THE REIGN OF JOSIAH, KING OF JUDAH C. 640/39-609 BC. Josiah came to the throne as a young child when the powers of Assyria were beginning to wane. Babylon and Media were on the ascendant, Egypt's power was reviving and the Assyrians were being kept busy elsewhere. And while he could do little to beg... [ Continue Reading ]
INTRODUCTION TO JOSIAH'S REIGN (2 KINGS 22:1). Josiah's reign commences with the usual introductory formula giving his age when he began to reign, the length of his reign, and the name of the queen mother, followed by a verdict on his reign, which in this case was exemplary. 2 Kings 22:1 ‘Josiah... [ Continue Reading ]
INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE RESTORATION OF THE TEMPLE (2 KINGS 22:3). In view of its connection with the Temple these instructions would have been entered in the royal annals (compare 2 Kings 12:4). The entering up in some detail of such information about temples was a regular feature of official an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISCOVERY OF THE BOOK OF THE LAW AND ITS IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES (2 KINGS 22:8). We have already indicated above our view that this Book of the Law was found within the foundation walls themselves, having been placed there on the orders of Solomon when the Temple was built so as to connect the c... [ Continue Reading ]
HULDAH'S REPLY TO JOSIAH (2 KINGS 22:14). The enquiry was made to Huldah, the prophetess. We should note that there is no hint that Huldah read the book, or even saw it. Given the care that the author has taken up to this point to indicate precisely what happened to the book (‘Huldah delivered the... [ Continue Reading ]