Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
Parallel translations
- KJV Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.
- BSB Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
- NKJV Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
- NASB Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
- NLT Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Josiah becomes king at eight years old and reigns thirty-one years in Jerusalem. A child king begins a long and notably faithful reign.
Overview
Josiah's youth at accession recalls God's ability to use even children for His purposes. His thirty-one-year reign becomes the era of Judah's last great reformation (cf. 2 Kings 22-23). The verse introduces a king the Chronicler holds up as a model of wholehearted devotion to the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Zeph 1:1Yahweh’s word which came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah.
- Jer 1:2Yahweh’s word came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
- 1 Sam 2:18But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod.
- 2 Chr 24:1Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.
- 1 Kgs 13:2He cried against the altar by Yahweh’s word, and said, “Altar! Altar! Yahweh says: ‘Behold, a son will be born to David’s house, Josiah by name. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men’s bones on you.’”
- 2 Chr 33:25But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
- 1 Sam 2:26The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Yahweh, and also with men.
- 2 Chr 26:1All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.
- Eccl 4:13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
- 1 Kgs 3:7–9Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.
- 1 Chr 3:14–15Amon his son, and Josiah his son.
- 2 Kgs 22:1–20Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
- Matt 1:10–11Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.
- 2 Chr 33:1Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 34:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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