Life and Reign of King Josiah as a Boy King
Josiah became king of Judah at the age of eight, reigning for thirty-one years in Jerusalem [1, 2, 3]. His mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath [3, 4]. Josiah's reign is detailed in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35 [4, 6]. He is also mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus as "Josias" [5].
Josiah's early ascension to the throne meant he was a boy king, similar to Joash [7]. Despite his youth, he is consistently portrayed as a righteous king who "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father" [6, 7]. This assessment places him among the most faithful kings in the Davidic line, comparable to Asa and Hezekiah [7, 8].
Commentators suggest that Josiah's pious upbringing likely stemmed from his mother and other faithful guardians during his minority [8, 9]. Matthew Henry notes that Josiah, being young, had not been negatively influenced by the examples of his father Amon and grandfather Manasseh, but instead took warning from their errors [10]. John Gill suggests that Josiah began to "seek after the God of David his father" in the eighth year of his reign, when he would have been sixteen years old, or possibly even earlier [11]. Easton's Bible Dictionary also states that it was not until eight years after his ascension that he began "to seek after the God of David his father" [6].
The reformation under Josiah began in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, and intensified in his twelfth year [4, 11, 12]. During this period, and for six years afterward, Josiah undertook a personal journey throughout Judah and Israel, systematically destroying high places and other idolatrous sites [4]. This extensive reform effort demonstrated his commitment to the Lord and adherence to the law [7, 8]. The early chapters of the book of Jeremiah provide additional insight into the general character of the Jewish people during Josiah's time [4].
Sources
- II Chronicles “II Chronicles 34:1 (BBE) — Josiah was eight years old when he became king; he was ruling in Jerusalem for thirty-one years.”
- 2 Chronicles “2 Chronicles 34:1 (NASB) — Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.”
- II Kings “II Kings 22:1 (BBE) — Josiah was eight years old when he became king; and he was ruling in Jerusalem for thirty-one years; his mother's name was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Josiah — (whom Jehovah heals). + The son of Amon and Jedidah, succeeded his father B.C. 641, in the eighty years of his age, and reigned 31 years. His history is contained in (2 Kings 22:1; 2 Kings 24:30; 2 Chronicles 34:1; 2 Chronicles 35:1) ... and the first twelve chapters of Jeremiah throw much light upon the general character of the Jews in his day. He began in the eighth year of his reign to seek the Lord; and in his twelfth year, and for six years afterward, in a personal progress throughout all the land of Judah and Israel, he destroyed everywhere high places,”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Josias — Josiah, king of Judah. (Matthew 1:10,11)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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 Chr. 34:1). His history is contained in 2 Kings 22, 23. He stands foremost among all the kings of the line of David for unswerving loyalty to Jehovah (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 de”
- 2 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Kings 22:1: 22:1-2 Josiah ascended the throne of Judah in 640 BC. Like Joash (11:21), he was still a boy when he became king. He was faithful to the Lord, comparing favorably with David, like Asa (1 Kgs 15:11) and Hezekiah (2 Kgs 18:3). • doing what was right: Josiah’s conduct met the high standards of the law (Deut 17:11; 28:14).”
- 2 Kings (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Kings 22:1: Length and spirit of Josiah's reign. - Josiah (for the name, see at Kg1 13:2), like Hezekiah, trode once more in the footsteps of his pious forefather David, adhering with the greatest constancy to the law of the Lord. He reigned thirty-one years. As a child he had probably received a pious training from his mother; and when he had ascended the throne, after the early death of his godless father, he was under the guidance of pious men who were faithfully devoted to the law of the Lord, and who turned his heart to the God of their fathers, as was the case with ”
- 2 Kings (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Kings 22 (introduction): JOSIAH'S GOOD REIGN. (Kg2 22:1-2) Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign--Happier than his grandfather Manasseh, he seems to have fallen during his minority under the care of better guardians, who trained him in the principles and practice of piety; and so strongly had his young affections been enlisted on the side of true and undefiled religion, that he continued to adhere all his life, with undeviating perseverance, to the cause of God and righteousness.”
- 2 Kings (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 22:1: Concerning Josiah we are here told, I. That he was very young when he began to reign (Kg2 22:1), only eight years old. Solomon says, Woe unto thee, O land! when thy king is a child; but happy art thou, O land! when thy king is such a child. Our English Israel had once a king that was such a child, Edward VI. Josiah, being young, had not received any bad impressions from the example of his father and grandfather, but soon saw their errors, and God gave his grace to take warning by them. See Eze 18:14, etc. II. That he did that which was right in the sight of the L”
- 2 Chronicles (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Chronicles 34:1: Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign,.... Of these two verses; see Gill on Kg2 22:1; see Gill on Kg2 22:2. . 2 Chronicles 34:3 ch2 34:3 ch2 34:3 ch2 34:3For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young,.... Being in the sixteenth year of his age; though Kimchi thinks it was the very year he began to reign, which was the eighth of his age; and Jarchi observes, it may be interpreted, "though he was young, he began to seek after the God of David his father"; to pray unto him, to seek after the knowledge of him, and the true manner of wors”
- 2 Chronicles (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 34:1: Concerning Josiah we are here told, 1. That he came to the crown when he was very young, only eight years old (yet his infancy did not debar him from his right), and he reigned thirty-one years (Ch2 34:1), a considerable time. I fear, however, that in the beginning of his reign things went much as they had done in his father's time, because, being a child, he must have left the management of them to others; so that it was not till his twelfth year, which goes far in the number of his years, that the reformation began, Ch2 34:3. He could not, as Hezekiah did,”