Category Archives: Bible Study

Josiah’s Generation, His Legacy, and The Day

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Josiah’s actions of cleansing the Land and the Temple, his Passover celebration, the legacy of prophetic ministries from his reign, and their relationship to “The Day” talked about by earlier prophets are acts of major significance.  This “breath of fresh air” in the family of David was God’s attempt to let Judah repent and put off the cleansing of the Land that had to come.

His importance was announced many years before his arrival in 1 Kings 13:2. This was a time of spiritual darkness when Jeroboam had divided Israel and was replacing Jehovah with man-made images.  An unnamed prophet came out of Judah, and prophesied the birth of Josiah and the destruction of Jeroboam’s altar; this story is finished in 2 Kings 23: 15 – 17.

Josiah’s shining light comes between two really dark chapters in the history of God’s people.  Manasseh and Amon took evil and ignoring God to the lowest point for Judah.  Then Josiah’s sons and grandsons ignored the reforms he made, inviting destruction of the Day for Jerusalem.  Jeremiah endured this abuse and had Burach chronicle it, Ezekiel and Daniel were also witnesses of this unfaithfulness of Judah and Israel, only they were in Babylon.

Imagine the voices trying to speak into his life at eight years old when he became king.  At sixteen he personally starts seeking God.  The amazing thing about this is that he had no scripture to refer to, I wonder if he knew of the prophecy during Jeroboam’s reign.  At twenty he started purging the Land, some areas were not in Judah.  After cleansing the Land, he turns to the Temple and orders it cleaned and restored; then the Law is given to him, and he realizes how far from God they have been.  This in turn forces him to find Huldah that leads him to celebrate Passover.

Points of a Josiah Generation

  • Josiah sought God. This in itself is not a grand idea, but the term “of his father David” clarifies exactly Who he sought.  It was not the current version or idea of God, but the God that helped David through the trials and hardship he endured, the God that showed Himself faithful.
  • Josiah physically removed and destroyed things that were offensive to God and hindered the mindset of Judah. In 2 Chronicles 34, the list of things that he destroyed was impressive.  I am certain that there was crumbling and opposition to this work; they were probably expensive and many of the people had grown up with these altars, images, and the “religious” activities that were associated with them.  WARNING: He took care of what he was responsible for!  He did not go into Moab, Edom, or Ammon trying to clean them up, he took care of what God had given the people of Israel.
  • In 2 Chronicles 34: 8 he knows there is another level that he has to go to. He turns to the “church.”  Things inside his worship house had been neglected and were broken.  An important point here is Josiah empowered the people to do the repairs and many/most were worshipers (vs. 12).  Verse 9 tells where the funds came from, the descendants of Judah and Rachel are listed by name, but other Tribes/people also gave!  The named tribes are the chosen first-born (Judah) and the heirs of the “loved wife” (Joseph and Benjamin).  Jesus has the people and the resources to fuel the revival that will happen before the “Day” arrives.
  • All of this leads to the “Book” once again being allowed to direct the people of God. PROVEN prophets of the Lord once again are consulted and the Lord speaks through them.
  • Josiah’s Passover symbolizes the revival that many are expecting to occur, but it came after a considerable amount of effort and actions.

SPOILER ALERT – Once Josiah was gone things came undone very quickly!  The offspring of the revival ignored God and twenty-two and a half years later Jerusalem was in ruins and the Land was getting to rest!

Josiah’s Prophets

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The fruit of a righteous king was prophets and young people who stood for God at a time when not standing for Him would have been comfortable.  Female, male, young, old, with hateful countrymen, or with pagan kings these voices for God carried a common theme and spoke of things in the future.  They stayed true and spoke when it was not easy.

  • Huldah is the wife of the wardrobe keeper (Temple garments for the priest). That would make them both Levites.  She was sought out after Josiah was read the Law and he realized just how much his father and grandfather had sinned.  Her word in 2 Chronicles 34: 22 – 28 is good for Josiah, but God has no intention of letting up on Judah.  She tells of the destruction to come, the theme found in all of these prophets of God.
  • Jeremiah to me is special. He endured four evil kings, his own family doing him harm, the people rejecting his words from God, seeing the prophesies fulfilled, and finally to die in Egypt where he did not want to be.  As a young man, God gave him a huge task, to test His people (6: 27 – 30).  Parts of Jeremiah are out of order, but I would think that his work during Josiah’s reign is from chapter 1 to 9/10.
  • Zephaniah – Chapter 1:1 clearly states the time of his ministry; 3:18 may indicate that he was serving before and during the eighteenth year of Josiah (it refers to “sorrows for the feast”). He may have influenced both Jeremiah and Ezekiel, but the Lord definitely spoke the same words through him that He spoke through Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
  • Ezekiel is best known for the visions he received about the new Temple and the new Jerusalem. Chapter 1:1 gives his age and verse two timestamps him starting his ministry in Jehoiachin’s fifth year of exile.  His location is north of the city of Babylon by the Kebar River/Canal.
  • Daniel started his role of prophet in Babylon during the reign of Jehoiakim, but he would have been influenced by Josiah and the feast during the thirteen years the Passover was observed. Being a royal he may have also known Jeremiah and had that influence as well. It could be possible that he met Ezekiel, but it is doubtful. Daniel’s locations are south of the one for Ezekiel.  Babylon, Susa, Ulai Canal, and the Tigris River are some of the locations mentioned in the Book of Daniel; it is noteworthy that two of his visions came when he was beside a river.  This custom survived into Paul’s time as seen in Acts 16: 13 when he found Lydia in Philippi.
  • Uriah (Jeremiah 26: 20 – 23) Actually, he is mentioned with King Jehoiakim but let’s put the start of his ministry during the time of Josiah. (The reasoning here is time, Jehoiakim was king for eleven years, so he should have been older than that!) He prophesied against Jerusalem and was hunted down and killed by Jehoiakim. This passage does give a look at Jehoiakim and some of his poor conduct.
  • There are several false prophets listed in Jeremiah, but like Uriah, we don’t know when they started. They are mentioned in the time period of Zedekiah. Both Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah have sections about false prophets: Jeremiah 23: 33, Ezekiel 13, Zephaniah 3: 4.

The Chronological Bible puts Habakkuk during Josiah’s reign.  That is as good as any place but he could have been with Isaiah and Micah.

A Josiah Generation from His Numbers

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In the post – Josiah by His Numbers I listed Josiah’s life and the numbers that are given in Scripture.  The numbers are found in both 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, God repeated Himself, so you know they are important.  There is much written on numbers, there occurrences, uses, and meanings on the internet, be careful as some sites don’t always glorify Jesus.

  • Seven is a number showing completion, it also carries covenant context. Josiah took seven years to clean the idols and other pagan influences of Judah and Israel.  it probably took that long because the people and leaders seemed pretty comfortable with idolatry and keeping the Lord as a figurehead.
  • Eight – Eight is referred to the number of new beginnings, I have often felt this is because of Genesis and the days of creation. In Josiah’s life, eight signals a “new” of something that had or should have been going on. His “eights” are the beginning of his reign and him starting to seek God. The “seeking God” is impressive because he had no copy of the Law, it was given to him ten years later (also the number of Commandments).
  • Twelve (apostles) is associated with leadership. His twelfth years as a ruler is when he started taking control and clearing out pagan worship.
  • Thirteen (see my post of 13) is the start of something new. Not recycling or restarting, but brand new.  Jeremiah started his ministry in the 13th year of Josiah’s reign, and they celebrated the Passover (implied) until Josiah died.
  • Sixteen – In my post on sixteen, it seems that it was associated with the “eye of God” keeping watch. Josiah starting to seek God at sixteen fits that thought well, God was keeping his eye on him.
  • Eighteen is a number with a lot associated it with (See Eighteen in the Bible), but it representing fullness makes the most sense to me. In Josiah’s life, it was the eighteenth year when his campaign to up Judah came to its “fullness” with the finding of the Law and Passover celebrated properly.
  • Twenty –Josiah’s waited until the age of twenty to start his battle against pagan influences.  This corresponds with two themes of twenty in the Bible.  Jacob waited/served twenty years to get his wives, children, and flocks.  Young men entered military service at twenty.

Josiah By His Numbers

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I like 2 Chronicles 34 + 35 for Josiah’s life story, 2 Kings 22 is the other reference about his life.  They are basically the same but they were written for different audiences.

I have done several posts about numbers, so I will refer to them.  The numbers do highlight the prophetic nature of Josiah’s life.

Josiah’s Children

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Josiah’s heirs are the last kings of Israel before the Exile. They are integral parts of the story that lead to the judgment of Jerusalem and then its rebuilding. They are mentioned in several books including 2 Kings, 1 + 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, and time stamps put them in Daniel, Esther, and Ezekiel. There is an interesting 3 months/11-year cycle that is mentioned (twice) with these men concerning their times as rulers.

Johanan/Jehoahaz – When Josiah died the people made Jehoahaz king. He lasted three months when Pharaoh Neco came in and took him to Egypt where he died. 1 Chronicles 3:15 states he was Josiah’s firstborn. 

Eliakim/ Jehoiakim – Pharaoh was in charge of Israel, again! In reality, Israel was once again “slaves” of Egypt.  Neco showed his power by removing the king of “the people” and putting in one of his choosing.  In another show of power, Neco changes the king’s name. Eliakim (God establishes) was changed to Jehoiakim (Yahweh lifts up or establishes). He rules 11 years.

Jehoiachin/Shallum – Jehoiachin means “Yahweh supports” and it shows.  His rule started when he was eighteen and it lasted three months.  He was taken to Babylon and stayed in prison until he was fifty-five years old. This fulfills Jeremiah 22:11. The reason he is so important, he is the grandfather of Zerubbabel. Kings and Chronicles don’t give much about him, so read Jeremiah 22:24 – 30.  Then temper this with Haggai 2:23.

A signet ring lost and then restored.  Jeremiah 23 then talks about The Branch and this theme is repeated in Zechariah 3:8 (which is in the time frame of Haggai).  Jeremiah 24 completes the Lord’s thoughts about him and the other exiles.  If you only read Jeremiah 22 it is easy to get the impression that God “hates” Jehoiachin; actually, God did him a favor by bringing them out of Jerusalem. 

Zedekiah/Mattaniah  – Jeremiah tells Zedekiah’s story, he is mention frequently starting in the 21st chapter until the end of the book. (be careful there are other Zedekiah’s mentioned) He is the embodiment of the spiritual attitude of Judah at that time; at times he is seeking God, sometimes protecting Jeremiah, and then ready to give him to up to be abused.

His reign as king mirrors his spiritual life.  He accepts Babylon, he rejects Babylon and tries to come under Egypt; he just makes bad decisions.  So, he lasted eleven years and came to a bad end.  He had to watch his family die, and then his eyes were blinded.

Shallum | The amazing name Shallum: meaning and etymology

The family stories/trees are in 2 Kings; 2 Chronicles 36; 1 Chronicles 3:15-16; Jeremiah 22:11-30, 24:1-10, 25:1-3, 52:1-11 and 31-34; and Matthew 1:11-12.  

2 Kings 23 – 25 –

  1. Jehoahaz 23 yrs. old, ruled 3 months the people put him as ruler went to Egypt and did not return;
  2. Jehoiakim/Eliakim 25 yrs old, ruled 11 yrs;
  3. Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim 18 yrs old, ruled three months, went to Babylon with his mother, lived out his life there (Jer. 52, 2 Kgs. 25:27);
  4. Mattaniah/Zedekiah he was Jehoiachin uncle (Josiah’s son) he was 21 yrs old and ruled 11 years. Do the math he was 9/10 yrs old when Josiah died or Jehoiakim was 4 when he birthed him.

2 Chronicles 36 These are changes from 2 Kings

  1. Jehoahaz/Joahaz;
  2. Jehoiakim;
  3. Jehoiachin – NIV footnote, some manuscripts have eight yrs old;
  4. Zedekiah – NIV footnote Hebrew may indicate brother.

1 Chronicles 3:15-16

1599 Geneva Bible – 15 And of the sons of Josiah, the [a]eldest was [b]Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, and the fourth Shallum.

16 And the sons of Jehoiakim were Jeconiah his son, and Zedekiah his son.

  1. 1 Chronicles 3:15 So called because he was preferred to the dignity royal before his brother Jehoiakim which was the elder.
  2. 1 Chronicles 3:15 Or, Jehoahaz, 2 Kings 23:30.

 

NIV 1 Chronicles 3:16 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin; also in verse 17

These are from BibleGateway, which is a big help.

Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, is the traditional writer/compiler/editor of the Books of Kings. Ezra the priest/scribe is noted for the same thing with the Books of Chronicles. They did not make it easy for our western minds and sense of order. I have heard rigid rules about the oldest male child/first-born, and who gets listed first in a family tree. Yet there are examples where those things are changed. Josiah’s heirs (children) seem to be an example of not fitting into “the norm”.

Jeremiah 21:1 – 22:9 Is against Zedekiah.

Jeremiah 22:10-30 – Verse 10 seems to be an introduction and 11 is about Shallum who will never return or see Jerusalem again; if this is Jehoiachin he was “just” exiled. Is 11-17 an introduction to Jehoiakim in verse 18, he had 11 years to build his palace? (Cedar probably came from Lebanon. David and Solomon had a “Palace of Lebanon” cedar.) Verse 24 talks about Jehoiachin who went to Babylon with his mother and never came back, but his heirs became governors in Judah. Mary’s line is through Nathan another son of Bathsheba, fulfilling the promise to David. The text goes to the prophecy about Jesus, the righteous Branch, Jeremiah 23.

Jeremiah 24:1-10 – Jehoiachin (he ruled three months) and the exiles are the good basket of figs and Zedekiah and those in Jerusalem are the bad figs.

Jeremiah 25:1-3 is a timestamp with Jehoiakim as a reference point for twenty-three years. Remember he ruled 11 years.

Jeremiah 52:1-11 Zedekiah died in Babylon at 31 years of age; he ruled 11 years.

Jeremiah 52:31-34 Jehoiachin is released from prison and lives a “good” life under Evil-Merodach.

Matthew 1:11-12 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel (KJV). Jechonias is Jehoiachin.

Age order seems to be: Eliakim/ Jehoiakim, Johanan/Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin/Shallum, Zedekiah/Mattaniah 

In my opinion the order of importance is the reverse of 1 Chronicles 3: Jehoiachin/Shallum, Zedekiah/Mattaniah, Eliakim/ Jehoiakim, Johanan/Jehoahaz 

Answer to RZ

Thanks for the question. If you reread the post, you will see I changed it. (So, to the other readers RZ statement may be strange, but it was a great question.) I did account for all four names and in doing so I realized I goofed. In Jeremiah I saw a footnote (NIV) and they identified Jehoahaz and Shallum as being the same person. That should be challenged, it makes more sense that the prophecy refers to Jehoiachin who goes on to produce offspring to continue the royal line of Solomon. Jeremiah 52 talks about his release. 1 Chronicles 3:16 (NIV) has the term successors. Another note that is hard for me at times is the Hebrew word for male family member, it can be translated brother or uncle.

Thanks for the catch and I hope I fixed it.

Mark