Light out of Darkness - A Thought on the Formative Years of Josiah

[Stewart (SDA)]

LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS.

THE PARENTAGE OF JOSIAH.

Josiah's father was Amon, a young man who "trespassed more and more" (2Chron 33:23). But Josiah's father reigned only two years, and then he was assasinated in his own house. (Being about 24 years old. (2K 21:19, 2Chron 33:21)). The extent of the debauchery to which Amon had allowed himself to go, might be seen in the fact that when he died, he left behind an 8 year old child. That child, of course, was Josiah. How old was Amon when Josiah was born to him? Amon was no more than 16 years old. Children having children? A recipie for disaster? Absolutely, a recipie for disaster, unless God finds room to work, and brings light out of the gross darkness.

We know little about Josiah's mother apart from her name. She was "Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. (2K 22:1) There seems to be no indication of age or morality. Her role in the upbringing of Josiah, must, it seems, remain unknown. But another 'element' looms large...

"And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king IN HIS OWN HOUSE. And the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon..." (2Kings 21:23-24)

Josiah's father was assassinated when Josiah was 8 years old. Was Josiah present in the house at the time? This would seem more than likely! Might the young boy have seen the carnage? We cannot know for sure, but again, this is entirely possible. And of course a young boy, witnessing such a violent act in his own home, would be deeply affected. Unexpected/unforseen reactions might be seen.

And who was it that killed his father, Amon? It was Amon's own servants that killed him. People he knew; people he trusted... People he trusted EVEN IN HIS OWN HOME. Did young Josiah know some of the assailants?

If Josiah did know any of them, then those people would soon be dead too.

The killing of Amon was [perhaps unexpectedly for the conspirators,] an extremely unpopular act. The people rose up and killed all those that acted a part in the crime.

This whole, terrible, episode may have been a huge factor in turning Josiah AWAY from Satanic worship and influences.

_________________

But it should not be imagined that Josiah turned to the Lord when his father was killed. Yes, Josiah came to the throne when he was 8 years old (2Chron 34:1), but it appears that ANOTHER 8 YEARS PASSED before Josiah actually began "to seek after the God of David his father."

It was when Josiah was 16 that he devoted himself to God... quite amazing. If good seeds had been planted earlier (in his more formative years,) then they seem to have remained dormant for a time.

2Chronicles 34:3 "... in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father..."

　

[Wingnut]

I had not realised that 1 Kings 13:2 had prophesied this righteous child king long before, by name.

2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said , O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priestsof the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.

[phkrause]

Not so sure I agree Steward, that Josiah saw what happen to his father. When reading about all these kings, it seemed that most of there children were being raised by others away from the palace. I remember one story about another boy, Joash I believe, was taken away by relatives and kept in hiding. I don't believe that he saw his father killed either. I believe he was actually kept away from his mother, who took over, until the high Priest thought it was time for him to be crowned king? Anyway, I'm not saying that your wrong or I'm right, like you say we really have no idea.

[teresaq]

As the Israelite kings were much like the kings around them in having multiple wives, against God's direct orders, I believe Josiah was living with his mother as most children did. I  don't remember off hand how many wives Amon had nor had I really paid much attn to his age. At so young an age he could quite possibly been living in his mother's household still...so much we aren't told and have to deduce based on facts in other cases.

As for turning to God I wonder if that means Josiah's mother was basically reigning as she was the queen mother and apparently the mothers of the king were co-rulers since Solomon's time.

Jeremiah was contemporary at the time so I don't know if that had anything to do with Josiah seeking the Lord, or that Josiah's mother served God to some degree and taught her son. As an aside its interesting that Josiah sought God through Huldah rather than Jeremiah. Course we are looking back. She may have been saying quite a bit also that just wasn't recorded as Jeremiah was. There were many prophets and prophetesses over the centuries who weren't recorded either tho.

It is too bad that so little of outside influences are recorded in order to help us know better how one went one way and another went another way as we are all complicated beings.

I don't think I added.

Edited October 20, 2015 by teresaq