Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 23
Josiah’s family history was truly impressive. During the last 4 centuries, 16 men from his family had ruled as kings in Jerusalem before him. Many of them had left evidence of their greatness, wealth and power in the buildings that filled Jerusalem.
However, Josiah did not dare to be proud of his family’s importance. As he looked round Jerusalem, he saw evidence of the former kings’ evil deeds, and not their greatness. In his opinion, the members of his family had not ruled well, because so many of them were not loyal to God.
For example, Josiah’s father Amon served false gods. During his short rule, Amon set up many of the images that Josiah was now destroying. However, Amon was not the only king who was responsible for these evil acts. Josiah’s grandfather Manasseh had built places to serve false gods in the courts (yards) of the temple (God’s house in Jerusalem). Manasseh’s own grandfather, Ahaz, built a similar place on the roof, perhaps of the royal palace.
Even Solomon, Israel’s greatest king, had built places to give honour to very wicked gods outside Jerusalem. 1 Kings 11:1-8 records that he built these places for the religions of his foreign wives. Now, more than 300 years later, these places were still standing and people were using them for these evil religions. Not even the best and wisest kings from Josiah’s family had acted to remove them.
Now, at last, Josiah destroyed these places. It was already too late to prevent God’s punishment against Judah’s people – and Josiah realised that fact (22:11-20). Josiah acted against these places because he cared about the honour due to God.
Next part: Josiah destroys the altar at Bethel (2 Kings 23:14-15)
Please use the links at the top of the page to find our other articles in this series. You can download all our articles if you go to the download page for our free 1000+ page course book.
© 2026, Keith Simons.