Lecture 6

         Josiah soon took over and followed in the footsteps of Hezekiah. There was a eruption of urbanization in Jerusalem during this time and the population increased. Literacy was even becoming abundant in the city, which is proven through the “letter of a literate soldier.” This letter was discovered by archeologists and it is written evidence that being literate was an important part of city life now. Josiah, inspired by Hezekiah, reinstated the reforms first put in place by his grandfather that would destroy any idols used for worship, possibly such as the Ark of the Covenant. In order to undo what King Manasseh had done during his reign, Josiah cleansed the temple in Jerusalem, tore down the high places, and began to implement the laws in the newly discovered book of the law, which included the centralization of worship in Jerusalem.  Josiah wanted all religious activity “to be offered and observed only at the temple in Jerusalem” and to only one holy god. In 609 BCE Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Neco, and in 586 BCE Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and exiled most of its residents. The Davidic dynasty was destroyed and the “chosen people” were driven out of the promise land. The Jews were confused and unsure of why God had broken his promise with David.