Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign ,.... And must be born when his father was but sixteen, for Amon lived but twenty four years, 2 Kings 21:19 , and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem ; and so must die at thirty nine years of age: and his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath ; a city of the tribe of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:39 . read more
Josiah was eight years old - He was one of the best, if not the best, of all the Jewish kings since the time of David. He began well, continued well, and ended well. read more
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign. So the writer of Chronicles ( 2 Chronicles 34:1 ) and Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 10.4. § 1). He must have been born, therefore, when his father was no more than sixteen years of age, and Amen must have married when he was only fifteen. And he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. Probably from B.C. 640 to B.C. 609—a most important period of the world's history, including, as it does, And his mother's name was Jedidah —i.e. ... read more
2 Kings 23:30 The reign of King Josiah. The last days of Judah as an independent kingdom are fast hastening to a close. The people, in spite of all God's merciful dealings with them, in spite of all the judgments and warnings which he had sent to their fathers, in spite of the influence and example of good kings and holy prophets whom he had raised up, were becoming worse and worse. More than a hundred years before, God had already abolished the kingdom of Israel, when the ten tribes... read more
GENERAL CHARACTER OF JOSIAH 'S REIGN . His repair of the temple . The writer begins his account of Josiah's reign with the usual brief summary, giving his age at his accession, the length of his reign, his mother's name and birthplace ( 2 Kings 22:1 ), and the general character of his rule ( 2 Kings 22:2 ). He then proceeds to mention some circumstances connected with the repair of the temple, which Josiah had taken in hand ( 2 Kings 22:3-7 ). read more
Josiah: the temple again repaired. The reign of Josiah affords another example of the law of action and reaction in national life. Dr. R. Payne Smith says, "The nation itself had gradually swung round, as nations now do, and had begun to be as dissatisfied with Baal and Moloch as their fathers had been with Jehovah" ('Introduction to Jeremiah'); and Dean Stanley remarks, "The popular election which placed Josiah on the throne, of itself marks some strong change of public feeling". It is... read more
A righteous branch from a wicked root. Josiah is the most astonishing instance that is contained in Scripture of goodness springing up, and attaining high perfection under the most extraordinarily unfavorable circumstances. Josiah was— I. THE SON OF AN EXTRAORDINARILY WICKED FATHER . Amon, Josiah's father, did evil in the sight of the Lord to an extent scarcely equaled even by any of the Israelite monarchs. "He forsook the Lord God of his fathers" ( 2 Kings 21:22 ), and... read more
ACCESSION OF JOSIAH . REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE . RECOVERY OF THE BOOK OF THE LAW . read more
A monarch of rare virtue, and a God of retributive justice. "Josiah was eight years old," etc. There are two subjects in this chapter that arrest our attention, and which are fertile with suggestions. I. A MONARCH OF RARE VIRTUE . "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem," etc. In this monarch we discover four distinguished merits. 1. Religiousness of action . "He did that which was right in the sight of the... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 22:1-10
Concerning Josiah we are here told, I. That he was very young when he began to reign (2 Kgs. 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... read more