The silent yet powerful influences set in operation by the messages of the prophets regarding the Babylonian Captivity did much to prepare the way for a reformation that took place in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign. This reform movement, by which threatened judgments were averted for a season, was brought about in a wholly unexpected manner through the discovery and study of a portion of Holy Scripture that for many years had been strangely misplaced and lost.

"Se, på hin tid gør jeg ende på alle, som kuede dig, og jeg frelser, hvad der halter, og sanker det spredte og giver dem ære og ty på hele jorden. På den tid bringer jeg eder hjem, og på hin tid samler jeg eder; thi jeg giver eder ry og ære blandt alle jordens folkeslag, når jeg vender eders skæbne for eders øjne, siger Herren." Zef. 3,19-20.