Two kings, a father, and a son, both reigned over Judah. The father, Josiah, did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and reigned for 31 years, (see 2 Kings 22:1, 2). The son, Jehoiakim, did evil in the sight of the Lord, and he only reigned 11 years, (see 2 Kings 23:36, 37). Yet, he expected the same blessings his father enjoyed.

Jeremiah 22:15, 16, “Do you reign because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness, and then it was well with him? He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him. Is not this what it means to know Me? says the Lord.” Modern English Version

King Josiah:

Repaired the temple, (see 2 Kings 22:3-7).
Listened to the Book of the Law, (see 2 Kings 22:8-20).
Read the Book of the Law to the people, (see 2 Kings 23:2).
Made a covenant to keep God’s laws, (see 2 Kings 23:3).
Cleaned out the temple, (see 2 Kings 23:4-7).
Removed idolatrous priests, (see 2 Kings 23:5).
Defiled the places people worshipped idols, (see 2 Kings 23:8-20).
Reinstated the Passover, (see 2 Kings 23:21-23).
Disposed of mediums, idols, etc. in the land, (see 2 Kings 23:24).

King Jehoiakim:

Rebelled, (see 2 Kings 24:1).

“God passed judgment on King Jeoiakim. His father, Josiah, had been one of Judah’s great kings, but Jehoiakim was evil. Josiah had been faithful to his responsibility to be a model of right living, but Jehoiakim had been unfaithful to his responsibility to imitate his father….He could not claim his father’s blessings when he had not followed his father’s God. We may inherit our parents money, but we cannot inherit their faith. A godly heritage, a good education, or a beautiful home doesn’t guarantee moral character. We must have our own relationship with God.” Life Application Study Bible Notes