Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Josiah was eight when his father (the evil king Amon) was killed by his own servants after having reigned for only two years. The account of Josiah's reign in 2 Chronicles 34-35 also indicates that, when Josiah was only fifteen (in the eighth year of his own reign), he began to seek the Lord. Perhaps this was a result of Josiah's memory (even though he had been very young) of what his father had done and what had happened to him as a result.

Also, as noted by the passage cited in the question, the names of Josiah's mother and maternal grandfather are given in 2 Kings 22:1. Although nothing else is said about them, perhaps they were an influence for good in the early years of his reign, and thus also may have contributed to Josiah's desire to seek the Lord.

In addition, despite the evil committed by previous kings (including Josiah's grandfather Manasseh), both accounts of Josiah's reign indicate that there was still apparently a high priest in Israel (Hilkiah) who could also have been favorably involved in Josiah's spiritual growth.

Finally, when Josiah first began to seek God, he was encouraged (as noted in 2 Kings 22:14-20) by Hulda the prophetess, who told Josiah that, because he had exhibited sorrow upon learning of the ways in which the house of Judah had disobeyed God's commands (2 Kings 22:11-13), God would allow him to die without having to witness the future judgment that God planned to bring upon Judah and Jerusalem. This led to Josiah taking multiple actions against the evil and idolatry in the land, as detailed in 2 Kings 23:1-25.

September 16 2019 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Singapore Moses Messenger of God, CEO in IT industry, Astronaut, Scientist

ᏙᎬᎡY ᏩᎾᎾᎠ ᎢᎻᏆNᏩᏚ ᎪᏴᎾᏌᎢ JᎾᏚᏆᎪᎻ::
❶ He did that which was right in the sight of Jehovah (He was one of the 9 kings of Israel who did right.
❷ Walked in all the ways of David his father.
❸ Turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. Josiah was the only king of whom this was said.
❹ Josiah was next to the youngest king in Israel. Josiah was 8 Years old (2Ki. 22:1) where as Joash was seven when he began to reign (2Ki. 11:4);

✿ Though Manasseh was raised by godly Hezekiah, he became the worst king of all. However, the son of wicked Amon, Josiah nevertheless became one of the most godly kings. This illustrates the truth of Ezek. 18, that is a righteous father may produce a wicked son, and a wicked father may produce a godly son.

✿ Apparently 2Ki.22:8 suggests they either lost or misplaced the original copy of the Pentateuch kept beside the ark (Dt. 31:24-26). It could have been hidden during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon because they turned against the Lord (2Ki. 21:16,21).

✿ When he heard the priest reading the book of law, no doubt he focussed on the parts applicable to the present circumstances, as Lev. 26 and Dt. 28. When the king heard the words of the book he instantly recognized that they were in trouble for transgressing the law. He tore his clothes and commanded his servants to inquire of the Lord--both for him and all Judah. They went to Huldah the prophetess (2Ki. 22:11-14).

☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:☆

September 20 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report