Josías

Josías, also known as Josiah, was a king of Judah who reigned for 31 years, from approximately 640 to 609 BCE. He ascended to the throne at the young age of eight after the assassination of his father, Amon. His reign is primarily remembered for its significant religious reforms.

During his rule, a scroll believed to be a lost version of the Book of Deuteronomy was discovered in the Temple in Jerusalem. This discovery profoundly impacted Josías. He initiated a sweeping campaign to centralize worship at the Temple, destroying local shrines and altars dedicated to foreign gods and eradicating practices deemed idolatrous. He enforced the observance of Passover according to the prescriptions found in the rediscovered scroll, marking a pivotal moment in Judean religious history.

Josías's reign took a tragic turn when he marched to confront the Egyptian forces led by Pharaoh Necho II at Megiddo. In the ensuing battle, Josías was mortally wounded and died. His death was mourned deeply by the prophet Jeremiah and is considered a significant loss for Judah. His successors, Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, did not maintain the same religious fervor, and the kingdom eventually fell under Babylonian domination.