2 Kings 22

Josiah Reigns in Judah

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

3 Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying:4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people.5 And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the damages of the house6 to carpenters and builders and masonsand to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.7 However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.9 So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord.10 Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying,13 Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her.15 Then she said to them, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man who sent you to Me,16 Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitantsall the words of the book which the king of Judah has read17 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.18 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Concerning the words which you have heard19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, says the Lord.20 Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place. So they brought back word to the king.

2 KINGS 22

King Josiah of Judah

(2 Chronicles 34.1,2)

1  t Josiah was 8 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled 31 years from Jerusalem. His mother Jedidah was the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath.

2 Josiah always obeyed the [Lord], just as his ancestor David had done.

Hilkiah Finds //The Book of God's Law

(2 Chronicles 34.8-28)

3 After Josiah had been king for 18 years, he told Shaphan, t one of his highest officials:
Go to the [Lord]'s temple 4 and ask Hilkiah the high priest to collect from the guards all the money that the people have donated. 5 Tell Hilkiah to give it to the men supervising the repairs to the temple. They can use some of the money to pay 6 the workers, and with the rest of it they can buy wood and stone for the repair work.

7 t They are honest, so we won't ask them to keep track of the money.

8 While Shaphan was at the temple, Hilkiah handed him a book and said, “Look what I found here in the temple—The Book of God's Law.”
Shaphan read it, 9 then went back to Josiah and reported, “Your officials collected the money in the temple and gave it to the men supervising the repairs.

10 But there's something else, Your Majesty. The priest Hilkiah gave me this book.” Then Shaphan read it out loud.
11 When Josiah heard what was in The Book of God's Law, he tore his clothes in sorrow. 12 At once he called together Hilkiah, Shaphan, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, and his own servant Asaiah. He said,

13 “The [Lord] must be furious with me and everyone else in Judah, because our ancestors did not obey the laws written in this book. Go find out what the [Lord] wants us to do.”
14 The five men left at once and went to talk with Huldah the prophet. Her husband was Shallum, t who was in charge of the king's clothes. Huldah lived in the northern part of Jerusalem, and when they met in her home,

15 she said:
You were sent here by King Josiah, and this is what the [Lord] God of Israel says to him: 16 “Josiah, I am the [Lord]! And I will see to it that this country and everyone living in it will be destroyed. It will happen just as this book says.

17 The people of Judah have rejected me. They have offered sacrifices to foreign gods and have worshiped their own idols. I cannot stand it any longer. I am furious.
18 “Josiah, listen to what I am going to do. 19 I noticed how sad you were when you read that this country and its people would be completely wiped out. You even tore your clothes in sorrow, and I heard you cry.

20 So I will let you die in peace, before I destroy this place.”
The men left and took Huldah's answer back to Josiah.