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He rebuilt the local shrines that his father Hezekiah had torn down. He built altars for the god Baal and set up a sacred pole for worshiping the goddess Asherah, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. And he faithfully worshiped the stars in heaven.

and even set up the pole for Asherah there. Manasseh practiced magic and witchcraft; he asked fortunetellers for advice and sacrificed his own son. He did many sinful things and made the Lord very angry. Years ago the Lord had told David and his son Solomon: Jerusalem is the place I prefer above all others in Israel. It belongs to me, and there I will be worshiped forever.

One day the Lord said to some of his prophets:

King Manasseh has done more disgusting things than the Amorites, and he has led my people to sin by forcing them to worship his idols.

Everything else Manasseh did while he was king, including his terrible sins, is written in The History of the Kings of Judah.

He died and was buried in Uzza Garden near his palace, and his son Amon became king.

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for two years. His mother Meshullemeth was the daughter of Haruz from Jotbah.

Amon disobeyed the Lord , just as his father Manasseh had done.

refused to be faithful to the Lord , the God his ancestors had worshiped.

Some of Amon's officials plotted against him and killed him in his palace.

He was buried in Uzza Garden. Soon after that, the people of Judah killed the murderers of Amon, then they made his son Josiah king. Everything else Amon did while he was king is written in The History of the Kings of Judah.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled thirty-one years from Jerusalem. His mother Jedidah was the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath.

Josiah always obeyed the Lord , just as his ancestor David had done.

After Josiah had been king for eighteen years, he told Shaphan, one of his highest officials: Go to the Lord 's temple

When Josiah heard what was in The Book of God's Law, he tore his clothes in sorrow.

At once he called together Hilkiah, Shaphan, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, and his own servant Asaiah. He said,

After Josiah had finished reading, he stood by one of the columns. He asked the people to promise in the Lord 's name to faithfully obey the Lord and to follow his commands. The people agreed to do everything written in the book.

Josiah replied, "Then leave it alone. Don't dig up his bones." So they did not disturb his bones or the bones of the old prophet from Israel who had also been buried there.

Josiah got rid of every disgusting person and thing in Judah and Jerusalem—including magicians, fortunetellers, and idols. He did his best to obey every law written in the book that the priest Hilkiah found in the Lord 's temple.

During Josiah's rule, King Neco of Egypt led his army north to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. Josiah led his troops north to fight Neco, but when they met in battle at Megiddo, Josiah was killed.