Changes

== Beginnings of reform ==

== Beginnings of reform ==

When Josiah was twenty-six years old (in the 18th year of his reign), he began in ernest to reform the society of the Southern Kingdom. He started in [[Jerusalem]], systematically destroying all pagan images and altars of [[Baal]], all [[Asherah]] poles, and all the [[high place]]s that his grandfather had built up after [[Hezekiah]] had destroyed them. He made the most thorough desecration possible of the pagan icons and their followers:

When Josiah was twenty years old (in the twelfth year of his reign), he began in ernest to reform the society of the Southern Kingdom. He started in [[Jerusalem]], systematically destroying all pagan images and altars of [[Baal]], all [[Asherah]] poles, and all the [[high place]]s that his grandfather had built up after [[Hezekiah]] had destroyed them. He made the most thorough desecration possible of the pagan icons and their followers:

# He ground the images (including engraved and cast images) to powder and strewed this powder on the graves of Baal worshippers.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=34|verses=4|version=KJV}}</ref>

# He ground the images (including engraved and cast images) to powder and strewed this powder on the graves of Baal worshippers.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=34|verses=4|version=KJV}}</ref>