A fair bit of narrative space is dedicated to Josiah’s kingship, but now there is a sense of narrative acceleration as we move more quickly to the end, beginning with the short and profoundly ineffective reign of Josiah’s son Jehoahaz (23:31–35). Under the control of Pharaoh Necho, Jehoahaz is transferred as a prisoner from Riblah in Syria to Egypt and has to pay a fine (although it is a pittance compared with Hezekiah’s fine, showing how economically crippled the nation is). Jehoahaz dies in Egypt, in a house of bondage, with an Egyptian king once more acting aggressively against God’s people. The bri…