Josiah

Lore & Background

According to the Hebrew Bible, Josiah ascended to the throne of the southern Kingdom of Judah at the age of eight following the assassination of his father, King Amon. He reigned for 31 years, during which he expanded Judah and initiated major religious reforms, centralizing worship in Jerusalem and eliminating the worship of foreign gods. His religious reforms began in his eighteenth year as king when the 'Book of the Law' (likely an early version of the Book of Deuteronomy) was discovered during repairs to the Temple, and the prophetess Huldah confirmed its authenticity. Josiah destroyed idols, high places, and sacred poles and purged Judah of false priests, mediums, and magicians. His reforms also extended into the territory that had once been part of the northern Kingdom of Israel. Josiah's reforms were not purely religious; they were also politically motivated. By centralizing worship at the Jerusalem Temple and eliminating smaller shrines and high places, Josiah gained control over the offerings and dues previously managed by local cultic centers. Scholars argue that he sought to revive a united kingdom. The biblical account of Josiah's reforms has traditionally been considered historically accurate, but the accuracy of these descriptions is now widely debated among scholars. Despite no direct reference to Josiah in other contemporary texts from Egypt or Babylon, and no inscriptions bearing his name, a seal bearing the name 'Nathan-melech,' an official under Josiah mentioned in 2 Kings 23:11, was discovered in situ in an archeological site in Jerusalem. Most scholars agree on Josiah's historical existence. The influence of Josiah's reign is evident in the Deuteronomistic History. Josiah is depicted as the most righteous king in this tradition, the only one to fully implement the reforms outlined in the 'Book of the Law.' His death in 609 BC during a confrontation with Pharaoh Necho II of Late Egypt set the stage for the decline of the kingdom.

Reader's Guide

The Bible describes him as a righteous king in 2 Kings 22:2, 'He did what was pleasing to GOD and he followed all the ways of his forefather David; he did not deviate to the right or to the left.' A similar phrase appears in 2 Chronicles 34:2. He is also one of the kings mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew, one of the two genealogies of Jesus in the New Testament (cf. Matthew 1:10–11). According to the biblical narrative, Josiah was the son of King Amon of Judah and Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. His grandfather Manasseh was one of the kings blamed for turning away from the worship of Yahweh. Josiah's great-grandfather was King Hezekiah, a noted reformer. According to 1 Chronicles 3:15, 2 Kings 23:31 and 36, 2 Kings 24:18, Josiah had four sons: Johanan and Eliakim (born c. 634 BC), whose mother was Zebidah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Ruma; and Shallum (633/632 BC) and Mattanyahu (c. 618 BC), whose mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Eliakim had his name changed by the Saïte pharaoh Necho II to Jehoiakim according to 2 Kings 23:34. Shallum, his third son, succeeded Josiah as Jehoahaz according to 1 Chronicles 3:15 and Jeremiah 22:11. Eliakim succeeded Shallum as Jehoiakim in 2 Chronicles 36:4, and he was succeeded by his son Jeconiah in 2 Chronicles 36:8. Jeconiah was succeeded to the throne by his uncle Mattanyahu, under the name Zedekiah in 2 Kings 24:17. Zedekiah was the last king of Judah before the kingdom was conquered by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Babylonian captivity began.

Did You Know?

• Josiah was eight years old when he became king.
• The 'Book of the Law' discovered during Josiah's reign is likely an early version of the Book of Deuteronomy.
• A seal bearing the name 'Nathan-melech,' an official under Josiah, was discovered in an archaeological site in Jerusalem.
• Josiah's death in 609 BC during a confrontation with Pharaoh Necho II set the stage for the decline of the kingdom.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Josiah or Yoshiyahu was the 16th king of Judah (640–609 BCE). Described as "one of Judah’s most important kings," his reign likely marked a turning point in the development of Yahwism." — Josiah "Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him." — Josiah