_The Boy King._
It was interesting to see, the next morning, the effect upon the two
boys when they discovered that instead of being in Josiah's bed in the
palace in Jerusalem they were in Jeremiah's, at his home in Anathoth.
Josiah thought it was a great joke and laughed at the miracle, as he
called it, that was performed during the night. Jeremiah, however,
being two years older than his friend and of a more active mind and
imagination, tried quietly to study out what had taken place.
Just as Josiah was figuring the miracle all out, Jeremiah's mother
entered the room. The dear woman was choked up with tears and could
not say a word. In reply to the volley of questions with which she was
greeted, she merely pressed the two boys to her bosom and kissed them.
Her trembling arms made the lads feel that something had gone wrong.
They clung to her most affectionately. She told them to dress quickly;
that it was already late in the day; that breakfast was waiting for
them and, she added smilingly, that if somebody did not reach the
breakfast room in a hurry somebody would be scolded.
At breakfast she unfolded the story of the tragedy at the palace very
guardedly and with great care, so that the blow should not fall too
heavily upon Josiah. When she finally told them that the King and
Queen were dead, the boys broke out in loud weeping. It was all she
could do to comfort and quiet them.
Just at this time, Hilkiah, Jeremiah's father, who had gone back to
the city for news, returned. He related that Jerusalem was in a great
uproar. The conspirators in the palace, who had proclaimed one of
their number as king, were having a hard time of it with the army and
the people.
It seemed that the assassins were not at all well organized and that
the assassination was most unpopular. The army proved faithful to the
royal house and the people sided with the army.
When Hilkiah had announced to the leaders of the army and the people
that the whole of Amon's family was not destroyed, but that young
Josiah was safe at Anathoth, there was great public rejoicing amid the
mourning for the king. Within a few hours the army laid siege to the
palace which was in the possession of the conspirators.
During the three days that followed the palace was besieged by a
detachment from the army. Many of the leading men of Jerusalem and
many of the army officers came to Hilkiah's home, in the meantime, to
see the young prince and to pay homage to him as his father's
successor on the throne; but Hilkiah would not permit them to see or
speak to Josiah until the siege was successful and the usurpers put
out of the way.
When the palace finally fell and the conspirators were put to death, a
great concourse of people, headed by the king's guard, marched to
Anathoth, gathered before Hilkiah's home and called for the Prince.
Hilkiah brought Josiah to a window in the second story of the house.
Upon seeing him a great shout went up from the crowd below:
"The king!"
"The king!"
The captains of the host then entered the house and consulted with
Hilkiah while the crowd outside carried on happily over the survivor
of the ancient dynasty.
After a little while the captains, surrounding Josiah who was sitting
on Hilkiah's shoulders, reappeared. A shout of acclaim greeted them.
Then began a triumphant march back to Jerusalem.
At the gates the whole city of loyal people greeted them. The royal
chariot was waiting. Instead of horses, picked young men drew it to
the palace where Josiah was proclaimed king in his father's stead.
So it happened, in the year 639, that a boy eight years old reigned as
king in Jerusalem.