Josiah

2 Kings. xxii. 1, 2, &c.JOSIAH, the son of Amon King of Judah, and Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bocslath. He began to reign when he was eight years of age, in the year of the world 3363, before J. C. 637, before the vulgar Æra 641. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David without turning either to the right hand or the left. He began to seek after God from the eighth year of his reign, which was the sixteenth of his age, of the world 3370; and in the twelfth year of his reign, which was the twentieth of his age¹, he purged Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, groves, idols, and superstitious images. He burned the bones belonging to the Priests of the false Gods upon the Altars of their Idols. Nor was he satisfied with thus destroying the remains of Idolatry in his own dominions, but visited in person the cities of Ephraim, Manasseh, Simeon, and Naphtali, and did not return till he had overthrown all the monuments of Idolatry.

2 Chr. xxxiv. 13. ספר תורת יהוה ביד משהAfter this he made it his business to repair the Temple of the Lord, which in the preceding reigns had been very much neglected. But as they were removing the money which had been offered by the Israelites at the Temple, in order to give it to the workmen and undertakers, the High Priest Hilkiah found in the treasury-chamber a book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses. It is thought², that this was the original of the Law, and that it was found either in some wall, or chest, or beside the ark; for it appears, that it was not then in the Sanctuary, since Josiah commands the Priests to restore it to its place, and forbids them to carry it about any more. S. Chrysostom says somewhere, that this book was found in a heap of filth and nastiness; and in another place, that it was found in a hole under ground, and almost defaced. He is of opinion, that the book of Deuteronomy was then only discovered, probably because it is said, that Moses ordered this book of the Law to be placed beside the Deut. xxxi. 26.Ark.

Shaphan the Scribe gave notice to the King of the discovery which they had made of the book of the Law; and Josiah 2 Kings xxii. 9,10, 11, &c. & 2 Chr. xxxiv. 18, 19,20,&c.having appointed it to be read to him, and heard the words of the Law, rent his clothes, and said to the High Priest and principal officers of his court, Go, consult the Lord concerning what relates to me and my people, upon the late discovery of this book; for the anger of the Lord is kindled against us, by reason of our Fathers sins. They went therefore to Huldah the Prophetess, the wife of Shallum, and asked her what was to be done upon this occasion. Huldah answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I will pour out upon the inhabitants of this place all the evils which the King of Judah hath read in the book of the Law, because they have forsaken me, and sacrificed to strange Gods. But for the King of Judah who hath sent you, you shall say thus unto him, Because you have been afraid upon reading the book of the Law, have humbled yourself, rent your garments, and wept before me, I have heard your prayer, you shall be buried in peace with your fathers, and your eyes shall not behold the evils which I will bring upon this city.

The messengers returned to the King with an account of what the Prophetess 2 Kings xxv. 1, 2, 3. & 2 Chr. xxxiv. 29,30,&c.had said to them; and the King having convened all the Elders of Judah and Jerusalem, went up to the Temple of the Lord with them. He read the book to them, which he had lately found, and made a covenant with God, thereby engaging himself to walk in his ways, and to observe his precepts and ordinances. He obliged himself hereunto with an oath, and made all those who were in the assembly promise the same thing. He afterwards gave orders for destroying all remains of superstitious and idolatrous monuments in Jerusalem, and throughout all Judah. He cut off the Soothsayers, and those who worshipped the stars, and the Sodomites who prostituted themselves in honour to their false Gods. He enjoined those Priests who had offered sacrifices in the highplaces, to forbear all exercise of their sacred functions. He defiled Topheth and the valley of Hinnom, and profaned all the places which had been consecrated to superstition and idolatry, filled them with dead mens bones, and broke down the statues which were in them. He demolished the altar which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had erected at Bethel, dug up the bones of the false Prophets and Priests of the Golden Calves, but spared the sepulchre of that Prophet, whom the Lord sent against Jeroboam, the same who 1 Kings xiii. 31,32.was deceived by another Prophet, and violated the command which God had given him to forbear eating there. That other Prophet, who was buried in the same place, was likewise spared for his 2 Kings xxiii. 17, 18. 2 Kings xxiii. 21, &c. 2 Chr. xxxv. 1, 2, &c.sake.

Josiah afterwards a commanded all his people to keep the Passover, according to what was written in the book of the Law concerning it. The Scripture says, that from the time of the Judges, and during the reigns of all the Kings of Judah and Israel, no Passover was ever kept like that which was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah; and that there was no King before him like unto him, nor turned as he did to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his strengh. Notwithstanding the anger which the Lord had conceived against Judah, was not appeased; for Pharaoh Necho King of Egpyt, desiring to pass thro Judea,³ in order to go and attack the city of Carchemish upon the Euphrates, Josiah opposed his passage, and gave him battle at Megiddo, at the foot of mount Carmel. Here this good Prince was mortally wounded; and being carried to Jerusalem, died there of his wounds. The people mourned very much for his death, and Jeremiah composed an elegy upon this occasion. Josiah was buried with the Kings his predecessors at Jerusalem. The people of Judah took Jehoahaz, otherwise called Shallum, one of Josiah’s sons, and made him King in his room.

Jesus the son of Sirach speaks highly of King Josiah in these following words, “ Ecclus. xlix. 1, 2, 3, &c.The remembrance of Josiah is like the composition of the perfume that is made “ by the art of the Apothecary; it is sweet “ as honey in all mouths, and as musick “ at a banquet of wine. He behaved “ himself uprightly in the conversion of “ the people, and took away the abomination of iniquity; he directed his heart “ unto the Lord, and in the time of the “ ungodly he established the worship of “ God. All except David, Hezekiah, and “ Josiah were defective.”

There were several prophets in Judah while Josiah reigned; Jeremiah and Baruch, Joel and Zephaniah, and the Pro phetess⁴Huldah. Many⁵ have been of opinion, that the Lamentations of Jeremiah, which are still in our hands, were composed at the death of Josiah; and that these are the Lamentations mentioned in the second 2 Chr. xxxv. 24, 25.book of Chronicles, which were so celebrated at that time, and which all the singing men and singing women continued still to sing a long time after. The mourning of the people upon the death of this Prince, passed, as it were, into a law, and proverb; and the Prophet Zachary speaking of the Zach. xii. 11.lamentation which in future ages, would be made at the death of the Messiah, alludes to that of Josiah, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo. Josiah, it is well known, received his death’s wound at Megiddo near Hadadrimmon. He left four sons, Jehoahaz, otherwise Shallum, Eliakim, or Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, otherwise Matthanias, and Johanan. This last, in all probability, died young; the other three reigned. See their titles.

There are some difficulties formed relating to the history of Josiah: first, in that he was not satisfied with abolishing Idolatry in Jerusalem and his own dominions, but went 2 Kings xxiii. 15.likewise into the territories of the Kingdom of Israel, overthrew the altar which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had erected there, cut down the groves, and destroyed the high places where the people sacrificed to the golden calves; he did the same in all places depending on the Kingdom of Samaria; he destroyed the places consecrated to superstition and idolatry, killed all the Priests of the high places, burnt dead mens bones upon the Altars, in order to pollute them, and so returned to Jerusalem. It is true, the Kingdom of Israel at that time was not in being, the ten tribes having been transplanted beyond the Euphrates⁶; but there was still a great number of inhabitants in the land, as well Israelites, who were left behind there, as Cutheans and other people sent thither by the Kings of Assyria. However, it seems certain, that Josiah was not the sovereign of the country, which was in subjection to the Kings of Assyria: how then could he exercise the rights of sovereignty?

To this we may answer, 1. that Josiah in this particular did not so much follow the rules of policy, as the motions of his zeal and piety. 2. It is very credible, that he who was a wise Prince, and well advised, did nothing without consulting the wisest and most understanding men 2 Kings xxiii. 29, 30. & 2 Chr. xxxv. 20.of his kingdom. 3 We see by the sequel of Josiah’s history, that this Prince was in alliance with the Kings of Chaldea since he opposed Necho King of Egypt, who marched against the city of Carchemish. It is therefore very probable, that Josiah possessed the territories of Samaria, as well as those of Judea, and that the Kings of Chaldea had given him the sovereignty over the miserable remains of that kingdom. The Scripture indeed tells us nothing of it; but does not say the contrary. 4. Lastly, the Cutheans and other people, whom Esar -haddon had sent into this country, might not concern themselves much in maintaining the religion of the Israelites of the ten Tribes; and they of the ten Tribes who remained there, were not in condition to resist Josiah, nor even to complain to the Kings of Chaldea; since their continuance in the country was by toleration only, and without allowance.

Author. tradit. Hebr. in Paralipp. & Grot. & alii. 3 Esdras i. 28.The second difficulty relates to Josiah’s expedition against Necho King of Egpyt. Necho, upon what notice we know not, marched against the city of Carchemish situated upon the Euphrates, and belonging to the Kings of Babylon or Assyria, as the second book of Kings imports. Josiah put himself at the head of his army, and intended to oppose his passage. The King of Egypt sent Ambassadors to him, saying, What difference is there between me and thee? I have no designs against thee; but I make war upon another house, against which God hath commanded me to march with all expedition. Cease therefore to oppose God, who is with me, lest he make thy attempt fatal to thee. Josiah refused to acquiesce in what Necho had said to him from the mouth of God: He attacked him at Megiddo, and was there mortally wounded. Herein the Scripture plainly expresses itself, as if Necho had really been ingaged by God’s order to march against the city of Carchemish.

It is the opinion of some, that the Prophet Jeremiah, or some other Prophet of the Lord, had spoken to Necho, and enjoined him to commence hostilities against this city. The third book of Esdras says, that Josiah would not regard the Prophet’s word on this occasion. But what interest could this Prince have in opposing the King of Egypt, who demanded nothing of him? It is very probable that Josiah was either an ally, or even subject and tributary to the Kings of Chaldea, successors to those of Assyria, to whom his fatherManasseh had been delivered, and was restored to the crown only upon condition of continuing faithful to the Kings his benefactors. Josiah without doubt had entred into the same ingagements. It was therefore not only consistent with policy, but with justice too, to forbid the King of Egypt passage thro his country, who was going to attack a place belonging to the Empire of Chaldæa. If he seemed not to respect sufficiently God’s orders upon this occasion; it was because he believed not God to be the author of this expedition, and was not obliged to take his enemy’s word for it.

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