THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT RELIGIOUS REFORM UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF WHICH RIGHTEOUS KING

• A. King Hezekiah ✓
• B. King Ahab
• C. King Nebuchadnezzar
• D. King Jeroboam

The answer to the question is: A. King Hezekiah

The southern kingdom of Judah experienced a significant religious reform under the leadership of King Hezekiah. King Hezekiah was a righteous king who ruled Judah from around 715 to 686 BCE. He is known for his efforts to abolish idolatry and restore the worship of Yahweh in Judah.

King Hezekiah’s religious reform was characterized by the removal of pagan idols and the cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the biblical account in 2 Kings 18-20 and 2 Chronicles 29-32, Hezekiah ordered the destruction of idols and high places dedicated to foreign deities, reinstated the observance of Passover, and centralized worship in Jerusalem. These reforms aimed to purify the religious practices in Judah and promote exclusive devotion to Yahweh.

Hezekiah’s religious reform also had political implications, as it strengthened the centralization of power in Jerusalem and promoted a sense of national identity among the people of Judah. The reforms implemented by King Hezekiah had a lasting impact on the religious and cultural landscape of Judah during his reign and beyond.