(2 Kings 22:23 ff)

Josiah took over as a king Judah from Amon who was a son of King Manasseh. He was eight years old when he became a king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for thirty one years.

Upon becoming the king, Josiah was faced with the task of leading the people of Judah back to God. To achieve this, he had to carry out a number of reforms among which included the following:

King Josiah did what was pleasing to the lord. This was by following the example of his ancestor King David and obeying all the laws of the Lord strictly. This was as opposed to the character of his predecessors particularly King Manasseh whose conduct stirred the Lord's anger.

Josiah rehabilitated the Jerusalem temple which King Manasseh had ignored for a long period during King Manasseh. By doing so, the temple regained its original beauty.

Josiah ordered for the prompt payment of the workers in charge of repairing the Jerusalem temple. The carpenters, the builders and the masons all received their due pay, which unfortunately Manasseh had neglected.

Josiah's effort led to the discovery of the law book which got lost within the temple during the reign of King Manasseh.

Josiah reinstituted the culture of reading the law book among the people of Judah. He led by example to read aloud the whole book of the covenant which had just been found in the temple. By this, all the people promised to keep the covenant.

Josiah removed from the temple and burnt all the objects which were used in the worship of Baal, goddess Asherah and of the stars.

Josiah removed from office the priest that kings of Judah had ordained to offer sacrifices on the pagan altars if;! the cities of Judah and in places near Jerusalem. These priest offered sacrifices to Baal, the sun, the moon and the stars.

Josiah removed the symbol of goddess Asherah which had been put inside the temple. He took this symbol outside the city where he burnt it.

Josiah destroyed the living quarters in the temple occupied by the prostitutes. These women also used the quarters to weave the robes used in the worship Asherah. In doing so, he purified the Jerusalem temple.

King Josiah led the people of Judah in the making a covenant with the Lord. In covenant, the people promised to obey the Lord and to keep his commands with all their hearts and souls.

Josiah brought to the Jerusalem temple Yahweh's priest. These priests had been sidelined and were living in other cities outside Jerusalem.

King Josiah broke down alters that had been dedicated to goat-demons near the gate Joshua-the city governor had built.

Josiah renewed the culture of consulting the Lord through his prophets and the priest. Notably, the king sent one of his servants to consult the Lord for him and about the people of Judah about the teachings of the book that had been discovered (2Kings 22: 13- 15).

King Josiah destroyed the pagan place in the valley of Hinnom where the people used to sacrifice their sons and daughters as burnt offerings to the god Moiech.

Josiah also removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the worship of the sun. He went on to burn the chariots used in this worship.

King Josiah tore down all the altars that the kings of Judah had built on the palace roof above King Ahaz's quarters including all those that King Manasseh had put up in the two court yards of the temple.

Josiah broke into pieces the stone pillars that king Solomon had built on the eastern side of Jerusalem for the worship of idols of Astarte- the goddess of Sidon, Chemos the god of Moab and Molech the god of Ammon.

He destroyed the pagan places of worship in Bethel which King Jeroboam had built for they had led the people of Israel into sin.

Josiah re-instituted the celebration of the Passover among the people of God. This was in honour of the Lord as written in the law books.

King Josiah killed all pagan priests on the altars they served and he went on to burn the human bones on every altar.

Josiah removed all the mediums and the fortune tellers from Jerusalem and from the rest of Judah.

King Josiah also removed all the house hold gods, idols and all other pagan objects in Judah.

Revision Questions

1.          Discuss the reforms that King Josiah carried in Judah

2.          "Josiah's reforms were prompted by the discovery of the law book". Discuss.

To a small, extent Josiah's reforms were prompted by the discovery of the law book as discussed below.

The book was read aloud to King Josiah and this brought to his knowledge of the requirement necessary in serving Yahweh.

The law book inspired Josiah to consult the Lord through his prophet about his teachings on his own behalf and on behalf of the people of Judah.

Josiah came to realize that the Lord was angry with the people of Judah because of what their ancestors had done.

It inspired Josiah to consult the prophet of the Lord through one of his servants. The prophet delivered the Lord's message to Josiah and therefore he found it necessary to carry out reforms.

Josiah came to realize that the Lord was going to punish Jerusalem and its entire people as written in the book because of their disobedience.

The king came to realize that the Lord was annoyed with the people for having rejected him and offered sacrifices to other gods.

Josiah realized that the Lord was determined to carry out all his threats against his own people. Therefore, the reforms were necessary if the people were to be spared.

King Josiah came to realize there was need for repentance for the people of Judah. This would be the only way of avoiding punishments. 

However, to a large extent, Josiah’s reforms were prompted by other factors particularly the sins of Manasseh.