<P> Historical - critical biblical scholarship generally accepts that this scroll--an early predecessor of the Torah--was written by the priests driven by ideological interest to centralize power under Josiah in the Temple in Jerusalem, and that the core narrative from Joshua to 2 Kings up to Josiah's reign comprises a "Deuteronomistic History" (DtrH) written during Josiah's reign . On the other hand, recent European theologians posit that most of the Torah and Deuteronomistic History was composed and its form finalized during the Persian period, several centuries later . </P> <P> According to George E. Mendenhall, King Josiah then changed his form of leadership entirely, entering into a new form of covenant with the Lord . Because of what was known as the "book of the law" he wiped out all of the pagan cults that had formed within his land . He, along with his people, then entered into this new covenant with the Lord to keep the commandments of the Lord . According to Mendenhall, in this covenant the Lord was merely a witness to the covenant instead of an actual participant . This defines the covenant as a vassal treaty - a treaty in which the suzerain owes something to its vassals . Because this covenant had just been discovered, it had to be formed into coalition with the covenant that King Josiah's people were already serving under, the Abrahamic covenant . </P> <P> The only textual sources of information for Josiah's reign are from the Bible, notably 2 Kings 22--23 and 2 Chronicles 34--35 . No archaeological evidence for Josiah as a person exists . Seals and seal impressions from the period stated in the Bible to be that of Josiah's reign show a transition from those of an earlier period which bear images of stars and the moon, to seals that carry only names, a possible indication of Josiah's enforcement of monotheism . No other archaeological evidence for the religious changes attributed to Josiah in the Bible has been discovered . </P> <P> The date of Josiah's death can fairly well be established . The Babylonian Chronicle dates the battle at Harran between the Assyrians and their Egyptian allies against the Babylonians from Tammuz (July--August) to Elul (August--September) 609 BCE . On that basis, Josiah was killed in the month of Tammuz (July--August) 609 BCE, when the Egyptians were on their way to Harran . </P>

What book of the bible is josiah in