Josiah
The Last Good King
Josiah became king at the age of eight and was the last truly godly king of Judah. When the Book of the Law was found in the temple during restoration work, he led a comprehensive reform. He removed idolatry and renewed the covenant with God. He died tragically in battle against Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo.
Nyckelhändelser
Sought God as a Youth
Already at sixteen, Josiah began to seek God, and at twenty he started his reforms.
1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
בֶּן־שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה שָׁנִ֖ים יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ בְמָלְכ֑וֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וְאַחַת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
2He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, walking in the ways of David his father and turning aside neither to the right nor to the left.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ בְּדַרְכֵי֙ דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֔יו וְלֹא־סָ֖ר יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃
3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the cast idols.
וּבִשְׁמוֹנֶ֨ה שָׁנִ֜ים לְמָלְכ֗וֹ וְהוּא֙ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ נַ֔עַר הֵחֵ֕ל לִדְר֕וֹשׁ לֵאלֹהֵ֖י דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֑יו וּבִשְׁתֵּ֧ים עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֗ה הֵחֵל֙ לְטַהֵ֔ר אֶת־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם מִן־הַבָּמוֹת֙ וְהָ֣אֲשֵׁרִ֔ים וְהַפְּסִלִ֖ים וְהַמַּסֵּכֽוֹת׃
The Book of the Law Found
During temple renovations, the priest Hilkia found the Book of the Law, which was read aloud to the king.
8Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
וַ֠יֹּאמֶר חִלְקִיָּ֜הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֤ן הַגָּדוֹל֙ עַל־שָׁפָ֣ן הַסֹּפֵ֔ר סֵ֧פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֛ה מָצָ֖אתִי בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֨ן חִלְקִיָּ֧ה אֶת־הַסֵּ֛פֶר אֶל־שָׁפָ֖ן וַיִּקְרָאֵֽהוּ׃
10Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it aloud before the king.
וַיַּגֵּ֞ד שָׁפָ֤ן הַסֹּפֵר֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֔ר סֵ֚פֶר נָ֣תַן לִ֔י חִלְקִיָּ֖ה הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיִּקְרָאֵ֥הוּ שָׁפָ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.
וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י סֵ֣פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו׃
13"Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah about the words of this book that has been found. Great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us, because our fathers did not obey the words of this book by doing all that is written concerning us."
לְכוּ֩ דִרְשׁ֨וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֜ה בַּעֲדִ֣י וּבְעַד־הָעָ֗ם וּבְעַד֙ כָּל־יְהוּדָ֔ה עַל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַנִּמְצָ֖א הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־גְדוֹלָ֞ה חֲמַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁר־הִיא֙ נִצְּתָ֣ה בָ֔נוּ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֜וּ אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ עַל־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כְּכָל־הַכָּת֥וּב עָלֵֽינוּ׃
14While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses.
וּבְהוֹצִיאָ֣ם אֶת־הַכֶּ֔סֶף הַמּוּבָ֖א בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה מָצָא֙ חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֶת־סֵ֥פֶר תּֽוֹרַת־יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃
15Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD," and he gave the book to Shaphan.
וַיַּ֣עַן חִלְקִיָּ֗הוּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־שָׁפָ֣ן הַסּוֹפֵ֔ר סֵ֧פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֛ה מָצָ֖אתִי בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֧ן חִלְקִיָּ֛הוּ אֶת־הַסֵּ֖פֶר אֶל־שָׁפָֽן׃
18Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
וַיַּגֵּ֞ד שָׁפָ֤ן הַסּוֹפֵר֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֔ר סֵ֚פֶר נָ֣תַן לִ֔י חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיִּקְרָא־ב֥וֹ שָׁפָ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
19When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.
וַיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֣י הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו׃
Renewal of the Covenant
Josiah gathered the people and renewed the covenant with God before all Jerusalem.
1Then the king sent word, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיַּאַסְפ֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו כָּל־זִקְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
2The king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him every man of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets, and all the people, from the least to the greatest. And he read in their hearing every word of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
וַיַּ֣עַל הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ בֵּית־יְהוָ֡ה וְכָל־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָה֩ וְכָל־יֹשְׁבֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם אִתּ֗וֹ וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַנְּבִיאִ֔ים וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם לְמִקָּטֹ֣ן וְעַד־גָּד֑וֹל וַיִּקְרָ֣א בְאָזְנֵיהֶ֗ם אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי֙ סֵ֣פֶר הַבְּרִ֔ית הַנִּמְצָ֖א בְּבֵ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
3The king stood by the pillar and made the covenant before the LORD: to follow the LORD and keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, carrying out the words of this covenant written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ עַֽל־הָ֨עַמּ֜וּד וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת אֶֽת־הַבְּרִ֣ית ׀ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה לָלֶ֜כֶת אַחַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ וְלִשְׁמֹ֨ר מִצְוֺתָ֜יו וְאֶת־עֵדְוֺתָ֤יו וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתָיו֙ בְּכָל־לֵ֣ב וּבְכָל־נֶ֔פֶשׁ לְהָקִ֗ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַבְּרִ֣ית הַזֹּ֔את הַכְּתֻבִ֖ים עַל־הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד כָּל־הָעָ֖ם בַּבְּרִֽית׃
29Then the king sent word and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֕ף אֶת־כָּל־זִקְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
30He went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, from the greatest to the least, and he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
וַיַּ֣עַל הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ בֵּית־יְ֠הוָה וְכָל־אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדָ֜ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם מִגָּד֣וֹל וְעַד־קָטָ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֣א בְאָזְנֵיהֶ֗ם אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי֙ סֵ֣פֶר הַבְּרִ֔ית הַנִּמְצָ֖א בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
31The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, carrying out the words of the covenant written in this book.
וַיַּעֲמֹ֨ד הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ עַל־עָמְד֗וֹ וַיִּכְרֹ֣ת אֶֽת־הַבְּרִית֮ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָה֒ לָלֶ֜כֶת אַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה וְלִשְׁמ֤וֹר אֶת־מִצְוֺתָיו֙ וְעֵֽדְוֺתָ֣יו וְחֻקָּ֔יו בְּכָל־לְבָב֖וֹ וּבְכָל־נַפְשׁ֑וֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י הַבְּרִ֔ית הַכְּתוּבִ֖ים עַל־הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַזֶּֽה׃
32Then he had everyone present in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
וַיַּעֲמֵ֕ד אֵ֛ת כָּל־הַנִּמְצָ֥א בִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם כִּבְרִ֥ית אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
The Great Passover
Josiah celebrated a Passover unlike any seen since the days of the judges.
21The king commanded all the people: "Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant."
וַיְצַ֤ו הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר עֲשׂ֣וּ פֶ֔סַח לַֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם כַּכָּת֕וּב עַ֛ל סֵ֥פֶר הַבְּרִ֖ית הַזֶּֽה׃
22No such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who ruled Israel, nor throughout all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah.
כִּ֣י לֹ֤א נַֽעֲשָׂה֙ כַּפֶּ֣סַח הַזֶּ֔ה מִימֵי֙ הַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁפְט֖וּ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכֹ֗ל יְמֵ֛י מַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וּמַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃
23But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.
כִּ֠י אִם־בִּשְׁמֹנֶ֤ה עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ נַעֲשָׂ֞ה הַפֶּ֧סַח הַזֶּ֛ה לַיהוָ֖ה בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
25Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his strength, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.
וְכָמֹהוּ֩ לֹֽא־הָיָ֨ה לְפָנָ֜יו מֶ֗לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֤ב אֶל־יְהוָה֙ בְּכָל־לְבָב֤וֹ וּבְכָל־נַפְשׁוֹ֙ וּבְכָל־מְאֹד֔וֹ כְּכֹ֖ל תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֑ה וְאַחֲרָ֖יו לֹֽא־קָ֥ם כָּמֹֽהוּ׃
Josiah dies in battle
Josiah fell in battle against Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo, and all Judah mourned.
29In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went out to meet him, and Neco killed him at Megiddo as soon as he saw him.
בְּיָמָ֡יו עָלָה֩ פַרְעֹ֨ה נְכֹ֧ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם עַל־מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּׁ֖וּר עַל־נְהַר־פְּרָ֑ת וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ וַיְמִיתֵ֙הוּ֙ בִּמְגִדּ֔וֹ כִּרְאֹת֖וֹ אֹתֽוֹ׃
30His servants carried his body in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.
וַיַּרְכִּבֻ֨הוּ עֲבָדָ֥יו מֵת֙ מִמְּגִדּ֔וֹ וַיְבִאֻ֙הוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֖הוּ בִּקְבֻֽרָת֑וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח עַם־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־יְהֽוֹאָחָז֙ בֶּן־יֹ֣אשִׁיָּ֔הוּ וַיִּמְשְׁח֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֹת֖וֹ תַּ֥חַת אָבִֽיו׃ פ
20After all this, when Josiah had put the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him.
אַחֲרֵ֣י כָל־זֹ֗את אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵכִ֤ין יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת עָלָ֞ה נְכ֧וֹ מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם בְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ עַל־פְּרָ֑ת וַיֵּצֵ֥א לִקְרָאת֖וֹ יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃
22Josiah, however, would not turn away from him; instead he disguised himself to fight him. He would not listen to the words of Neco, which came from the mouth of God, and he went to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
וְלֹֽא־הֵסֵב֩ יֹאשִׁיָּ֨הוּ פָנָ֜יו מִמֶּ֗נּוּ כִּ֤י לְהִלָּחֵֽם־בּוֹ֙ הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֛ע אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י נְכ֖וֹ מִפִּ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֕א לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בְּבִקְעַ֥ת מְגִדּֽוֹ׃
23The archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am badly wounded."
וַיֹּרוּ֙ הַיֹּרִ֔ים לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ לַעֲבָדָיו֙ הַעֲבִיר֔וּנִי כִּ֥י הָחֳלֵ֖יתִי מְאֹֽד׃
24So his servants took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
וַיַּֽעֲבִירֻ֨הוּ עֲבָדָ֜יו מִן־הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֗ה וַֽיַּרְכִּיבֻהוּ֮ עַ֣ל רֶ֣כֶב הַמִּשְׁנֶה֮ אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֒ וַיּוֹלִיכֻ֙הוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיָּ֕מָת וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּקִבְר֣וֹת אֲבֹתָ֑יו וְכָל־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם מִֽתְאַבְּלִ֖ים עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ פ
25Jeremiah composed a lament for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers sing of Josiah in their laments. They made these a custom in Israel, and they are written in the Laments.
וַיְקוֹנֵ֣ן יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ֒ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ כָֽל־הַשָּׁרִ֣ים ׀ וְ֠הַשָּׁרוֹת בְּקִינ֨וֹתֵיהֶ֤ם עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ עַד־הַיּ֔וֹם וַיִּתְּנ֥וּם לְחֹ֖ק עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהִנָּ֥ם כְּתוּבִ֖ים עַל־הַקִּינֽוֹת׃