Observation

This question was not popular among the candidates. The performance to this question was below average. Some candidates were not familiar with the narratives of the story. Candidates were expected to have highlighted the essential points as listed below;
i. King Josiah in his 18th year of reign, ordered for a repair work to be done in the temple.
ii. During the renovation, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law.
iii. Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, the secretary who read it and later read it to the king
iv. The book condemned Judah for acts of disobedience to the commandments of God and for idolatry.
v. When the king heard the contents of the book, he became sad and rent his clothes and ordered for an immediate inquiry from the prophets.
vi. Hilkiah and others went to consult Huldah, the prophetess.
vii. Huldah intimated that God was about to bring evil upon Judah because the people had forsaken God’s covenant and had burnt incense to other gods/ She believed that Judah was under a curse for destruction if she did not repent.
viii. And that the King would be forgiven because, he was repentant, and that the evil would not happen in his days.
ix. This enquiry buttresses the need for repentance because the country was under God’s wrath for judgment.
x. Josiah then had the elders summoned into the temple where the book of the law was read to them.
xi. All the people then accepted the divine authority of the book of the law
xii. In order to appease God’s wrath, Josiah and all the people agreed to renew the covenant relationship with God by pledging to keep God’s commandments whole heartedly.

Leadership qualities of Josiah
i. Zealous
ii. God fearing/Obedient
iii. Democratic
iv. Commitment
v. Honesty
vi. Patriotism