Overview of Day 217: 2 Kings 22–23 and 2 Chronicles 34–35
Tara-Leigh Cobble covers the final stretch of Judah’s decline under King Josiah, one of the last faithful kings of the southern kingdom. The episode highlights Josiah’s discovery of the Book of the Law, his dramatic repentance and reform, the restoration of Passover, and the surprising way his life ends in battle after ignoring a warning from Pharaoh Neco. The big takeaway is that God’s truth, once neglected, can expose spiritual drift and call a whole nation back to covenant faithfulness.
Major Events in the Passage
Josiah Discovers the Book of the Law
- Josiah, who becomes king at just eight years old, orders repairs to the temple.
- During the renovation, Hilkiah finds the “book of the law,” likely Deuteronomy.
- The text has apparently been neglected for so long that no one seems to have been looking for it.
Josiah Responds with Repentance
- When the book is read to him, Josiah is deeply convicted.
- He realizes how far Judah has drifted from God and how generations of kings have led the people astray.
- He sends leaders to seek God’s guidance through the prophetess Huldah.
- Huldah prophesies judgment on Judah, but says Josiah himself will be spared because of his humble, repentant heart.
Covenant Renewal and Reforms
- Josiah gathers the people and publicly reads the book of the covenant.
- He makes a covenant before God to obey Him fully, and the people join him.
- He aggressively removes idolatry:
- destroys idols and pagan altars
- fires wicked priests
- bans mediums and necromancers
- desecrates idol sites, turning them into graves
Passover Restored
- Josiah reinstates Passover according to God’s commands.
- Tara-Leigh notes that this is unlike Hezekiah’s earlier, improvised Passover; Josiah’s is properly observed and timed.
- Judah remains faithful during Josiah’s reign.
Josiah’s Death and Judah’s Decline
- Pharaoh Neco is marching to help Assyria against Babylon.
- Josiah confronts him anyway, despite Neco’s warning.
- Josiah disguises himself for battle but is mortally wounded by Egyptian archers.
- After Josiah dies:
- Jehoahaz becomes king, but is later taken captive to Egypt.
- Eliakim is renamed Jehoiakim by Pharaoh Neco and installed as a puppet king.
Key Takeaways
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
- Tara-Leigh emphasizes that forgetting God’s truth leads hearts off course.
- Judah’s spiritual confusion came from long neglect of God’s word.
- The episode frames the rediscovery of Scripture as a turning point that exposes sin and calls for repentance.
God Can Speak Through Unexpected People
- One of the main “godshots” is that Pharaoh Neco speaks truth to Josiah.
- The fact that someone is ungodly does not automatically mean everything they say is false.
- God can use pagan rulers, donkeys, or anyone else to communicate His purposes.
Josiah as a Model of Heart-Level Faithfulness
- Josiah is portrayed as the best king Judah has had so far.
- He followed God with his whole heart, mind, and soul.
- His reforms show that true repentance leads to action, not just emotion.
Practical Application
- Stay rooted in God’s word so truth doesn’t get buried under routine and busyness.
- Let conviction lead to change, as Josiah did.
- Be discerning: evaluate truth by God’s word, not merely by the speaker’s reputation.
- Remember that God is active and sovereign, even through unexpected voices and events.
Looking Ahead
- The reading plan moves into Zephaniah next.
- Tara-Leigh mentions a short video overview in the show notes to help set up the next book.