Who is…
Josiah

also known as: Josias

Meaning: healed by Jehovah, or Jehovah will support

He is a son of King Amon, and his successor on the throne of the Kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 22:1; 2 Chronicles 34:1).

His history is contained in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 33:25-35:27. He stands foremost among all the kings of the line of David for unswerving loyalty to Jehovah (23:25).

He “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father.”

He ascended the throne at the early age of 8 years, and it appears that not till 8 years afterwards did he begin “to seek after the God of David his father.” At that age he devoted himself to God.

Great spiritual awakening

He distinguished himself by beginning a war of extermination against the prevailing idolatry, which had practically been the state religion for some seventy years (2 Chronicles 34:3; compare Jeremiah 25:3; 25:11; 25:29).

In the 18th year of his reign, he proceeded to repair and beautify the temple, which by time and violence had become sorely dilapidated (2 Kings 22:3; 22:5-6; 23:23; 2 Chronicles 34:11).

While this work was being carried on, Hilkiah, the high priest, discovered a roll, which was probably the original copy of the law, the entire Pentateuch, written by Moses.

When this book was read to him, the king was alarmed by the things it contained, and sent for Huldah, the “prophetess,” for her counsel.

She spoke to him words of encouragement, telling him that he would be gathered to his fathers in peace before the threatened days of judgment came.

Josiah immediately gathered the people together, and engaged them in a renewal of their ancient national covenant with God.

The Passover was then celebrated, as in the days of his great predecessor, Hezekiah, with unusual magnificence. Nevertheless, “the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah” (2 Kings 22:3-20; 23:21-27; 2 Chronicles 35:1-19).

During the progress of this great religious revolution, Jeremiah helped it on by his earnest exhortations.

Egyptian confrontation

Soon after this, Pharaoh-Necho II, king of Egypt, in an expedition against the king of Assyria, with the view of gaining possession of Carchemish, sought a passage through the territory of Judah for his army. This Josiah refused to permit.

He had probably entered into some new alliance with the king of Assyria, and faithful to his word he sought to oppose the progress of Necho.

Death

The army of Judah went out and encountered that of Egypt at Megiddo, on the verge of the plain of Esdraelon. Josiah went into the field in disguise, and was fatally wounded by a random arrow.

His attendants conveyed him toward Jerusalem, but had only reached Hadadrimmon, a few miles south of Megiddo, when he died (2 Kings 23:28; 23:30; compare 2 Chronicles 35:20-27), after a reign of 31 years.

Burial and aftermath

He was buried with the greatest honors in fulfilment of Huldah’s prophecy (2 Kings 22:20; compare Jeremiah 34:5). Jeremiah composed a funeral elegy on this the best of the kings of Israel (Lam. 4:20; 2 Chronicles 35:25).

The outburst of national grief on account of his death became proverbial (Zechariah 12:11; compare Rev. 16:16).

Relatives

More information

Article Version: September 24, 2021