“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.”
My Notes
What Does 2 Kings 22:2 Mean?
Josiah receives the highest evaluation of any king in the entire books of Kings. He "walked in all the way of David his father" — not just some of it, all of it. And he "turned not aside to the right hand or to the left." This image of staying exactly on the path, not veering in any direction, echoes Deuteronomy's instructions for kings. Josiah is presented as the king Moses envisioned.
What makes this even more remarkable is Josiah's context. His father Amon was assassinated after two years of wicked rule. His grandfather Manasseh was the worst king in Judah's history, who literally sacrificed his children to foreign gods. Josiah didn't inherit faithfulness — he chose it in spite of everything he inherited.
The phrase "David his father" doesn't mean David was his literal father — it means Josiah is David's spiritual heir, the legitimate continuation of what David represented. Separated by centuries, they share the same orientation: wholehearted devotion to God. Josiah proves that a godly legacy can be reclaimed even after generations of apostasy.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What spiritual or behavioral patterns have you inherited from your family? Are they ones you want to continue or redirect?
- 2.Josiah had no godly role model at home. Where do you find models for faithfulness when they're not in your immediate family?
- 3.What does 'not turning aside to the right or left' look like practically in your daily life?
- 4.Is there a cycle in your family or personal history that you feel called to break? What would that require?
Devotional
Josiah's grandfather burned children alive as sacrifices. His father was so hated he was assassinated by his own servants. And Josiah, emerging from this wreckage, chose to walk in the way of David — not aside to the right or left.
Your family history is not your destiny. Josiah proves it. He didn't have godly parents modeling faithfulness. He didn't grow up in a spiritually healthy home. Everything in his background pointed toward more of the same — more idolatry, more violence, more distance from God. And he walked the other direction.
This is both inspiring and challenging. Inspiring because it means no background is too broken for God to work with. But challenging because it means you can't use your background as a permanent excuse. Josiah had every reason to follow his grandfather's path, and he didn't. The cycle doesn't have to continue.
The detail about not turning aside to the right or left suggests steady, consistent faithfulness — not dramatic bursts of devotion followed by collapse. Josiah's walk was straight. Day after day, year after year, he kept going in the same direction. That kind of faithfulness isn't glamorous. It's just relentless.
What direction did you inherit from your family? And if that direction needs correcting, what would it look like to be a Josiah — the one who breaks the pattern?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord,.... In the affair of religious worship especially, as well as…
Concerning Josiah we are here told,
I. That he was very young when he began to reign (Kg2 22:1), only eight years old.…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture