Changes

== Significance ==

== Significance ==

Some commentators suggest that Josiah, rather than [[David]], qualifies as the greatest of the kings of ancient [[Israel]].<ref name=XPollen>Anonymous, [http://www.accuros.com/thornbush/pollen/2ki23_25.htm The Greatest King of Israel], 1998. Retrieved April 9, 2007 from [http://www.accuros.com/thornbush/pollen/xpindex.htm Cross Pollen]</ref> He certainly stands as one of the greatest of Israel's kings and one of that society's two greatest reformers.<ref name=RightDo>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=34|verses=2|version=KJV}}</ref><ref name=WebBible>[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/josiah.html Josiah] at the [http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/home.html WebBible Encyclopedia]</ref><ref name=Keyway>[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/roadsign.htm Wayne Blank], [http://www.keyway.ca/htm2001/20010422.htm Josiah's Reforms], Church of God Daily Bible Study. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=Bratcher>Dennis Bratcher, [http://www.cresourcei.org/othbabylon.html The Rise of Babylon and Exile (640-538 BC)], 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2007.</ref><ref name=CCM>David Holt Boshert, Jr., and David Ettinger, [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/kings/josiah.htm Josiah King of Judah], Christ-Centered Mall. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=Oxford>Marvin A. Sweeney, ''King Josiah of Judah: the Lost Messiah of Israel'', Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-19-513324-0 [http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/oso/public/content/religion/9780195133240/toc.html Online version] retrieved April 9, 2007.</ref><ref name=intouch>Jennifer Rosania, [http://www.intouch.org/myintouch/mighty/josiah_36343731.html Josiah: Founded in Faithfulness, Mighty in Spirit], In-touch Ministries, 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=JewishEn>Emil G. Hirsch and J. F. McLaughlin, [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=564&letter=J&search=Josiah Josiah], ''Jewish Encyclopedia'', 202. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=Britannica>Anonymous, [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9044013/Josiah Josiah], ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=KingsofIsrael1>Anonymous, [http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/biography_Josiah.html King Josiah - Biography], Kings of Israel. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=KingsofIsrael2>Anonymous, [http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/judgment_Josiah.html God's Judgment Regarding King Josiah], Kings of Israel. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref> His reign is also significant for the beginning of the assembly of the [[Old Testament]]<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=Wood/><ref name=Kachelman>John L. Kachelman, Jr., [http://www.christianlibrary.org/authors/John_L_Kachelman_Jr/kings-ot/josiah.htm Josiah: Serving God in Youth], ChristianLibrary.org, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=Malick>[http://www.bible.org/author.php?author_id=8 David Malick], ''[http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=980 The Book of Josiah's Reform]'', Bible.org, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref> and for being king during a pivotal time in Middle Eastern history.<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=Wood/><ref name=Bratcher/><ref name=Oxford/>

Some commentators suggest that Josiah, rather than [[David]], qualifies as the greatest of the kings of ancient [[Israel]].<ref name=XPollen>Anonymous, [http://www.accuros.com/thornbush/pollen/2ki23_25.htm The Greatest King of Israel], 1998. Retrieved April 9, 2007 from [http://www.accuros.com/thornbush/pollen/xpindex.htm Cross Pollen]</ref> He certainly stands as one of the greatest of Israel's kings and one of that society's two greatest reformers.<ref name=RightDo>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=34|verses=2|version=KJV}}</ref><ref name=WebBible>[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/josiah.html Josiah] at the [http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/home.html WebBible Encyclopedia]</ref><ref name=Keyway>[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/roadsign.htm Wayne Blank], [http://www.keyway.ca/htm2001/20010422.htm Josiah's Reforms], Church of God Daily Bible Study. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=Bratcher>Dennis Bratcher, [http://www.cresourcei.org/othbabylon.html The Rise of Babylon and Exile (640-538 BC)], 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2007.</ref><ref name=CCM>David Holt Boshert, Jr., and David Ettinger, [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/kings/josiah.htm Josiah King of Judah], Christ-Centered Mall. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=Oxford>Marvin A. Sweeney, ''King Josiah of Judah: the Lost Messiah of Israel'', Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-19-513324-0 [http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/oso/public/content/religion/9780195133240/toc.html Online version] retrieved April 9, 2007.</ref><ref name=intouch>Jennifer Rosania, [http://www.intouch.org/myintouch/mighty/josiah_36343731.html Josiah: Founded in Faithfulness, Mighty in Spirit], In-touch Ministries, 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=JewishEn>Emil G. Hirsch and J. F. McLaughlin, [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=564&letter=J&search=Josiah Josiah], ''Jewish Encyclopedia'', 202. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=Britannica>Anonymous, [https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9044013/Josiah Josiah], ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=KingsofIsrael1>Anonymous, [http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/biography_Josiah.html King Josiah - Biography], Kings of Israel. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=KingsofIsrael2>Anonymous, [http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/judgment_Josiah.html God's Judgment Regarding King Josiah], Kings of Israel. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref> His reign is also significant for the beginning of the assembly of the [[Old Testament]]<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=Wood/><ref name=Kachelman>John L. Kachelman, Jr., [http://www.christianlibrary.org/authors/John_L_Kachelman_Jr/kings-ot/josiah.htm Josiah: Serving God in Youth], ChristianLibrary.org, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref><ref name=Malick>[http://www.bible.org/author.php?author_id=8 David Malick], ''[http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=980 The Book of Josiah's Reform]'', Bible.org, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2007</ref> and for being king during a pivotal time in Middle Eastern history.<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=Wood/><ref name=Bratcher/><ref name=Oxford/>

== Early Life and Family ==

== Early Life and Family ==

== Military tragedy and succession ==

== Military tragedy and succession ==

In 610 BC, Pharaoh [[Necho II]] marched toward [[Carchemish]] in an effort to intervene against the rising empire of [[Babylonia]].<ref name=Wood/><ref name=Bratcher/><ref name=Britannica/><ref name=Wikipedia>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah Josiah] by [[Wikipedia®]]</ref> Or perhaps he was settling the old score that Egypt had ''against'' Assyria.<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=WebBible/>

In 610 BC, Pharaoh [[Necho II]] marched toward [[Carchemish]] in an effort to intervene against the rising empire of [[Babylonia]].<ref name=Wood/><ref name=Bratcher/><ref name=Britannica/><ref name=Wikipedia>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah Josiah] by [[Wikipedia®]]</ref> Or perhaps he was settling the old score that Egypt had ''against'' Assyria.<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=WebBible/>

His march would carry him across the territory of the Southern Kingdom.<ref name=Keyway/><ref name=KingsofIsrael1/> Josiah, for whatever reason, determined to oppose Necho. Necho sent ambassadors warning him that he was on an errand from [[God]] himself and that Josiah had no business interfering. Nevertheless, Josiah joined battle with Necho at [[Megiddo]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=35|verses=20-22|version=KJV}}</ref>

His march would carry him across the territory of the Southern Kingdom.<ref name=Keyway/><ref name=KingsofIsrael1/> Josiah, for whatever reason, determined to oppose Necho. Necho sent ambassadors warning him that he was on an errand from [[God]] himself and that Josiah had no business interfering. Nevertheless, Josiah joined battle with Necho at [[Megiddo]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=35|verses=20-22|version=KJV}}</ref>