Josiah: Healed by Jehovah, or Jehovah will support. The son of Amon, and his
successor on the throne of Judah
(2 Kings 22:1; 2 Chronicles 34:1) His history is
contained in
(2 Kings 22:1-23:30) He stands foremost among all the kings of
the line of David for unswerving loyalty to Jehovah
(2 Kings 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 eight years, and it appears that not till eight years afterwards
did he begin "to seek after the God of David his father." At that age
he devoted himself to God. 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)
comp.
(Jeremiah 25:3,11,29) In the eighteenth year of his reign he
proceeded to repair and beautify the temple, which by time and
violence had become sorely dilapidated
(2 Kings 22:3,5,6; 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. Soon after this, Pharaoh-Necho II. (q.v.), 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.
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 23:28,30) comp.
(2 Chronicles 35:20-27) after a reign of thirty-one years. He was buried
with the greatest honours in fulfilment of Huldah's prophecy
(2 Kings 22:20) comp.
(Jeremiah 34:5) Jeremiah composed a funeral elegy on
this the best of the kings of Israel
(Lamentations 4:20; 2 Chronicles 35:25) The
outburst of national grief on account of his death became proverbial
(Zechariah 12:11) comp.
(Revelation 16:16)
