Praying for the world · Sharing the hope of the Cross and the power of the Resurrection Prayer request Give
Also called
Josias
Name means
The LORD supports (commonly given)
Role
Boy-king of Judah and reformer
When
c. 640-609 BC (traditional)

What they did

Became king at eight and sought God while young. When the book of the law was found in the temple he tore his clothes, renewed the covenant, destroyed idols and kept a great passover.

Why it matters: the purpose of their role

His reform fulfilled a prophecy given by name long before (1 Kings 13:2) and showed the power of God's Word to renew a nation.

And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 2 Kings 23:25 (KJV)

Bible references

And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. 1 Kings 13:2 (KJV)
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. 2 Kings 22:1-2 (KJV)
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. 2 Kings 22:11 (KJV)
And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 2 Kings 23:25 (KJV)
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. 2 Chronicles 34:3 (KJV)

Family

Father
Amon
Mother
Jedidah
Children
Johanan, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, Shallum (Jehoahaz)

His sons are listed in 1 Chronicles 3:15. Died at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29).