King Josiah the Reformer (2 Chronicles 34-35)

The story of young King Josiah – and how he transformed the nation of Judah – is found in the Old Testament books of 2 Kings (22:1-23:30) and 2 Chronicles (34:1-35:27). It’s a story of how someone made a real mark on the world at a young age, since he died aged just 39.

Josiah was the grandson of King Manasseh and an ancestor of Christ (Matthew 1:10-16). After his father Amon was murdered, he became king of Judah at aged eight – and found God in his late teens. His father and grandfather had done a lot of damage to the nation, shedding a lot of blood and leading the people away from God.

Josiah decided to take a different path. He banned worship of false gods – such as human sacrifices to the god Moloch – and repaired the Temple of Jerusalem. He publicly read the whole Law of Moses to the people and pledged “with all his heart and all his soul” to keep it faithfully. He led the nation in making a similar promise to serve God from now on.

Not only that, Josiah made social justice a priority – “he judged the cause of the poor and needy.” (Jeremiah 22:15-16) For all of these reasons, the Bible describes him as an exceptional leader who “kept his heart fixed on the Lord; in lawless times he made godliness prevail.” (Sirach 49:1-3; cf 2 Kings 23:5)

Unwisely, however, Josiah got involved in a war with Pharaoh Necho of Egypt and was shot by an archer in battle. He died shortly after of his wounds and was buried in Jerusalem amid great mourning.

Josiah, as in this example, is often pictured in scenes of the Jesse Tree, which traces the royal ancestry of Christ through the Old Testament. This detail of the king is found within the grand East Window of St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle. This Jesse window was created by the local William Wailes studio, using a design by A.W.N. Pugin, in 1844.

King Josiah is seen here holding a sword and a sceptre, symbolising his role as a royal soldier. He is surrounded by the branches of the Jesse Tree in the trademark green of William Wailes. He is identified by his Latin name, Josias, and is seated as if on a throne. The clusters of grapes in the background symbolise both the wine of the Eucharist and Christ’s gospel saying, “I am the vine, you are the branches” – John 15:5.

Where to find this work of art
St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Read the relevant passage
2 Chronicles 34 and 35

On a similar theme

• From the Old Testament: King Josiah is listed, alongside Hezekiah and David, as one of the few good kings of Judah (Sirach 49:4).
• From the New Testament: According to St Matthew’s gospel, Josiah was an ancestor of Christ (Matthew 1:11).