What was Josianic reform about?

Answer 1

A:Josiah became king of Judah in the latter part of the seventh century BCE at a time when polytheism was on the wane in Judah. Archaeologists say that the use of idols and other religious icons had come to an end, and evidence of human sacrifice to God had become scant. To what extent Josiah drove these changes or merely took part in changes already underway is still subject to debate.

Josiah is associated with reforms sometimes also known as the Deuteronomistic reforms. Henonism (the belief that other gods exist but only one god need be worshipped) had become the official religion of Judah, although it appears that commoners and even important people continued polytheistic worship in their homes. With the implementation of henonism, all relics and icons associated with gods other than the national God were removed from the Temple. The Jerusalem Temple also became the only place where worship of God was allowed, thus centralising power with the king and his chosen priests. The "Book of Law", apparently the Book of Deuteronomy, was allegedly found in the Temple, although many scholars say that this was a recently written book 'found' in the Temple in order to give it the appearance of antiquity. A very similar case is reported in the Book of Jeremiah, giving credence to this assumption.