Introduction:
Josiah, the sixteenth king of Judah, is remembered as one of the most righteous and reformative monarchs in the history of the Israelite kingdoms. His reign, which lasted from approximately 640 to 609 BC, is noted for significant religious reforms and a return to the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Josiah's account is primarily recorded in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.

Early Life and Ascension to the Throne:
Josiah was the son of King Amon and the grandson of King Manasseh. He ascended to the throne at the tender age of eight following the assassination of his father (2 Kings 21:23-24). Despite the idolatrous practices of his predecessors, Josiah's reign marked a dramatic shift towards the worship of the Lord.

Religious Reforms:
Josiah's most notable contribution was his extensive religious reforms, which were initiated in the eighteenth year of his reign. The catalyst for these reforms was the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple by Hilkiah the high priest (2 Kings 22:8). Upon hearing the words of the Law, Josiah tore his clothes in distress, recognizing the nation's deviation from God's commandments (2 Kings 22:11).

Determined to restore true worship, Josiah embarked on a campaign to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of idolatry. He ordered the removal and destruction of pagan altars, Asherah poles, and other idolatrous artifacts (2 Kings 23:4-14). He also reinstituted the Passover, which had not been observed in such a manner since the days of the judges (2 Kings 23:21-23).

Covenant Renewal:
Josiah's reforms were not merely external but involved a renewal of the covenant between the people and God. He gathered the people of Judah and read the Book of the Covenant to them, leading them in a pledge to follow the Lord and keep His commandments (2 Kings 23:1-3). This covenant renewal was a significant moment in the spiritual life of the nation, as it sought to realign the hearts of the people with the will of God.

Prophetic Endorsement:
The prophetess Huldah confirmed the authenticity of the Book of the Law and prophesied both judgment and mercy. She foretold the impending disaster due to the nation's past sins but assured Josiah that he would be spared from witnessing the calamity because of his humility and repentance (2 Kings 22:15-20).

Legacy and Death:
Josiah's reign is characterized by his unwavering commitment to the Lord and his efforts to lead his people back to righteousness. The Bible commends him, stating, "Neither before him nor after him was there a king like Josiah who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses" (2 Kings 23:25).

Tragically, Josiah's life ended prematurely when he was killed in battle at Megiddo while attempting to intercept Pharaoh Necho of Egypt (2 Kings 23:29). His death was deeply mourned by the nation, and he was buried with honor in Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:30).

Conclusion:
Josiah's reign stands as a testament to the power of repentance and the impact of godly leadership. His dedication to restoring the worship of Yahweh and his efforts to lead his people in righteousness left an indelible mark on the history of Judah.2 Kings 22:2
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Two Boy Kings.
... was no passover in all the history of the kings of Judah ... all the land, for he had
been a good king"kind ... for him, for he knew that one of Josiah's sons would ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxx the two boy.htm

Genealogy of Jesus According to Matthew.
... his father]; and Jotham begat Ahaz [one of Judah's worst kings]; and Ahaz begat ...
conspired against him and slew him]; and Amon begat Josiah [a good king, much ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/iii genealogy of jesus according.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... servant of the true God, but he chose that "good part which ... Josiah had not the aid
of a revealed volume, at least ... he was not so bad as the other kings, for he ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
... II Kings 21. 12. Name five good things Josiah did. II Kings 22 and 23. 13. Name
the first and last king of Israel, also of Judah. VII. What of Christ? ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/iv and v the kingdom.htm

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
... tribes) having gone into captivity, schism had come to its end; the kings of the ...
Huldah foretold a woe,"an early removal of the good Josiah to his rest as a ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon ix jeremiah a lesson.htm

The Kingdom of Judah.
... The Kings of this Period. 13. ... (4) His captivity in Babylon and release and attempted
reform. (5) The good reign of Josiah, who destroyed the altars of ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiv the kingdom of.htm

Chronicles
... and they appear to be made in perfectly good faith. ... The most pious kings have the
most soldiers ... Josiah's defeat and death are the penalty of his disobedience to ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/chronicles.htm

Palestine under Pagan Kings.
... marched into Palestine and conquered it, killing Josiah, the king ... of everyone in
itself, and that with good reason ... The kings and conquerors of old had no canals ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/palestine under pagan kings.htm

Manasseh and Josiah
... up and flourished"tyranny, oppression, hatred of all that is good. ... the Lord God of
his fathers" (2 Kings 21:21 ... and "the people of the land made Josiah his son ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 32 manasseh and josiah.htm

Ahaziah
... influence of women in shaping the lives and characters of kings. ... Again and again
we read of a good king who had a wicked father"Josiah, Hezekiah, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/ahaziah.htm

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