Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 22
When God’s judgment happened against Judah, both good people and evil people suffered. However, their experience was different, because God supports and helps his people, even in such situations (Ecclesiastes 9:1-2). The author of Lamentations wrote that, in this terrible situation, he was constantly aware of God’s kindness (Lamentations 3:22-24).
God promised Josiah that these troubles would not happen during his life. So, God’s judgment against Judah would happen only after Josiah’s death. However, several good and holy people did suffer in those troubles. They included the prophets (holy men) Jeremiah and Daniel. So, we ask why God gave that promise to Josiah.
One answer is that God heard and answered Josiah’s prayer. The Bible does not actually mention that prayer – instead, it mentions the physical evidence of Josiah’s prayer: his tears and his humble actions. In his great wisdom, God chose to answer that prayer and to delay the punishment. That gave Judah’s people another opportunity to turn back to God before the judgment happened.
Another answer is that God acts for the honour of his own name. So, God decided not to allow the judgment to happen during the rule of this good and sincere king. To do that might cause the people in other nations to have a wrong opinion about God. They might think that God did not care about good and right behaviour. So, God delayed the punishment until Judah again had a wicked king. Then it would be clear even to Judah’s enemies why God carried out this punishment (Jeremiah 40:1-3).
Next part: Josiah gathers the people to hear God's law (2 Kings 23:1-2)
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.