מלכים ב, פרק כ״ב, פסוק ב׳

King Josiah stands out as an exceptional model of righteousness and devotion, firmly placing him among the greatest leaders of his dynasty. His strict refusal to stray from the proper moral path closely mirrors the dedication of his great-grandfather, King Hezekiah [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, there is a subtle distinction between the two leaders. While Hezekiah is recognized for matching the exact deeds of his ancestor David, Josiah is noted for walking steadily along David's path. This suggests that although Josiah made it his constant habit to follow a righteous direction, he did not quite reach the supreme spiritual level achieved by Hezekiah [חומת אנך].

Despite this, Josiah's greatness remains profound. He maintained complete personal purity and avoided sin entirely, even before he learned of the terrifying prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. His initial commitment to doing what was right in the eyes of God took place during a period when he was completely unaware of the harsh decree hanging over the nation due to the sins of previous generations. However, once he discovered this looming disaster, Josiah understood that his own personal virtue would not be enough to calm the anger of God. In response, he elevated his efforts, adopting an intense level of devotion. He worked vigorously to repair the spiritual damage of the past, completely wiping out idolatry and desperately striving to lead the entire nation back to the service of God. His ultimate hope was to earn divine mercy and save the people from the approaching catastrophe [רלב״ג].