Josiah is credited by most biblical scholars with having established or compiled important Hebrew scriptures during the "Deuteronomic reform" which probably occurred during his rule. Josiah became king of the Kingdom of Judah at the age of eight, after the assassination of his father, King Amon.
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Why was Josiah considered a good king?
Josiah was eight years old when he was made king of Judah. He was a good king who loved the Lord. He wanted to help his people, the Israelites, obey the Lord and stop worshipping idols. When he was older, he and his people started to repair the temple and make it beautiful again.
What did Josiah celebrate?
Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the LORD's temple.
What does Josiah mean spiritually?
God supports and healsWhat Does Josiah Mean? The name Josiah is traditionally used as a boy's name. It is of Hebrew origin and it means: "God supports and heals." The name Josias is a Latin variation.
Why did King Josiah disguise himself?
Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Necho from the mouth of God, but joined battle in the plain of Megiddo (NRSV, emphasis added).
What kind of person is Josiah?
The Bible describes him as a righteous king, a king who "walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left" (2 Kings 22:2; 2 Chronicles 34:2).
What did Josiah do in the Bible?
Josiah, also spelled Josias, (born c. 648 bce—died 609), king of Judah (c. 640–609 bce), who set in motion a reformation that bears his name and that left an indelible mark on Israel's religious traditions (2 Kings 22–23:30).
What is short for Josiah?
'Jed' is short for Josiah, just like 'Ted' is short for the Biblical name Tosiah.
What did God say about Josiah?
The Bible describes him as a righteous king, a king who "walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left" (2 Kings 22:2; 2 Chronicles 34:2).
What did Josiah Reform?
What Did King Josiah Reform? King Josiah changed the religion of Israel in 623 BC. According to the Old Testament account in 2 Kings 23, he removed all manner of idolatrous items from the temple and purified his kingdom of Canaanite practices.
Who is the smallest king in the Bible?
Jehoash was 7 years old when his reign began, and he reigned for 40 years. (2 Kings 12:1, 2 Chronicles 24:1) He was succeeded by his son, Amaziah of Judah.
How do you pronounce the name Josiah?
Pronunciation: Josiah is easy to pronounce, with it being “joh-SY-uh.”
What did King Josiah do in the 18th year?
In the 18th year of his reign, he gathered money to repair the temple and during the repairs, the high priest found the Book of the Law. Discover Bible verses about King Josiah and his significance in this collection of scripture quotes.
What was Josiah's kingship?
However, Josiah was a godly king and known as one of the world’s youngest rulers. He started his kingship at age 8 after his father was killed. A prominent part of Josiah’s reign was his rediscovery of the Law of the Lord. 2 Kings 22:2 initially presents Josiah by stating, “And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all ...
How old was Josiah when he became king?
1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. 3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.
What does 2 Kings 22:2 say about Josiah?
2 Kings 22:2 initially presents Josiah by stating, “ And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.” In the 18th year of his reign, he gathered money to repair the temple and during the repairs, the high priest found the Book of the Law.
Who burned the chariots dedicated to the sun?
Josiah then burned the chariots dedicated to the sun. 12 He pulled down the altars the kings of Judah had erected on the roof near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh had built in the two courts of the temple of the LORD.
Who was the youngest king of Judah?
Josiah was the king of Judah from roughly 640 to 609 B.C. His ruling of Jerusalem is mentioned in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Josiah was the son of King Amon and the grandson of King Manasseh, both of which corrupt kings of Judah. However, Josiah was a godly king and known as one of the world’s youngest rulers. He started his kingship at age 8 after his father was killed. A prominent part of Josiah ’s reign was his rediscovery of the Law of the Lord.
Where did Hilkiah find the Book of the Law?
15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.”.
What did Josiah call for?
King Josiah called for a time of national repentance. The Law was read to the people of the land, and a covenant made between the people and the Lord: “The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, ...
How did Josiah influence God?
Second, Josiah lived a life fully committed and obedient to God and was blessed for it. Third, Josiah properly responded to God’s Word.
Why did God delay Judah's judgment?
God’s wrath would later come upon Judah due to the evil King Manasseh had done ( 2 Kings 23:25 ), but the judgment was delayed because of Josiah’s godly life and leadership ( 2 Kings 22:20 ). Josiah died in battle against the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho at Megiddo.
What did the High Priest Hilkiah do to the temple?
In the eighteenth year of his reign, he raised money to repair the temple, and during the repairs the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law. When Hilkiah read it to Josiah, the king tore his clothes, a sign of mourning and repentance (verse 11). King Josiah called for a time of national repentance. The Law was read to the people of the ...
How did Josiah respond to God's Word?
Third, Josiah properly responded to God’s Word. By the time he became king, the Scriptures had long been neglected, and Josiah’s heart was smitten by the failure of his people to honor God’s Word. Josiah had Scripture read to the people and made a commitment to live by it.
What was the highlight of Josiah's reign?
A highlight of Josiah’s reign was his rediscovery of the Law of the Lord. Second Kings 22:2 introduces Josiah by saying, “And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.”.
Who was the king of Judah?
Josiah was the king of Judah from approximately 640 to 609 B.C. His reign in Jerusalem is discussed in 2 Kings 22–23 and 2 Chronicles 34–35. Josiah was the son of King Amon and the grandson of King Manasseh —both of them wicked kings of Judah. Yet Josiah was a godly king and known as one of the world’s youngest kings;
What were the discoveries of Josiah in the 1960s?
Archaeological discoveries in the 1960s brought to light new facts about Josiah's expansion. Following archaeological findings in *Yavneh-Yam (cf. Naveh, in bibl.), it became quite clear that Josiah established feudal estates on the shore of Philistia.
How old was Josiah when he was king?
JOSIAH (Heb. יׁאושִׁיּהוּ ,יׁאשִׁיָּהוּ), son of Amon, king of Judah (640–609 B.C.E. ). When his father was assassinated, Josiah, then only eight years old, was proclaimed king. His reign was marked by a great national revival, and the author of the Book of Kings in evaluating Josiah says: "Before him there was no king like him …
What was the purgative activity in Judah?
It is not known whether the purgative activities in Judah were contemporaneous with those in the northern territories (Beth-El, Samaria, and the Galilee). The presentation of the events in II Kings 23:4–20 leaves the impression that the reform had been performed step by step. The first move of Josiah was the abolition of objectionable cults from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah (23:4–14), then came the destruction of the altar of Bethel, and afterwards the destruction of the high places of the Samarian province (23:19–20). According to II Chronicles 34:6, the reform extended as far as the cities of Naphtali in Galilee. The gradual political deterioration of the Assyrian Empire adds support to the supposition of a gradual takeover of the northern territories by Josiah. A fortress unearthed at Megiddo may be Josianic.
What was the significance of the Book of Torah?
Ultimately, of even greater significance for the history of Judaism was the relocation of divine revelation. Thanks to Josiah's circle, Jews began to seek God's word in the book of Torah. The pledge of the people to observe the Law "as written in the book" brought about a metamorphosis in Israelite religion.
What are the two parallel accounts of Josiah's reform?
Josiah's reform activities are given in two parallel accounts: II Kings 22–23 and II Chronicles 34–35. According to the account of Kings, the reform was motivated by the discovery of "Book of the Torah" in 622 B.C.E.; before that no reformative action had been reported.
What was the purpose of the new quarters in Jerusalem during Josiah's reign?
During Josiah's reign, Jerusalem developed greatly, and it is at this time that a new wall was built on the western slopes of the city, and new quarters (Mishneh and Maktesh) were constructed which served mainly as industrial and commercial centers.
Where were the unwalled settlements of Josiah?
Unwalled settlements of the time of Josiah were discovered in the south and east of Gaza (Gophna, in bibl.). In the eastern part of Judah, excavations uncovered the town of En-Gedi (cf. Josh. 15:62), which had been founded at the time of Josiah as a balsam plantation of the king (Mazar and Dunayewski, in bibl.).
What Does Josiah Mean?
The name Josiah is traditionally used as a boy's name. It is of Hebrew origin and it means: "God supports and heals." The name Josias is a Latin variation. It too is of Hebrew origins.
Who is Aaron Johnson?
Aaron Johnson is a fact checker and expert on qualitative research design and methodology.
Where is Josiah mentioned in the Bible?
The only textual evidence supporting Josiah’s reign over Judah is the Hebrew Bible. He is mentioned in the passages 2 Kings 22–23 and 2 Chronicles 34–35. No archaeological proof of Josiah as a person has yet been found.
When did Josiah die?
According to the Babylonian Chronicle, the battle at Harran between the Assyrians and their Egyptian allies and the Babylonians took place sometime between July and September of 609 BCE.
What did Josiah outlaw?
Following an assembly of the elders of Judah and Jerusalem and all the people, Josiah outlawed the worship of all deities except Yahweh. The instruments and emblems of the worship of Baal and "the host of heaven" were taken out of the Temple of Jerusalem.
What is the book of the Torah in 2 Kings 22:8?
The term "the book of the Torah" in 2 Kings 22:8 is similar to the term that describes the sacred writings that Joshua had been given by Moses in Joshua 1:8 and 8:34. However, the book is not recognised as the Torah in the text.
Who killed Josiah in the Bible?
According to the Second Book of Kings (23:29), Josiah was defeated and killed by the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho II in a battle at Megiddo.
Who defeated the Babylonians?
The combined forces of Assyria and Egypt were unsuccessful in defeating the Babylonians. Necho II subsequently decided to go back to Egypt. During the journey, he visited Judah, where he discovered that Shallum had been chosen as his father’s successor and was reigning as Jehoahaz. Necho II deposed him and put his older brother Eliakim or Jehoiakim on the throne.
Who was the king of Judah?
Josiah or Yoshiyahu was a Hebrew Biblical king who reigned over Judah in the seventh century BCE. According to the Hebrew Bible, he initiated several major religious reforms. Most Biblical scholars believe that he set up or accumulated important Hebrew scriptures during the "Deuteronomic reform" which likely took place during his reign.
What does the name Josiah mean?
King Josiah name means “healed by Jehovah” and during his reign he helped the people to remain faithful to the Lord. Josiah became king at the age of eight. He ruled from the seventh century B.C., which is where he appears on the Bible Timeline with World History. His father, King Amon was assassinated because he led the people of Judah astray.
Who did Josiah pay a visit to?
As a result, he had his priests this book to the people. 2 Chronicles 34: 22 – 28 King Josiah’s officials pay a visit to a female prophetess named Huldah. She tells the king that God is going to punish Judah for their sins, but it isn’t going to happen in King Josiah’s lifetime.
Why did Huldah bring Judah into captivity?
Huldah revealed to them that Judah was going to be brought into captivity for their sins. Especially for the sins of Manasseh, who murdered innocent people during his reign. God would not forgive him for committing these acts. Huldah told Josiah’s officials about the judgments that God was going to bring on the land.
What did Josiah do in 2 Chronicles 34?
2 Chronicles 34: 3 – 5 Josiah makes reforms at the age of 12, follows in the ways of King David. Destroyed pagan shrines and idols in Judah.
Why did King Neco tell King Josiah to not interfere with his battle plans?
King Neco also informed King Josiah that he should not interfere with his battle plans because the Lord was on his side.
How did Josiah reform Judah?
Josiah. When Josiah turned twelve years old, he began reform the land of Judah. He started this reform by removing all of the pagan shrines and temples from the land. He tore down the altars that were dedicated to the pagan deities, and he removed carved idols. This was the beginning of his campaign to remake Judah into a better place for ...
Why did Hilkiah rip his clothes?
The reason he ripped his garments is because he realized that the people were not living in the right way.
Why did Josiah go out with his men?
For a long time most of the Israelites have been very bad. They worship false gods. They bow down to idols. So Jo·siʹah goes out with his men and begins to remove false worship from the land. This is a big job because so many people worship false gods. You can see Jo·siʹah and his men here breaking up the idols.
How old was Josiah when he became king?
JOSIAH is only eight years old when he becomes king of the southern two tribes of Israel. This is very young for one to be king. So at first some older persons help him to rule the nation.
Why is Jehovah angry with us?
He says: ‘Jehovah is angry with us, because our fathers did not keep the laws written in this book.’. Jo·siʹah commands high priest Hil·kiʹah to find out what Jehovah is going to do to them. Hil·kiʹah goes to the woman Hulʹdah, who is a prophetess, and asks her.
Why does Josiah tear his clothes apart?
The book is taken to Jo·siʹah, and he asks that it be read to him. As he listens, Jo·si’ah can see that the people have not been keeping Jehovah’s law. He feels very sad about this, and so he tears his clothes apart, as you can see here. He says: ‘Jehovah is angry with us, because our fathers did not keep the laws written in this book.’
What is the book of the law that Jehovah had Moses write?
While they are working on the temple, the high priest Hil·kiʹah finds something very important there. It is the very book of the law that Jehovah had Moses write a long, long time ago. It was lost for many years. The book is taken to Jo·siʹah, and he asks that it be read to him.
Who was Josiah Henson?
Josiah Henson, (born June 15, 1789, Charles county, Maryland, U.S.—died May 5, 1883, Dresden, Ontario, Canada), American labourer and clergyman who escaped slavery in 1830 and found refuge in Canada, where he became the driving force behind the Dawn Settlement, a model community for former slaves.
When was Josiah Henson's autobiography published?
In 1851 he was granted a personal audience with Queen Victoria. Henson’s autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, was published in 1849; it was subsequently reprinted under a variety of titles.
Who is Harriet Beecher Stowe?
Harriet Beecher Stowe, American writer and philanthropist, the author of the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which contributed so much to popular feeling against slavery that it is cited among the causes of the American…
The Reform and Its Historical Antecedents
The Stages of The Reform
- It is not known whether the purgative activities in Judah were contemporaneous with those in the northern territories (Beth-El, Samaria, and the Galilee). The presentation of the events in II Kings 23:4–20 leaves the impression that the reform had been performed step by step. The first move of Josiah was the abolition of objectionable cults from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah (23:4–…
Centralization of Cult
- No exact date can be given for the centralization of the cult. Centralization of worship is the great innovation of the Book of Deuteronomy, and therefore its implementation by Josiah might be the result of the "discovery" of the book. But the way Josiah implements the centralization is not in full accord with the prescriptions of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 18:6–8 gives the provincial levite e…
The Significance of The Reform
- Josiah's death probably brought an end to his reforming efforts, and in any event, the state of Judah fell in 586 B.C.E. The reform found its full implementation beginning in the Persian period, which saw the reconstruction of the temple in 520. That temple stood as the only Jewish sacrificial shrine in the Land of Israel for almost 600 years until its destruction in 70 C.E. by the …
The Death of Josiah
- Assyria, weakened by her struggle with Babylon, found the Egyptians as allies. In 616 B.C.E. the Egyptians went up to the north to help the Assyrians, but to no avail. After the fall of Nineveh in 612, the Assyrian army consolidated its positions in the western part of the empire, Harran and Carchemish. This time they were assisted by the newly ent...
What Does Josiah Mean?
How Popular Is The Name Josiah?
Name Variations
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Famous People Named Josiah
- Here’s a list of famous people who are also named Josiah: 1. Josiah Binnema, a Canadian swimmer 2. Josiah Judah, an American pro-boxer 3. Josiah Jamison, an American track runner 4. Josiah Royce, an American philosopher and founder of American idealism 5. Josiah Snelgrove, a Canadian soccer player 6. Josiah Tauaefa, an American football player 7. J...