2 Kings 22

Josiah Succeeds Amon

11Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of 2Bozkath. 2He did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he 3turn aside to the right or to the left.

3Now 4in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the Lord saying, 4“5Go up to Hilkiah the high priest that he may 6count the money brought in to the house of the Lord which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 57Let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of the Lord to repair the 8damages of the house, 6to the carpenters and the builders and the masons and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house. 7Only 9no accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully.”

The Lost Book

8Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “10I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. 9Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to the king and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

11When the king heard the words of the book of the law, 11he tore his clothes. 12Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, 12Ahikam the son of Shaphan, 1314Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant saying, 13“Go, inquire of the Lord for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for 15great is the wrath of the Lord that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

Huldah Predicts

14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of 1617Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the 18Second Quarter); and they spoke to her. 15She said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16thus says the Lord, “Behold, I 19bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 1720Because 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 burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched.”’ 18But to 21the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord thus shall you say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard, 1922because your heart was tender and 23you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become 24a desolation and a 25curse, and you have 26torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord. 20“Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and 27you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.”’” So they brought back word to the king.