Josiah began to bring the people of Judah back to god meaning that he banned all other gods in other religions besides Catholicism
JudeaAnswer:King Josiah. See 2 Kings 22, 23.
You're thinking of Yoshiah (Josiah). According to tradition, he didn't start anything new; he simply strengthened the original religion of the Israelites, which had been flouted by the idolaters among them. See also: more on this topic.
Josiah's greatest accomplishment was his significant religious reform in ancient Judah, which included the restoration of the worship of Yahweh and the removal of pagan practices. He is credited with rediscovering the Book of the Law during temple renovations, leading to a national covenant renewal and the implementation of widespread reforms aimed at revitalizing the faith of the Israelites. His efforts helped to reinstate a sense of religious identity and adherence to the covenant, marking a pivotal moment in Judah's history.
king josiah.Jewish answer:Actually, a number of the kings "did what was right in God's eyes": Asa (1 Kings 15:11), Yehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43), Yehoash (2 Kings 12:3), Amatziah (2 Kings 14:3), Azariah (2 Kings 15:3), Yotam (2 Kings 15:34), Hizkiah (2 Kings 18:3), and Josiah (2 Kings 22:2). Even at the height of the unfortunate spread of idolatry among the less-loyal Ten Tribes, there were thousands who remained loyal to God (1 Kings 19:18).Thus, according to tradition, Josiah didn't "begin" a reform, but he did strengthen righteousness and remove any traces of dabbling in idolatry among the people.
The city capital of Judah was Jerusalem. It was not only the political capital but also the religious center for the Jewish people.
King Manasseh reigned for 55 years, making him one of the longest-serving kings of Judah. His reign is noted for both significant religious reforms and a period of idolatry and immorality. Initially, he led the kingdom away from the worship of Yahweh, but later in life, he repented and sought to restore true worship. Manasseh's lengthy reign had a lasting impact on Judah's history and religious practices.
The Romans conquered Judah and renamed it Judea. They kept strict control over Judea. The Jews were allowed to have Jewish kings and religious leaders, but these kings and leaders were appointed by Rome.
The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah contains historical records of the reigns of the kings of Judah, including genealogies, military campaigns, religious reforms, and other significant events during their rule.
Judah was considered a theocracy because it was believed that God was the ultimate ruler, and religious laws governed all aspects of society. The king was seen as a representative of God and was expected to govern according to religious principles outlined in the Torah. The priests also held significant power and influence in religious matters.
It seems that King Hezekia attempted to institute mnotheism in Judah, but the pagan gods returned under his son and successor, Mannessah. King Josiah instituted the Deuteronomistic reforms, including the reinstitution of monotheism and the restriction of religious worship to the Jerusalem Temple. Although henceforth monotheistic Judaism was to be the official religion of Judah, the Bible itself points to continued private worship of other gods up until at least the Babylonian Exile.
The name Joash is of Hebrew origin, meaning "Jehovah has given" or "the Lord has given." It is a biblical name found in the Old Testament, associated with a king of Judah who reigned during a time of religious reform. The name reflects themes of divine blessing and gift-giving in its meaning.
The southern kingdom of Israel, known as Judah, consisted of two tribes: Judah and Benjamin. This division occurred after the united monarchy split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah following the reign of King Solomon. The tribe of Levi was also present in Judah, serving in religious roles, but the primary tribes associated with the southern kingdom are Judah and Benjamin.