Study Desk

All the great things that Hezekiah did, including his work on the pool and the aqueduct to bring water into the city, are written in the book, The History of the Kings of Judah.

Hezekiah died and was buried with his ancestors. And his son Manasseh became the new king after him.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to rule. He ruled 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.

Manasseh rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He also built altars for Baal and made an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh worshiped and served the stars of heaven.

He sacrificed his own son and burned him on the altar. He used different ways of trying to know the future. He visited mediums and wizards. Manasseh did more and more things that the Lord saw as evil, which made the Lord angry.

The Lord used his servants the prophets to say this:

"King Manasseh of Judah has done these hated things and has done more evil than the Amorites before him. He also has caused Judah to sin because of his idols.

Manasseh died and was buried with his ancestors. He was buried in the garden at his house. It was called the "Garden of Uzza." His son Amon became the new king after him.

Amon was 22 years old when he began to rule. He ruled two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz from Jotbah.

Amon did what the Lord said was wrong, just as his father Manasseh had done.

Amon lived just as his father had lived. He worshiped and served the same idols his father had worshiped.

Amon left the Lord , the God of his ancestors, and did not live the way the Lord wanted.

Amon's servants made plans against him and killed him in his palace.

Amon was buried in his grave at the Garden of Uzza. His son Josiah became the new king.

Josiah was eight years old when he began to rule. He ruled 31 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

Josiah did what the Lord said was right. He followed God like his ancestor David. Josiah obeyed God's teachings—he did exactly what God wanted.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes to show he was sad and upset.

The king stood by the column and made an agreement with the Lord . He promised to follow the Lord and to obey his commands, the laws, and his rules. He promised to do this with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey the agreement written in this book. All the people stood to show that they promised to follow the agreement.

Josiah said, "Leave the man of God alone. Don't move his bones." So they left his bones and the bones of the man of God from Samaria.

There had never been a king like Josiah before. Josiah turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his strength. No king had followed all the Law of Moses like Josiah. And there has never been another king like Josiah since that time.