In brief
Josiah becomes king of Judah at eight years old and reigns thirty-one years in Jerusalem. Very young, he seeks the God of David. When the book of the law is found in the temple, he tears his clothes, gathers the people, renews the covenant and destroys the idols. He also has the Passover celebrated with great faithfulness. He dies in battle against Egypt at Megiddo. His story shows what a heart sensitive to the Word of God produces.
What does the name Josiah mean?
The name Josiah is generally linked to a Hebrew expression evoking Yahweh who supports or who heals, but the exact meaning remains debated. The Bible gives no explanation of this name.
The story of Josiah
A king at eight
2 Kings 22:1-2Josiah is eight years old when he becomes king and reigns thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name is Jedidah. He does what is right in the eyes of Yahweh and walks in the way of David, turning aside neither to the right nor to the left.
He seeks God and purifies the land
2 Chronicles 34:1-7In the eighth year of his reign, while still young, Josiah begins to seek the God of David. Four years later, he purifies Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the idols and the images, and tears down the altars of Baal.
The book of the law found
2 Kings 22:3-13In the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah has the temple repaired. The priest Hilkiah finds the book of the law, which Shaphan reads before the king. Josiah tears his clothes and sends to inquire of Yahweh for himself and for the people.
The prophetess Huldah
2 Kings 22:14-20The prophetess Huldah announces that disaster will come on Jerusalem because of idolatry. But because Josiah has a tender heart and humbled himself before Yahweh, he will not see this disaster and will be buried in peace, gathered to his fathers.
The covenant renewed
2 Kings 23:1-25Josiah gathers all the people, reads the book of the covenant and commits himself before Yahweh to obey. He removes the objects of Baal from the temple, destroys the high places, including at Bethel, and has the Passover celebrated. The text says that no king before him turned to Yahweh as he did.
Death at Megiddo
2 Chronicles 35:20-25Neco, king of Egypt, goes up toward the Euphrates to fight, and Josiah marches out to meet him. He is wounded by archers at Megiddo and dies in Jerusalem. All Judah and Jerusalem mourn him, and Jeremiah composes a lament for him that the singers repeat for a long time.
What Josiah teaches us
- Age does not limit what God can do: a child on the throne can become a man of revival.
- Seeking God personally comes before public change: Josiah seeks him before purifying the land.
- Reading the Word of God must produce a response: he tears his clothes, humbles himself and acts.
- A heart sensitive to the Word attracts God's mercy, even when judgment is announced.
- Revival shows itself in concrete decisions: tearing down what dishonors God and restoring what is due to him.
Key verses
In the eighth year of his reign, Josiah, still young, begins to seek the God of David his father. The verse shows that his reform is preceded by a personal search for God.
Yahweh tells Josiah that his heart was tender, that he humbled himself before him and tore his clothes. This answer shows what God looks at: a heart attentive to his word.
Before Josiah there was no king who turned to Yahweh as he did, with all his heart, all his soul and all his might. This verse sums up his reign.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Josiah in the Bible?
Josiah is king of Judah from the age of eight to about thirty-nine, given his reign of thirty-one years. He removes the idols, finds the book of the law, renews the covenant with Yahweh and has the Passover celebrated.
What does the name Josiah mean?
The name Josiah is generally linked to a Hebrew expression evoking Yahweh who supports or who heals, but the exact meaning remains debated. The Bible gives no explanation of this name and shows his faith instead through his actions.
Where can I find Josiah's story in the Bible?
Josiah's story is in 2 Kings 22 and 23, with the discovery of the book of the law and the reform, and in 2 Chronicles 34 and 35, which add his seeking of God from his youth, the Passover and his death at Megiddo.