Josiah now proposed that those highest in authority unite with the people in solemnly covenanting before God to co-operate with one another in an effort to institute decided changes. "The king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep His 401 commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book." The response was more hearty than the king had dared hope for: "All the people stood to the covenant." Verse 3.

Josias foreslog nu, at rigets øverste mænd tillige med folket skulle slutte en højtidelig pagt for Guds åsyn om, at de ville hjælpe hinanden med at gennemføre radikale forandringer. "Så tog kongen plads ved søjlen og sluttede pagt for Herrens åsyn om, at de skulle holde sig til Herren og holde hans bud, vidnesbyrd og anordninger af hele deres hjerte og hele deres sjæl, for at han kunne opfylde denne pagts ord, således som de var skrevet i denne bog." Folket svarede mere beredvilligt, end kongen havde turdet håbe. "Og alt folket indgik pagten." 3. vers.