What really jumps out in today's reading is the long section listing idol after idol and wicked practice after wicked practice. Take, for example, the idol Molech, to whom parents would sacrifice their own children. Apparently Molech was a hollow bronze statue with the head of an ox and arms held out. A fire would heat the statue red and into these arms parents would lay their children to burn to death! The people chose this over the Savior God?
Rebellion against the true God was like a cancer that had gutted the life out of Israel. Josiah's heart was certainly in the right place and he ordered destruction of these idols and places. You have to wonder about the people, however. Many of the passages speak only of Josiah taking action to make changes. If the people had really repented the Babylonian captivity wouldn't be right around the corner.
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