22
1 Josiah
was eight years
old when he began
to reign, and
he reigned
thirty-one years
in Jerusalem.
His mother’s name
was Jedidah the
daughter of Adaiah
of Bozkath.
2 He
did that which
was right in
the LORD’s eyes,
and walked in
all the ways
of David
his father, and didn’t
turn away to
the right hand
or to the
left.
3 In
the eighteenth
year of King
Josiah, the king
sent Shaphan, the
son of Azaliah the
son of Meshullam,
the scribe, to
the LORD’s house,
saying,
4 “Go
up to Hilkiah
the high priest,
that he may
count the money
which is brought
into the LORD’s
house, which the
keepers of the
threshold have gathered
of the people.
5 Let
them deliver it
into the hand
of the workers
who have the
oversight of the
LORD’s house; and
let them give
it to the
workers who are
in the LORD’s
house, to repair
the damage to
the house,
6 to
the carpenters,
and to the
builders, and to
the masons, and
for buying timber
and cut stone to
repair the house.
7 However,
no accounting
shall be asked of
them for the
money delivered
into their hand,
for they
deal faithfully.”
8 Hilkiah
the high priest
said to Shaphan
the scribe, “I
have found the
book of the
law in the
LORD’s house.”
Hilkiah delivered
the book to
Shaphan, and he
read it.
9 Shaphan
the scribe came
to the king,
and brought the
king word again,
and said, “Your
servants have
emptied out the
money that was
found in the
house, and have
delivered it into
the hands of
the workmen who
have the oversight
of the LORD’s
house.”
10 Shaphan
the scribe told
the king, saying, “Hilkiah
the priest has
delivered a book
to me.” Then
Shaphan read it
before the king.
11 When
the king had
heard the words
of the book
of the law,
he tore
his clothes.
12 The
king commanded
Hilkiah the priest,
Ahikam the son of
Shaphan, Achbor
the son of
Micaiah, Shaphan
the scribe, and
Asaiah the king’s
servant, saying,
13 “Go
inquire of the
LORD for me,
and for the
people, and for
all Judah,
concerning the
words of this
book that is
found; for great
is the LORD’s
wrath that is
kindled against us,
because our fathers
have not listened
to the words
of this book,
to do according
to all that
which 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 (now
she lived in
Jerusalem in the
second quarter); and
they talked with
her.
15 She said to
them, “The LORD
the God of
Israel says, ‘Tell
the man who sent
you to me,
16 “The
LORD says, ‘Behold,
I will bring
evil on this
place and on
its inhabitants,
even all the
words of the
book which the
king of Judah
has read.
17 Because
they have forsaken
me and have
burned incense to
other gods, that
they might provoke
me to anger
with all the
work of their
hands, therefore
my wrath shall
be kindled against
this place, and
it will not
be quenched.’ ”
18 But
to the king
of Judah, who
sent you to
inquire of the
LORD, tell him, “The
LORD the God
of Israel says, ‘Concerning
the words which
you have heard,
19 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 should become
a desolation and
a curse, and
have torn
your clothes and
wept before me,
I also have
heard you,’ says
the LORD.
20 ‘Therefore
behold, I
will gather you to
your fathers, and
you will
be gathered to
your grave in
peace. Your eyes
will not see
all the evil
which I will
bring on this
place.’ ” ’ ” So
they brought this
message back to
the king.