2 Kings 22:1 to 2 Kings 23:30 a. The Reign and Reforms of Josiah. The fifty-seven years of the reigns of Manasseh and Amon were, according to Kings (not Chronicles), a period of apostasy, which probably continued for the first ten years of Josiah. The prophetic party had consequently remained out of power since the persecution of Manasseh (2 Kings 21:16). They regained their influence by the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:8). The prophetess Huldah, on being consulted, foretold that all the calamities predicted in the book would come true, but that Josiah should go to his grave in peace and not witness the ruin of his people (2 Kings 22:16-20). The result of this message was, first, a drastic reformation of the Temple and the kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 23:1-14), and, secondly, the destruction of the famous northern sanctuary of Bethel (2 Kings 23:15-20). Finally, Josiah kept a solemn passover (2 Kings 23:21-23), and suppressed those who practised occult arts (2 Kings 23:24). Yet for all his unique goodness the judgment due to Manasseh was not averted (2 Kings 23:25-27). Josiah was killed at Megiddo in an attempt to prevent the march of the king of Egypt to the Euphrates (2 Kings 23:29 f.).
These Chapter s, like 2 Kings 21, are much influenced by Dt. The main part, like 2 Kings 11:1-21; 2 Kings 12:4 ff; 2 Kings 16:10-18, may come from the Temple archives.