Josiah, the sixteenth king of Judah, is remembered for his pious reign and significant religious reforms, which sought to restore the worship of Yahweh and eliminate idolatry from the land. His sons, however, played varied roles in the history of Judah, with some continuing his legacy and others leading the nation into further turmoil. The sons of Josiah mentioned in the Bible are Johanan, Jehoiakim (originally Eliakim), Zedekiah (originally Mattaniah), and Shallum (also known as Jehoahaz).

1. Johanan: Johanan is the least mentioned of Josiah's sons in the biblical narrative. He is referenced in 1 Chronicles 3:15, which lists the sons of Josiah: "The sons of Josiah: Johanan was the firstborn, Jehoiakim the second son, Zedekiah the third, and Shallum the fourth." There is little else known about Johanan, and he does not appear to have played a significant role in the political or religious life of Judah.

2. Jehoiakim (Eliakim): Originally named Eliakim, Jehoiakim was the second son of Josiah. He was appointed king by Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt after the deposition of his brother Jehoahaz. Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years (609–598 BC) and is noted for his rebellion against Babylonian rule, which ultimately led to the first Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. His reign is characterized by a return to idolatry and injustice, as described in 2 Kings 23:36-37: "Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah; she was from Rumah. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done."

3. Zedekiah (Mattaniah): Zedekiah, originally named Mattaniah, was the third son of Josiah. He was installed as king by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon after the exile of Jehoiachin, Jehoiakim's son. Zedekiah reigned from 597 to 586 BC, during which time he attempted to rebel against Babylonian dominance, leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. His reign is marked by political instability and spiritual decline, as noted in 2 Kings 24:19: "He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done."

4. Shallum (Jehoahaz): Also known as Jehoahaz, Shallum was the fourth son of Josiah and was made king after Josiah's death. His reign was short-lived, lasting only three months before he was deposed by Pharaoh Necho II and taken to Egypt, where he died. 2 Kings 23:31-32 records his brief reign: "Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his fathers had done."

The sons of Josiah, despite their royal lineage, largely failed to uphold the spiritual and moral reforms initiated by their father. Their reigns contributed to the eventual downfall of the Kingdom of Judah and the Babylonian exile, a pivotal event in the history of Israel.