Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 22:1-10
Concerning Josiah we are here told,
I. That he was very young when he began to reign (Kg2 22:1), only eight years old. Solomon says, Woe unto thee, O land! when thy king is a child; but happy art thou, O land! when thy king is such a child. Our English Israel had once a king that was such a child, Edward VI. Josiah, being young, had not received any bad impressions from the example of his father and grandfather, but soon saw their errors, and God gave his grace to take warning by them. See Eze 18:14, etc.
II. That he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, Kg2 22:2. See the sovereignty of divine grace - the father passed by and left to perish in his sin, the son a chosen vessel. S…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 22:3
HE PROVIDES FOR THE REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE. (Kg2 22:3-7)
in the eighteenth year of king Josiah--Previous to this period, he had commenced the work of national reformation. The preliminary steps had been already taken; not only the builders were employed, but money had been brought by all the people and received by the Levites at the door, and various other preparations had been made. But the course of this narrative turns on one interesting incident which happened in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign, and hence that date is specified. In fact the whole land was thoroughly purified from every object and all traces of idolatry. The king now addressed himself to the repair and embellishment…
Read the whole note in the consoleAdam Clarke on 2 Kings 22:4
That he may sum the silver - As Josiah began to seek the Lord as soon as he began to reign, we may naturally conclude that the worship of God that was neglected and suppressed by his father, was immediately restored; and the people began their accustomed offerings to the temple. Ten years therefore had elapsed since these offerings began; no one had, as yet, taken account of them; nor were they applied to the use for which they were given, viz., the repairing the breaches of the temple.
John Gill