Josiah was killed by the Egyptians.
II Kings 23:28-30 – "Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and
all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Judah? 29 In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the
king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and
he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. 30 And his servants carried him
in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him
in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of
Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead."
Josiah’s son, Jehoahaz, also called Shallum died in Egypt.
II Kings 23:31-34 – "Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old
when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his
mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did
that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his
fathers had done. 33 And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land
of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute
of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. 34 And Pharaohnechoh
made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and
turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt,
and died there." There is no mention of any descendants.
Josiah’s son, Eliakim (Jehoiakim) had a son named Jehoiachin, who
reigned in his stead after he died.
II Kings 24:5,6 – "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and
all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Judah? 6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son
reigned in his stead."
Josiah’s grandson, Jehoiachin (also named Eliakim) ruled three
months when Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem, captured King Jehoiachin and
took him to Babylon where he remained for more than 37 years.
II Kings 24:12 – "And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out
to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes,
and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his
reign."
II Kings 24:15 – "And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon,
and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty
of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon."
II Kings 25:27-30 – "And it came to pass in the seven and
thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth
month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of
Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin
king of Judah out of prison; 28 And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne
above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; 29 And changed
his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days
of his life. 30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the
king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life."
I Chronicles 3:17 states, "And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir,
Salathiel his son," Jeconiah is Jehoiachin. Salathiel compares to
Salathiel of Matthew 1:12, which states, "And after they were brought
to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;"
Zorobabel of Matthew 1:12 compares to Zerubbabel of I Chronicles 3:19.
Josiah’s son Mattaniah (also named Zedekiah) ruled after Nebuchadnezzar
killed all the sons of Zedekiah and took him to Babylon.
II Kings 25:7 – "And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before
his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of
brass, and carried him to Babylon." There is no record that Zedekiah
had any more children.
It is amazing to see that while God chastens Israel for their disobedience
and rebellion to him, he is very careful to preserve the seed Christ would come
from! God continually worked on the heart of the unbelieving Nebuchadnezzar when
this pagan leader would not understand or even recognize that God is God. It
will not be until later – when he gets finished with the 7 years of eating
grass like an ox that he is saved and glorifies God.