Josiah

2 definitions found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Josiah
     healed by Jehovah, or Jehovah will support. The son of Amon, and
     his successor on the throne of Judah (2 Kings 22:1; 2 Chr.
     34:1). His history is contained in 2 Kings 22, 23. He stands
     foremost among all the kings of the line of David for unswerving
     loyalty to Jehovah (23:25). He "did that which was right in the


     sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his
     father." He ascended the throne at the early age of eight years,
     and it appears that not till eight years afterwards did he begin
     "to seek after the God of David his father." At that age he
     devoted himself to God. He distinguished himself by beginning a
     war of extermination against the prevailing idolatry, which had
     practically been the state religion for some seventy years (2
     Chr. 34:3; comp. Jer. 25:3, 11, 29).
     
       In the eighteenth year of his reign he proceeded to repair and
     beautify the temple, which by time and violence had become
     sorely dilapidated (2 Kings 22:3, 5, 6; 23:23; 2 Chr. 34:11).
     While this work was being carried on, Hilkiah, the high priest,
     discovered a roll, which was probably the original copy of the
     law, the entire Pentateuch, written by Moses.
     
       When this book was read to him, the king was alarmed by the
     things it contained, and sent for Huldah, the "prophetess," for
     her counsel. She spoke to him words of encouragement, telling
     him that he would be gathered to his fathers in peace before the
     threatened days of judgment came. Josiah immediately gathered
     the people together, and engaged them in a renewal of their
     ancient national covenant with God. The Passover was then
     celebrated, as in the days of his great predecessor, Hezekiah,
     with unusual magnificence. Nevertheless, "the Lord turned not
     from the fierceness of his great wrath wherewith his anger was
     kindled against Judah" (2 Kings 22:3-20; 23:21-27; 2 Chr.
     35:1-19). During the progress of this great religious revolution
     Jeremiah helped it on by his earnest exhortations.
     
       Soon after this, Pharaoh-Necho II. (q.v.), king of Egypt, in
     an expedition against the king of Assyria, with the view of
     gaining possession of Carchemish, sought a passage through the
     territory of Judah for his army. This Josiah refused to permit.
     He had probably entered into some new alliance with the king of
     Assyria, and faithful to his word he sought to oppose the
     progress of Necho.
     
       The army of Judah went out and encountered that of Egypt at
     Megiddo, on the verge of the plain of Esdraelon. Josiah went
     into the field in disguise, and was fatally wounded by a random
     arrow. His attendants conveyed him toward Jerusalem, but had
     only reached Hadadrimmon, a few miles south of Megiddo, when he
     died (2 Kings 23:28, 30; comp. 2 Chr. 35:20-27), after a reign
     of thirty-one years. He was buried with the greatest honours in
     fulfilment of Huldah's prophecy (2 Kings 22:20; comp. Jer.
     34:5). Jeremiah composed a funeral elegy on this the best of the
     kings of Israel (Lam. 4:20; 2 Chr. 35:25). The outburst of
     national grief on account of his death became proverbial (Zech.
     12:11; comp. Rev. 16:16).
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Josiah, the Lord burns; the fire of the Lord