Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 22
In ancient Israel, the king was also the country’s chief judge. So, Josiah would have often acted as judge against criminals who had not obeyed his law. He heard the evidence, and then he issued his judgments. As he did that, he would express his anger against the guilty person. That evil person had not respected either the king’s laws, nor his authority as judge. So, now that person must suffer the proper punishment for his wicked behaviour.
King Josiah had just heard, perhaps for the first time, the laws that God made for his people to follow. Josiah knew that the people in Judah had not obeyed these laws. Like the worst criminals, they neither respected God’s law nor his right to act as their judge. That was terrible. It was very clear to Josiah that God’s anger against Judah’s people was very great.
So, Josiah sent the chief priest with the most important officials in his government. He told them to go and to inquire of God. Josiah did not know what was the right and proper thing to do in this awful situation. He did not know whether it was right to pray for God to change his judgment against the nation. He did not even know how soon the nation would suffer this terrible punishment. So, he told his officials to pray that God would guide him. He hoped that, in this way, he would receive a message from God about this situation.
The name of one of these officials, Ahikam, also appears in Jeremiah 26:24. During the rule of Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, Ahikam spoke on Jeremiah’s behalf and so helped to save him from death. Ahikam’s son, Gedaliah, later became the ruler of Judah after Babylon’s army had taken control of it (25:22).
Next part: Huldah the prophetess (2 Kings 22:14)
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