Who was King Josiah?
Josiah became king of Judah at age 8 and led a remarkable spiritual reformation. When a book of the Law was found in the temple, he tore his clothes in grief, renewed the covenant, and purged idolatry from the land. Yet judgment came after his death because the nation’s heart had not changed.
"Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul" (2 Kings 23:25).
His reforms were thorough — idols destroyed, Passover celebrated, the Law obeyed. A revival from the top down.
But Jeremiah’s preaching reveals that the change was largely outward; the people’s hearts remained set on evil. After Josiah, exile came.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.