‘Cultic Reforms’ of the Kings of Judah in the Light of Archaeological Data
Luppova Anna A.
This article provides an overview of the archaeological aspect of the debate on the historicity of cultic reforms described in 2 Kings, initiated by the Judean kings Josiah (late seventh century BC) and Hezekiah (late eighth – early seventh century BC), aimed at the abolition of sanctuaries outside Jerusalem. The discussion focuses on the potential archaeological evidence of these reforms: the dismantled temple at Tel Arad, the possibly desecrated ‘gate shrine’ at Lachish, and the eliminated altar at Beersheba. The examined data does not provide definitive confirmation of the historicity of these reforms.
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