Introduction:
Josiah was the sixteenth king of Judah, known for his devout commitment to the worship of Yahweh and his significant religious reforms. His reign is detailed in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, where he is portrayed as a righteous king who sought to restore the covenantal relationship between God and His people.

Early Life and Ascension to the Throne:
Josiah was born to King Amon and Queen Jedidah. He ascended to the throne at the tender age of eight following the assassination of his father, Amon (2 Kings 21:24-26). Despite his youth, Josiah's reign was marked by a sincere dedication to the ways of the Lord, contrasting sharply with the idolatrous practices of his predecessors.

Religious Reforms:
Josiah's most notable contribution was his extensive religious reforms, which were initiated in the eighteenth year of his reign. These reforms were sparked by 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).

Josiah's reforms included the removal of pagan altars and idols from the Temple and throughout Judah, the destruction of high places, and the reinstitution of the Passover celebration, which had been neglected for generations. The Bible records, "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses" (2 Kings 23:25).

Covenant Renewal:
In a public ceremony, Josiah renewed the covenant between the Lord and the people, committing them to follow the Lord and keep His commandments (2 Kings 23:3). This covenant renewal was a pivotal moment in Judah's history, as it sought to realign the nation with its divine purpose and heritage.

Passover Celebration:
Josiah's observance of the Passover was unparalleled since the days of the judges. The Bible notes, "The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah" (2 Chronicles 35:18). This celebration was a testament to Josiah's dedication to restoring proper worship and adherence to the Law.

Death and Legacy:
Josiah's reign came to a tragic end 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 people of Judah, and the prophet Jeremiah composed laments in his honor (2 Chronicles 35:25).

Josiah's legacy is one of faithfulness and reform. His efforts to purify the worship of Yahweh and eliminate idolatry left a lasting impact on the spiritual life of Judah. Despite the subsequent decline of the nation, Josiah's reign is remembered as a high point of devotion and obedience to God.2977. Yoshiyyah -- "Yah supports," two Israelites
... "Yah supports," two Israelites. Transliteration: Yoshiyyah or Yoshiyyahu Phonetic
Spelling: (yo-shee-yaw') Short Definition: Josiah. ... Josiah. ...
/hebrew/2977.htm - 6k

From Megiddo to Carchemish, 608-605.
... Josiah's faithful reign, and with it all thorough efforts to fulfil the National
Covenant,(302) came to a tragic close on the field of Megiddo"the Flodden of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 from megiddo to carchemish.htm

Josiah and the Newly Found Law
... THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES JOSIAH AND THE NEWLY FOUND LAW. ... About one hundred
years separated Hezekiah's restoration from Josiah's. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/josiah and the newly found.htm

The Rediscovered Law and Its Effects
... We get but a glimpse into a wild time of revolution and counter-revolution in the
brief notice that the 'servants of Amon,' Josiah's father, conspired and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the rediscovered law and its.htm

Questions.
... LESSON X. 1. What was the character of Amon? 2. What reformation did Josiah
make? ... 4. Why was the Law of Moses so awful to Josiah? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm

Reformation Lessons
... The glorious reformation which young King Josiah made was to them the pattern of
the equally glorious Reformation which was made in England somewhat more than ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxii reformation lessons.htm

The Book of the Law
... of the prophets regarding the Babylonian Captivity did much to prepare the way for
a reformation that took place in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 33 the book of.htm

Jeremiah and Deuteronomy. (Chs. vii, viii. 8, xi. )
... His early poem denouncing the citizens(262) reveals a close observation of their
morals but no trace of the reforms begun by Josiah soon after 621 BC Some ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 jeremiah and deuteronomy chs.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... SERMON VII. Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant. "Because thine heart was
tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

The Prophet --His Youth and his Call.
... The young King Josiah, who to the end was to prove himself worthy of his training,
and the boy in the priest's home at Anathoth were of an age: a fact not to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/lecture iii the prophethis youth.htm

The Captivity.
... people had become so corrupt, that even when Amon was murdered in 642, after only
reigning two years, and better days came back with the good Josiah, it was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson x the captivity.htm

Josiah's (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Josiah's (4 Occurrences). ... (See NIV). 2 Chronicles 35:19
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept. ...
/j/josiah's.htm - 7k

Josiah (51 Occurrences)
...Josiah immediately gathered the people together, and engaged them in a renewal of
their ancient national covenant with God. ... This Josiah refused to permit. ...
/j/josiah.htm - 42k

Jehoahaz (22 Occurrences)
... his son Jehoash (13:1-9, 25). (3.) Josiah's third son, usually called Shallum
(1 Chronicles 3:15). He succeeded his father on the ...
/j/jehoahaz.htm - 23k

Zacharias (11 Occurrences)
... zak-a-ri'-as (Zacharias): (1) One of the "rulers of the temple" at the time of Josiah's
Passover (1 Esdras 1:8) = "Zechariah" of 2 Chronicles 35:8. (2) One of ...
/z/zacharias.htm - 15k

Levites (267 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy recognized the equal priestly right of all Levites, and Josiah's
reformation placed the sons of Zadok, who were the priests of Jerusalem and not ...
/l/levites.htm - 72k

Molech (16 Occurrences)
... These high places survived to the time of Josiah, who, among his other works of
religious reformation, destroyed and defiled them, filling their places with ...
/m/molech.htm - 24k

Priests (451 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy recognized the equal priestly right of all Levites, and Josiah's
reformation placed the sons of Zadok, who were the priests of Jerusalem and not ...
/p/priests.htm - 69k

Moloch (2 Occurrences)
... Solomon (1 Kings 11:7) erected a high place for this idol on the Mount of Olives,
and from that time till the days of Josiah his worship continued (2 Kings 23 ...
/m/moloch.htm - 21k

Canonicity
... Nahum, who prophesies against Nineveh, belongs to the very close of this period
(circa 660). (ii) Chaldean Age: The prophets Zephaniah (under Josiah, circa 630 ...
/c/canonicity.htm - 37k

Sanctuary (250 Occurrences)
... op. cit., 31). (2) The second stage is presented by Deuteronomy in the Law and
Josiah's reformation in the history. Undoubtedly, Deuteronomy ...
/s/sanctuary.htm - 63k

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

Who was Huldah the prophetess in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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

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