King Hezekiah's son, Manasseh assumed the throne at the age of 12. Due to his early beginning, his 55-year reign had potential to be a great force for good. However, Manasseh was not inclined to follow the Lord the way his father had done. He went to great lengths to undo the reforms of his father and enticed the nation to become more steeped in the religious cultures of the surrounding civilizations. After God brought him into peril and he was deported to Babylon, Manasseh repented and God restored him to his kingdom. He then instituted sweeping reforms and returned the nation back to worshiping God singularly. His son (Amon) who succeeded him did not continue these reforms and only ruled two years before his servants conspired against him and installed his son, Josiah as king.
Josiah became king at the age of 8 and reigned for 31 years in a manner that pleased the Lord. He instituted massive reforms and sought to bring the nation back to a correct worship and understanding of the God of David. In these reforms, the temple was renovated and the book of the Law was discovered (how had it gone missing?). Josiah and the high priest, Hilkiah, restored true and proper worship to the land after hearing all that God had commanded.
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