgment upon Judah apply with ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 32 manasseh and josiah.htm

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
... Zephaniah wrote later than the eighteenth year of Josiah. ... of Christ as both priest
and king upon the ... respecting the future prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiii the twelve minor.htm

The Book of the Law
... These, too, were removed and destroyed by Josiah. The king sought further to establish
the faith of Judah in the God of their fathers by holding a great ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 33 the book of.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... Assyria; and the kings of Judah sometimes sought ... correct common denominator for this
collection of prophecies.". ... in the time of good King Josiah, denounced the ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

The Man and the Book.
... Lord first spake to him, in the days of Josiah, even unto ... in the ears of all the
people of Judah who have ... at its contents and their duty to the king, they sent ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/lecture i the man and.htm

The Kingdom of Judah.
... both on the part of the king and on ... reform work of Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah
and Josiah. ... concerning each, especially of matters that affected Judah. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiv the kingdom of.htm

Jeremiah
... triumph, the pitiful vacillation of the king, the final ... of Gedaliah as governor of
Judah, his assassination ... may be vengeance for the defeat of Josiah at Megiddo ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/jeremiah.htm

Isaiah
... tribute paid by Hezekiah to the King of Assyria ... Judah suffers from raids, lxii.8,
Jerusalem is unhappy ... if at all, by the reformation of Josiah, would perpetuate ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/isaiah.htm

The Credibility of Scripture Sufficiently Proved in So Far as ...
... in his own day, when the kingdom of Judah was at ... Did not he deliver prophecies embracing
a future period of ... time when it was found by good King Josiah (2 Kings ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 the credibility of.htm

Resources
Who are the Chemarim / Chemarims in Zephaniah 1:4? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Zedekiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is a prophetess? Does the Bible mention any prophetesses? | GotQuestions.org

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Josiah: King of Judah: Piety of Exemplified in his Repairing of the Temple
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