Bible reference 2 Kings 21:16-22:1-2

Josiah was a king of Jerusalem.

His grandfather, Manasseh, did very evil deeds to the people.  The Bible says he murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood and he caused the people of Jerusalem to sin and do evil in God’s sight. (2 Kings 21:16)

Ammon was Josiah’s father.  He began to rule Jerusalem when he was 22 but he was king for only two years.  He did evil deeds also and refused to follow the ways of God. He was assasinated by the hands of his own officials. Then the people of Jerusalem killed the conspirators and made Josiah king when he was a mere eight years old. 

Josiah’s mother, Jedidah, who was most likely devastated by her husband’s death, helped raise Josiah to be a good king like King David, (God called him a man after His own heart.) 

2 Kings 22:1-2

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath. 2 He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.