2 Chronicles 34

Josiah Succeeds Amon in Judah

11JosiahH2977 was eightH8083 yearsH8141 oldH1121 when he becameH4427 kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 thirty-oneH7970H259 yearsH8141 in JerusalemH3389. 22He didH6213 rightH3477 in the sightH5869 of the LordH3068, and walkedH1980 in the waysH1870 of his fatherH1 DavidH1732 and did not turnH5493 asideH5493 to the rightH3225 or to the leftH8040. 3For in the eighthH8083 yearH8141 of his reignH4427 while he was stillH5750 a youthH5288, he beganH2490 to 3seekH1875 the GodH430 of his fatherH1 DavidH1732; and in the twelfthH8147H6240 yearH8141 he beganH2490 4to purgeH2891 JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389 of the highH1116 placesH1116, the AsherimH842, the carvedH6456 imagesH6456 and the moltenH4541 imagesH4541. 4They toreH5422 downH5422 the altarsH4196 of the BaalsH1168 in his presenceH6440, and 5the incenseH2553 altarsH2553 that were highH4605 aboveH4605 them he choppedH1438 downH1438; also the AsherimH842, the carvedH6456 imagesH6456 and the moltenH4541 imagesH4541 he brokeH7665 in piecesH7665 and 6groundH1854 to powderH1854 and scatteredH2236 it on the gravesH6913 of those who had sacrificedH2076 to them. 5Then 7he burnedH8313 the bonesH6106 of the priestsH3548 on their altarsH4196 and purgedH2891 JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389. 68In the citiesH5892 of ManassehH4519, EphraimH669, SimeonH8095, even as farH5704 as NaphtaliH5321, in their surroundingH5439 ruinsH2723, 7he also toreH5422 downH5422 the altarsH4196 and 9beatH3807 the AsherimH842 and the carvedH6456 imagesH6456 into powderH1854, and choppedH1438 downH1438 allH3605 the incenseH2553 altarsH2553 throughoutH3605 the landH776 of IsraelH3478. Then he returnedH7725 to JerusalemH3389.

Josiah Repairs the Temple

810Now in the eighteenthH8083H6240 yearH8141 of his reignH4427, when he had purgedH2891 the landH776 and the houseH1004, he sentH7971 ShaphanH8227 the sonH1121 of AzaliahH683, and MaaseiahH4641 11an officialH8269 of the cityH5892, and JoahH3098 the sonH1121 of JoahazH3099 the recorderH2142, to repairH2388 the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 his GodH430. 9They cameH935 to 12HilkiahH2518 the highH1419 priestH3548 and deliveredH5414 the moneyH3701 that was broughtH935 into the houseH1004 of GodH430, whichH834 the LevitesH3881, the 13doorkeepersH8104H5592, had collectedH622 14from 15ManassehH4519 and EphraimH669, and from allH3605 the remnantH7611 of IsraelH3478, and from allH3605 JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144 and the inhabitantsH3427 of JerusalemH3389. 10Then they gaveH5414 it into the handsH3027 of the workmenH4399H6213 who hadH6485 the oversightH6485 of the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, and the workmenH4399 whoH834 were workingH6213 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 16usedH5414 it to restoreH918 and repairH2388 the houseH1004. 11They in turn gaveH5414 it to the carpentersH2796 and to the buildersH1129 to buyH7069 quarriedH4274 stoneH68 and timberH6086 for couplingsH4226 and to makeH7136 beamsH7136 for the housesH1004 17whichH834 the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063 had let goH7843 to ruinH7843. 1218The menH376 didH6213 the workH4399 faithfullyH530 with foremenH6485 overH5921 them to superviseH5329: JahathH3189 and ObadiahH5662, the LevitesH3881 of the sonsH1121 of MerariH4847, ZechariahH2148 and MeshullamH4918 of the sonsH1121 of the KohathitesH6956, and 19the LevitesH3881, allH3605 who were skillfulH995 with musicalH7892 instrumentsH3627. 13They were also overH5921 20the burdenH5449 bearersH5449, and supervisedH5329 allH3605 the workmenH6213H4399 from jobH5656 to jobH5656; and some of the LevitesH3881 were scribesH5613 and officialsH7860 and gatekeepersH7778.

Hilkiah Discovers Lost Book of the Law

14When they were bringingH3318 out the moneyH3701 which had been broughtH935 into the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, 21HilkiahH2518 the priestH3548 foundH4672 the bookH5612 of the lawH8451 of the LordH3068 given by MosesH4872. 15HilkiahH2518 respondedH6030 and saidH559 to ShaphanH8227 the scribeH5613, “I have foundH4672 the bookH5612 of the lawH8451 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068.” And HilkiahH2518 gaveH5414 the bookH5612 to ShaphanH8227. 16Then ShaphanH8227 broughtH935 the bookH5612 to the kingH4428 and 22reportedH7725 furtherH5750 wordH1697 to the kingH4428, sayingH559, “EverythingH3605 that was 23entrustedH5414H3027 to your servantsH5650 they are doingH6213. 17They have also emptiedH5413 out the moneyH3701 which was foundH4672 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, and have deliveredH5414 it into the handsH3027 of the supervisorsH6485 and the workmenH4399H6213.” 18Moreover, ShaphanH8227 the scribeH5613 toldH5046 the kingH4428 sayingH559, “HilkiahH2518 the priestH3548 gaveH5414 me a bookH5612.” And ShaphanH8227 readH7121 from it in the presenceH6440 of the kingH4428.

19When the kingH4428 heardH8085 24the wordsH1697 of the lawH8451, 25he toreH7167 his clothesH899. 20Then the kingH4428 commandedH6680 HilkiahH2518, AhikamH296 the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, 26AbdonH5658 the sonH1121 of MicahH4318, ShaphanH8227 the scribeH5613, and AsaiahH6222 the king’sH4428 servantH5650, sayingH559, 21“GoH1980, inquireH1875 of the LordH3068 for me and for those who are leftH7604 in IsraelH3478 and in JudahH3063, concerningH5921 the wordsH1697 of the bookH5612 whichH834 has been foundH4672; for 27greatH1419 is the wrathH2534 of the LordH3068 whichH834 is pouredH5413 out on us becauseH5921H834 our fathersH1 have not observedH8104 the wordH1697 of the LordH3068, to doH6213 according to allH3605 that is writtenH3789 in thisH2088 bookH5612.”

Huldah, the Prophetess, Speaks

22So HilkiahH2518 and those whomH834 the kingH4428 28had told wentH1980 to HuldahH2468 the prophetessH5031, the wifeH802 of ShallumH7967 the sonH1121 of 29TokhathH8445, the sonH1121 of HasrahH2641, the keeperH8104 of the wardrobeH899 (now she livedH3427 in JerusalemH3389 in the SecondH4932 Quarter); and they spokeH1696 to her regarding thisH2088. 23She saidH559 to them, “ThusH3541 saysH559 the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, ‘TellH559 the manH376 whoH834 sentH7971 you to Me, 24thusH3541 saysH559 the LordH3068, “BeholdH2009, 30I am bringingH935 evilH7463 on thisH2088 placeH4725 and on its inhabitantsH3427, even allH3605 31the cursesH423 writtenH3789 in the bookH5612 whichH834 they have readH7121 in the presenceH6440 of the kingH4428 of JudahH3063. 2532BecauseH8478H834 they have forsakenH5800 Me and have burnedH6999 incenseH6999 to otherH312 godsH430, that they might provokeH3707 Me to angerH3707 with allH3605 the worksH4639 of their handsH3027; therefore My wrathH2534 will be pouredH5413 out on thisH2088 placeH4725 and it shall not be quenchedH3518.”’ 26But to the kingH4428 of JudahH3063 who sentH7971 you to inquireH1875 of the LordH3068, thusH3541 you will sayH559 to him, ‘ThusH3541 saysH559 the LordH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478 regarding the wordsH1697 whichH834 you have heardH8085, 27“33BecauseH3282 your heartH3824 was tenderH7401 and you humbledH3665 yourselfH3665 beforeH4480H6440 GodH430 when you heardH8085 His wordsH1697 againstH5921 thisH2088 placeH4725 and againstH5921 its inhabitantsH3427, and because you humbledH3665 yourselfH3665 beforeH6440 Me, toreH7167 your clothesH899 and weptH1058 beforeH6440 Me, I trulyH1571 have heardH8085 you,” declaresH5002 the LordH3068. 28“BeholdH2009, I will gatherH622 you to your fathersH1 and you shall be gatheredH622 to your graveH6913 in peaceH7965, so your eyesH5869 will not seeH7200 allH3605 the evilH7463 whichH834 I will bringH935 on thisH2088 placeH4725 and on its inhabitantsH3427.”’” And they broughtH7725 backH7725 wordH1697 to the kingH4428.

2934Then the kingH4428 sentH7971 and gatheredH622 allH3605 the eldersH2205 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389. 30The kingH4428 wentH5927 up to the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 and 35allH3605 the menH376 of JudahH3063, the inhabitantsH3427 of JerusalemH3389, the priestsH3548, the LevitesH3881 and allH3605 the peopleH5971, from the greatestH1419 to the leastH6996; and he readH7121 in their hearingH241 allH3605 the wordsH1697 of the bookH5612 of the covenantH1285 which was foundH4672 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068.

Josiah’s Good Reign

31Then the kingH4428 36stoodH5975 in his placeH5977 and 37madeH3772 a covenantH1285 beforeH6440 the LordH3068 to walkH1980 afterH310 the LordH3068, and to keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687 and His testimoniesH5715 and His statutesH2706 with allH3605 his heartH3824 and with allH3605 his soulH5315, to performH6213 the wordsH1697 of the covenantH1285 writtenH3789 in thisH2088 bookH5612. 32Moreover, he made allH3605 who were presentH4672 in JerusalemH3389 and BenjaminH1144 to standH5975 with him. So the inhabitantsH3427 of JerusalemH3389 didH6213 according to the covenantH1285 of GodH430, the GodH430 of their fathersH1. 33JosiahH2977 38removedH5493 allH3605 the abominationsH8441 from allH3605 the landsH776 belonging to the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, and made allH3605 who were presentH4672 in IsraelH3478 to serveH5647 the LordH3068 their GodH430. ThroughoutH3605 his 39lifetimeH3605H3117 they did not turnH5493 from followingH310 the LordH3068 GodH430 of their fathersH1.