1 The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet as honey in all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.
2 He behaved himself uprightly in the conversion of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity.
3 He directed his heart unto the Lord, and in the time of the ungodly he established the worship of God.
4 All, except David and Ezekias and Josias, were defective: for they forsook the law of the most High, even the kings of Juda failed.
5 Therefore he gave their power unto others, and their glory to a strange nation.
6 They burnt the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the streets desolate, according to the prophecy of Jeremias.
7 For they entreated him evil, who nevertheless was a prophet, sanctified in his mother’s womb, that he might root out, and afflict, and destroy; and that he might build up also, and plant.
8 It was Ezekiel who saw the glorious vision, which was shewed him upon the chariot of the cherubims.
9 For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of the rain, and directed them that went right.
10 And of the twelve prophets let the memorial be blessed, and let their bones flourish again out of their place: for they comforted Jacob, and delivered them by assured hope.
11 How shall we magnify Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on the right hand:
12 So was Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded the house, and set up an holy temple to the Lord, which was prepared for everlasting glory.
13 And among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great, who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the gates and the bars, and raised up our ruins again.
14 But upon the earth was no man created like Enoch; for he was taken from the earth.
15 Neither was there a young man born like Joseph, a governor of his brethren, a stay of the people, whose bones were regarded of the Lord.
16 Sem and Seth were in great honour among men, and so was Adam above every living thing in creation.
Josiah
1 The memory of Josiah is as sweet as the fragrance of expertly blended incense, sweet as honey to the taste, like music with wine at a banquet. 2 He followed the correct policy of reforming the nation and removed the horrors of idolatry. 3 He was completely loyal to the Lord and strengthened true religion in those wicked times.
Jeremiah
4 All the kings, except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, were terrible sinners, because they abandoned the Law of the Most High to the very end of the kingdom. 5 They surrendered their power and honor to foreigners, 6 who set fire to the holy city and left its streets deserted, just as Jeremiah had predicted. 7 Jeremiah had been badly treated, even though he was chosen as a prophet before he was born, “to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow,” but also “to build and to plant.”
Ezekiel
8 It was Ezekiel who was shown the vision of the divine glory over the chariot and the living creatures. 9 He also referred to the prophet Job, who always did the right thing.
The Twelve Prophets
10 May the bones of the twelve prophets rise to new life, because these men encouraged the people of Israel and saved them with confident hope.
Zerubbabel and Joshua
11 How can we praise Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the Lord's right hand, 12 as was Joshua son of Jehozadak. They rebuilt the Lord's holy Temple, destined for eternal fame.
Nehemiah
13 The memory of Nehemiah is also great. He rebuilt the ruined walls of Jerusalem, installing the gates and bars. He rebuilt our homes.
The Patriarchs
14 No one else like Enoch has ever walked the face of the earth, for he was taken up from the earth. 15 No one else like Joseph has ever been born; even his bones were honored. 16 Shem, Seth, and Enosh were highly honored, but Adam's glory was above that of any other living being.
