2 Chronicles 34

Josiah Reigns in Judah

(2 Kings 22:1–2)

1JosiahH2977 was eightH8083 years oldH1121H8141 when he became kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 in JerusalemH3389 thirty-oneH7970H259 yearsH8141. 2And he didH6213 what was rightH3477 in the eyesH5869 of the LORDH3068 and walkedH1980 in the waysH1870 of his fatherH1 DavidH1732; he did notH3808 turn asideH5493 to the rightH3225 or to the leftH8040.

Josiah Destroys Idolatry

(1 Kings 13:1–10; 2 Kings 23:4–20)

3In the eighthH8083 yearH8141 of his reignH4427, while heH1931 was stillH5750 youngH5288, Josiah beganH2490 to seekH1875 the GodH430 of his fatherH1 DavidH1732, and in the twelfthH8147H6240 yearH8141 he beganH2490 to cleanseH2891 JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389 ofH4480 the high placesH1116, the Asherah polesH842, the carved idolsH6456, and the cast imagesH4541. 4Then in his presenceH6440 the altarsH4196 of the BaalsH1168 were torn downH5422, and he cut to piecesH1438 the incense altarsH2553 thatH834 were aboveH4605 themH5921. He shatteredH7665 the Asherah polesH842, the carved idolsH6456, and the cast imagesH4541, crushed them to dustH1854, and scattered themH2236 overH5921H6440 the gravesH6913 of those who had sacrificedH2076 to them. 5Then he burnedH8313 the bonesH6106 of the priestsH3548 onH5921 their altarsH4196. So he cleansedH2891 JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.

6Josiah did the same in the citiesH5892 of ManassehH4519, EphraimH669, and SimeonH8095, asH5704 far as NaphtaliH5321, and in the ruinsH2022H10041 around themH5439. 7He tore downH5422 the altarsH4196 and Asherah polesH842, crushedH3807 the idolsH6456 to powderH1854, and cut to piecesH1438 allH3605 the incense altarsH2553 throughoutH3605 the landH776 of IsraelH3478. Then he returnedH7725 to JerusalemH3389.

Josiah Repairs the Temple

(2 Kings 22:3–7)

8Now in the eighteenthH8083H6240 yearH8141 of his reignH4427, in order to cleanseH2891 the landH776 and the templeH1004, Josiah sentH7971 ShaphanH8227 sonH1121 of AzaliahH683, MaaseiahH4641 the governorH8269 of the cityH5892, andH853 JoahH3098 sonH1121 of JoahazH3099, the recorderH2142, to repairH2388 the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 his GodH430.

9So they wentH935 toH413 HilkiahH2518 the highH1419 priestH3548 and gaveH5414 himH853 the moneyH3701 that had been broughtH935 into the houseH1004 of GodH430, whichH834 the LevitesH3881 who guardedH8104 the doorsH5592 had collectedH622 from theH3027 people of ManassehH4519 and EphraimH669, from allH3605 the remnantH7611 of IsraelH3478, from allH3605 JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144, and from the peopleH3427 of JerusalemH3389. 10They put itH5414 intoH5921 the handsH3027 of those supervisingH6485H4399 the workH6213 in the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, who in turn gaveH5414 itH853 to the workmenH6213H4399 restoringH918 and repairingH2388 the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068. 11They also gaveH5414 money to the carpentersH2796 and buildersH1129 to buyH7069 dressedH4274 stoneH68, as well as timbersH6086 for couplingsH4226 and beamsH7136 for the buildingsH1004 thatH834 the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063 had allowed to deteriorateH7843.

12And the menH582 didH6213 the workH4399H5921 faithfullyH530. The LevitesH3881 overseeing themH6485 were JahathH3189 and ObadiahH5662, descendantsH1121 of MerariH4847, and ZechariahH2148 and MeshullamH4918, descendantsH1121 of KohathH6956. Other LevitesH3881, allH3605 skilledH995 with musicalH7892 instrumentsH3627, 13were overH5921 the laborersH5449 and supervisedH5329 allH3605 who didH6213 the workH4399, taskH5656 by taskH5656. Some of the LevitesH3881 were secretariesH5608, officersH7860, and gatekeepersH7778.

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

(2 Kings 22:8–13)

14While they were bringing outH3318 the moneyH3701 that had been takenH935 into the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, HilkiahH2518 the priestH3548 foundH4672 the BookH5612 of the LawH8451 of the LORDH3068 given byH30272 MosesH4872. 15And HilkiahH2518 saidH559H6030 toH413 ShaphanH8227 the scribeH5608, “I have foundH4672 the BookH5612 of the LawH8451 in the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068!” And heH2518 gaveH5414 it toH413 ShaphanH8227.

16Then ShaphanH8227 broughtH935 the bookH5612 toH413 the kingH4428 andH5750 reportedH7725H1697H559, “Your servantsH5650H1992 are doingH6213 allH3605 thatH834 has been placedH5414 in their handsH3027. 17They have paid outH5413 the moneyH3701 that was foundH4672 in the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 and have putH5414 it intoH5921 the handsH3027 of the supervisorsH6485H5921 and workersH6213H4399.”

18Moreover, ShaphanH8227 the scribeH5608 toldH5046 the kingH4428H559, “HilkiahH2518 the priestH3548 has givenH5414 me a bookH5612.” And ShaphanH8227 readH7121 it in the presenceH6440 of the kingH4428.

19

When the kingH4428 heardH8085 the wordsH1697 of the LawH8451, he toreH7167 his clothesH899 20and commandedH6680 HilkiahH2518, AhikamH296 sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, AbdonH56583 sonH1121 of MicahH4318,4 ShaphanH8227 the scribeH5608, and AsaiahH6222 the servantH5650 of the kingH4428H559: 21“GoH1980 and inquireH1875 of the LORDH3068 for meH1157 and forH1157 those remainingH7604 in IsraelH3478 and JudahH3063 concerningH5921 the wordsH1697 in the bookH5612 thatH834 has been foundH4672. ForH3588 greatH1419 is the wrathH2534 of the LORDH3068 thatH834 has been poured outH5413 on us becauseH5921 our fathersH1 have notH3808 keptH8104 the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 by doingH6213 allH3605 that is writtenH3789 inH5921 thisH2088 bookH5612.”

Huldah’s Prophecy

(2 Kings 22:14–20)

22So HilkiahH2518 and thoseH834 the kingH4428 had designated wentH1980 and spokeH1696 toH413 HuldahH24685 the prophetessH5031, the wifeH802 of ShallumH7967 sonH1121 of TokhathH8445,6 the sonH1121 of HasrahH2641,7 the keeperH8104 of the wardrobeH899. SheH1931 livedH3427 in JerusalemH3389, in the Second DistrictH4932.8

23And Huldah saidH559 to them, “This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, saysH559: ‘TellH559 the manH376 whoH834 sentH7971 youH853 24that this is whatH3541 the LORDH3068H2005 saysH559: I am about to bringH935 calamityH7451 onH5921 thisH2088 placeH4725 and onH5921 its peopleH3427, according to allH3605 the cursesH423 writtenH3789 inH5921 the bookH5612 thatH834 has been readH7121 in the presenceH6440 of the kingH4428 of JudahH3063, 25becauseH8478 they have forsaken MeH5800 and burned incenseH6999 to otherH312 godsH430, thatH4616 they might provoke Me to angerH3707 with allH3605 the worksH4639 of their handsH3027. My wrathH2534 will be poured outH5413 upon thisH2088 placeH4725 and will notH3808 be quenchedH3518.’

26But as forH413 the kingH4428 of JudahH3063, who sentH7971 youH853 to inquireH1875 of the LORDH3068, tell himH559H413 thatH3541 this is whatH3541 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, saysH559: ‘As for the wordsH1697 thatH834 you heardH8085, 27becauseH3282 your heartH3824 was tenderH7401 and you humbled yourselfH3665 beforeH6440 GodH430 when you heardH8085 His wordsH1697 againstH5921 thisH2088 placeH4725 and againstH5921 its peopleH3427, and because you have humbled yourselfH3665 before MeH6440 and have tornH7167 your clothesH899 and weptH1058 before MeH6440H1571, IH589 have heardH8085 you,’ declaresH5002 the LORDH3068.

28‘Now I will indeedH2005 gatherH622 you toH413 your fathersH1, and you will be gatheredH622 toH413 your graveH6913 in peaceH7965. Your eyesH5869 will notH3808 seeH7200 allH3605 the calamityH7451 thatH834 IH589 will bringH935 onH5921 thisH2088 placeH4725 and onH5921 its peopleH3427.’”

So they broughtH7725 herH853 answerH1697 back to the kingH4428.

Josiah Renews the Covenant

(2 Kings 23:1–3)

29Then the kingH4428 summonedH7971H622 allH3605 the eldersH2205 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389. 30AndH4428 he went upH5927 to the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 with allH3605 the peopleH3427 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389, as well as the priestsH3548 and the LevitesH3881—allH3605 the peopleH5971 greatH1419 andH5704 smallH6996—and in their hearingH241 he readH7121 allH3605 the wordsH1697 of the BookH5612 of the CovenantH1285 that had been foundH4672 in the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068.

31So the kingH4428 stoodH5975 byH5921 the pillarH5977 and madeH3772 a covenantH1285 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 to followH1980H310 the LORDH3068 and to keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687, decreesH5715, and statutesH2706 with allH3605 his heartH3824 and allH3605 his soulH5315, and to carry outH6213 the wordsH1697 of the covenantH1285 that were writtenH3789 inH5921 thisH2088 bookH5612.

32Then he had everyoneH3605H4672 in JerusalemH3389 and BenjaminH1144 take a stand in agreement to itH5975. So all the peopleH3427 of JerusalemH3389 carried outH6213 the covenantH1285 of GodH430, the GodH430 of their fathersH1.

33And JosiahH2977 removedH5493 allH3605 the abominationsH8441 from allH3605 the landsH776 belonging to the IsraelitesH1121H3478, and he requiredH5647 everyoneH3605H4672 in IsraelH3478 to serveH5647 the LORDH3068 their GodH430. ThroughoutH3605 his reignH3117 they did notH3808 turn asideH5493 from followingH310 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of their fathersH1.