Josiah, the king who took to the throne at the age of eight, reigned for 31 years. During that time, major reform took place in the land of Judah. The temple was repaired, and in so doing the book of the law was discovered and read. Hearing exactly what God required of His people, King Josiah was rightly concerned about the great transgressions committed by his forebears. He set out to right all the many wrongs that had been committed against the God of His fathers.
Altars to foreign gods and deities were removed and desecrated. Those who led in the worship of such false religion were put to death. The sacred places were defiled and left unusable for their particular style of worship. Nothing was left undone. This was not a partial reform; it was a total elimination of places of public worship of foreign idols and gods.
Josiah also reinstated the Passover celebration, something that had been neglected for many years. We are told that no king was ever like Josiah; he turned to God with his entire heart, soul and strength. Nevertheless, God would still punish Judah for her sins. Josiah died in battle with the Egyptian Pharaoh, and his sons were placed on the throne. One was removed by the Pharoah in favor of the other, so it was Eliakim (who ruled in the name Jehoiakim) who succeeded his father.
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