The effect of hearing the Word of God was most real with Josiah. He caused all the people to be gathered at the temple to hear that which had moved his own soul so deeply, and there he made a covenant before God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His Word. The people outwardly subscribed to the king's desire; this was natural, for they would wish to please their ruler, particularly when he was a good man. But God looks at the heart; profession without possession is worthless, and will only increase the condemnation by and by.
Josiah, enlightened and aroused by the Word of God, goes anew to the task of ridding the land of what spoke of idolatry. Sad indeed it is to learn that within the walls of that magnificent house planned by David, and built by Solomon, were vessels made for the idol Baal, and for the grove, and for the worship of the host of heaven the sun, moon and stars. Near it were the houses of immoral practices (verse 7) which had brought the judgment of God on Sodom.
At the entering in of the temple were horses and chariots that the kings of Judah had given to the sun. Solomon's departure from God comes into view (verse 13).
Going beyond Judah's borders, Josiah destroyed Jeroboam's altar and high place at Bethel, and the idolatrous high places in the cities of Samaria, sacrificing even the priests of the idols on their altars. Those who held communication with evil spirits, and wizards and everything that savored of idolatry, Josiah put down; and a passover, the like of which had never been seen since the days of the judges, was celebrated (verses 21-22).
Happy king Josiah, amid the ruin of what had once been the land of the rich blessing of God, to serve Him still, holding fast to the faithful word with heart, with soul and with might, according to all the law of Moses. He did not pick out part of God's Word, and give heed to that, disregarding what he found irksome, as do some.
Egypt was soon to be humbled, and to sink e'er long into that condition which in general marks it still, and Assyria too was weakening, when Pharaoh-nechoh, ambitious to recover lost territory, set out to attack the king of Assyria. It was the last expedition of conquest the Egyptians made into the Assyrian dominions, but at the time, success attended them. King Josiah should not have interfered; perhaps pride lifted him up. It was of God, however, that he should be taken away before the judgment of Judah should occur.
Jehoahaz, son of Josiah reigned only three months, for Pharaoh-nechoh, returning from Assyria, carried him off to Egypt, after having taken him as a prisoner first to the far north in Syria.
Eliakim, another of Josiah's sons was made king of Judah, his name being changed to Jehoiakim by Pharaoh-nechoh. The two names, it may be remarked, appear to have very similar meanings,— "God is setting up", and "Jah" (an abbreviation of Jehovah, usually translated THE LORD) "sets up". If so, it would seem that the king's change of name was more by way of Pharaoh's showing his power than anything else. Both the sons of Josiah were very unlike their father; their ways were evil in the sight of the Lord according-to the ways of their forefathers. Judgment was about to fall unsparingly.