The Illustrated Guide to Law

Constitutional Law

Part 2: “What Were They Thinking?”

Digression: “A History of Government in 6 Revolutions: From the Paleolithic to Philadelphia”

113. Inventing God and Law: Josiah

 

Title: Part G: Josiah

 

Panel 1: King Josiah, dressed in pinks and purples and wearing a feathered crown, leaps a grand jeté over the head of a priestly official, partly obscuring the narration text box.

 

NARRATION:

With Assyria out of the picture, Yehudah’s king Josiah leapt at the chance to rule his country with a strong, independent monarchy.

 

JOSIAH:

Only one ruler in the land!

Me!

 

PRIESTLY OFFICIAL:

And only one god in the land!

 

-=-

 

Panel 2: Josiah lands deftly on the other side of the official.

 

JOSIAH:

Come again?

 

PRIESTLY OFFICIAL:

Think of it, sire:

Already our civic cult only worships Yahweh, yes?

 

-=-

 

Panel 3: Yahweh holds his arms out in benediction as light rays fall from him to Josiah, who holds up a finger of authority as light rays spread down from him to adoring multitudes.

 

PRIESTLY OFFICIAL (offscreen):

So… make it so the people only worship Yahweh, as well!

With Yahweh as the undiluted celestial power…

…and you his anointed regent, ruling here on Earth…

…can you imagine a more potent narrative with which to legitimize your autocracy?

 

-=-

 

Panel 3: Josiah folds his arms and looks at the official with suspicion. The official makes a confident gesture with one hand.

 

JOSIAH:

No other gods?

The priests aren’t going to like it.

 

PRIESTLY OFFICIAL:

Don’t be silly. We’re not denying that the other gods exist. That’d be like denying that air exists.

And if other peoples keep on worshipping them, so what?

 

-=-

 

Panel 4: The official holds up his hands in a preventive gesture, while Josiah ponders.

 

PRIESTLY OFFICIAL:

But the people of Yehudah? No way. Forbidden. We must not allow it.

 

JOSIAH:

I see…

Intolerant monolatry.

The priests are going to hate it.

 

NARRATION:

Josiah needed to impose shockingly unprecedented religious reforms on the whole of Yehudite culture, from the temple’s altars, to the hearth of the lowliest shepherd.

How could he possibly persuade his people—not to mention the priests and elites—to change the very fabric of their lives?

 

INSET: Josiah clasps his hands behind his head with a knowing smile.

 

JOSIAH:

Thank the gods-

I mean, thank God–

At least I won’t need to re-invent the wheel.

Because kings have long known this one simple trick.

 

-=-

 

FOOTNOTE:

Although there is plenty of archaeological evidence that this guy existed and did what he did, the only sources that say his name are in Old Testament books written long after he was dead. Was his name really Josiah? Who knows, maybe? But that’s what people call him now, so let’s go with that.