2 Chronicles 34

Josiah Succeeds Amon in Judah

11JosiahH2977 was eightH8083 yearsH8141 oldH1121 when he becameH4427 kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 for thirty-oneH7970H259 yearsH8141 in JerusalemH3389. 22He didH6213 what was 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 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 5AsherimH842, the carvedH6456 imagesH6456, and the castH4541 metalH4541 imagesH4541. 4They toreH5422 downH5422 the altarsH4196 of the BaalsH1168 in his presenceH6440, and he choppedH1438 downH1438 6the incenseH2553 altarsH2553 that were highH4605 aboveH4605 them; also he brokeH7665 inH7665 piecesH7665 the AsherimH842, the carvedH6456 imagesH6456, and the castH4541 metalH4541 imagesH4541, and 7groundH1854 them toH1854 powderH1854, and scatteredH2236 it on the gravesH6913 of those who had sacrificedH2076 to them. 5Then 8he burnedH8313 the bonesH6106 of the priestsH3548 on their altarsH4196 and purgedH2891 JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389. 69In the citiesH5892 of ManassehH4519, EphraimH669, SimeonH8095, and as farH5704 as NaphtaliH5321, in their surroundingH5439 spacesH7339, 7he also toreH5422 downH5422 the altarsH4196 and 10crushedH3807 the 11AsherimH842 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

812Now in the eighteenthH8083H6240 yearH8141 of his reignH4427, when he had purgedH2891 the landH776 and the houseH1004, he sentH7971 ShaphanH8227 the sonH1121 of AzaliahH683, MaaseiahH4641 13an officialH8269 of the cityH5892, and JoahH3098 the sonH1121 of JoahazH3099 the secretaryH4206, to repairH2388 the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 his GodH430. 9They cameH935 to 14HilkiahH2518 the highH1419 priestH3548 and gaveH5414 him the moneyH3701 that was broughtH935 into the houseH1004 of GodH430, whichH834 the LevitesH3881, the 15doorkeepersH8104H5592, had collectedH622 16from 17ManassehH4519 and EphraimH669, and from allH3605 the remnantH7611 of IsraelH3478, from allH3605 JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144 and the inhabitantsH3427 of JerusalemH3389. 10Then they handedH5414H3027 it overH5414 to the workmenH4399H6213 who hadH6485 the oversightH6485 of the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, and the workmenH4399H6213 whoH834 were workingH6213 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 18usedH5414 it to restoreH918 and repairH2388 the houseH1004. 11They in turn gaveH5414 it to the carpentersH2796 and the buildersH1129 to buyH7069 quarriedH4274 stoneH68 and timberH6086 for couplingsH4226, and to makeH7136 beamsH7136 for the housesH1004 19whichH834 the kingsH4428 of JudahH3063 had let goH7843 toH7843 ruinH7843. 1220The 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 21the LevitesH3881, allH3605 who were skillfulH995 with musicalH7892 instrumentsH3627. 13They were also inH5921 chargeH5921 ofH5921 22the burdenH5449 bearersH5449, and supervisedH5329 allH3605 the workmenH6213H4399 from jobH5656 to jobH5656; and someH4480 of the LevitesH3881 were scribesH5613, and officialsH7860, and gatekeepersH7778.

Hilkiah Discovers the Lost Book of the Law

14When they were bringingH3318 outH3318 the moneyH3701 which had been broughtH935 into the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, 23HilkiahH2518 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 24reportedH7725 furtherH5750 wordH1697 to the kingH4428, sayingH559, “EverythingH3605 that was 25entrustedH5414H3027 to your servantsH5650, they are doingH6213. 17They have also emptiedH5413 outH5413 the moneyH3701 which was foundH4672 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, and have handedH5414H3027 it overH5414 to the supervisorsH6485 and the workmenH4399H6213.” 18Moreover, ShaphanH8227 the scribeH5613 informedH5046 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 26the wordsH1697 of the LawH8451, 27he toreH7167 his clothesH899. 20Then the kingH4428 commandedH6680 HilkiahH2518, AhikamH296 the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, 28AbdonH5658 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 JudahH3063, concerningH5921 the wordsH1697 of the bookH5612 whichH834 has been foundH4672; for 29the wrathH2534 of the LordH3068 whichH834 has pouredH5413 outH5413 on us is greatH1419, becauseH5921H834 our fathersH1 have not keptH8104 the wordH1697 of the LordH3068, to actH6213 in accordance with everythingH3605 that is writtenH3789 in thisH2088 bookH5612.”

Huldah, the Prophetess, Speaks

22So HilkiahH2518 and those 30whomH834 the kingH4428 had told wentH1980 to HuldahH2468 the prophetessH5031, the wifeH802 of ShallumH7967 the sonH1121 of 31TokhathH8445, the sonH1121 of HasrahH2641, the keeperH8104 of the wardrobeH899 (she livedH3427 in JerusalemH3389 in the SecondH4932 Quarter); and they spokeH1696 to her regarding thisH2088. 23Then she saidH559 to them, “ThisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 saysH559: ‘TellH559 the manH376 whoH834 sentH7971 you to Me, 24thisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 the LordH3068 saysH559: “BeholdH2009, 32I am bringingH935 33evilH7463 on thisH2088 placeH4725 and on its inhabitantsH3427, allH3605 34the cursesH423 writtenH3789 in the bookH5612 whichH834 they have readH7121 in the presenceH6440 of the kingH4428 of JudahH3063. 2535SinceH8478H834 they have abandonedH5800 Me and have burnedH6999 incenseH6999 to otherH312 godsH430, soH4616 thatH4616 they may provokeH3707 Me toH3707 angerH3707 with allH3605 the worksH4639 of their handsH3027, My wrathH2534 will be pouredH5413 outH5413 on thisH2088 placeH4725 and it will not be quenchedH3518.”’ 26But to the kingH4428 of JudahH3063 who sentH7971 you to inquireH1875 of the LordH3068, thisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 you shall sayH559 to him: ‘ThisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 saysH559: In regard to the wordsH1697 whichH834 you have heardH8085, 27“36BecauseH3282 your heartH3824 was tenderH7401 and you humbledH3665 yourself beforeH4480H6440 GodH430 when you heardH8085 His wordsH1697 againstH5921 thisH2088 placeH4725 and its inhabitantsH3427, and because you humbledH3665 yourself beforeH6440 Me, toreH7167 your clothesH899, and weptH1058 beforeH6440 Me, I have indeedH1571 heardH8085 you,” declaresH5002 the LordH3068. 28“BeholdH2009, I will gatherH622 you to your fathersH1, and you will be gatheredH622 to your graveH6913 in peaceH7965, so your eyesH5869 will not seeH7200 allH3605 the evilH7463 whichH834 I am bringingH935 on thisH2088 placeH4725 and its inhabitantsH3427.”’” And they broughtH7725 backH7725 wordH1697 to the kingH4428.

2937Then the kingH4428 sentH7971 word and gatheredH622 allH3605 the eldersH2205 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389. 30The kingH4428 wentH5927 upH5927 to the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 38with 39allH3605 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 40presenceH241 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 41stoodH5975 42in his placeH5977 and 43madeH3772 a covenantH1285 beforeH6440 the LordH3068 to walkH1980 afterH310 the LordH3068, and to keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687, His testimoniesH5715, and His statutesH2706 with allH3605 his heartH3824 and with allH3605 his soulH5315, to performH6213 the wordsH1697 of the covenantH1285 that are writtenH3789 in thisH2088 bookH5612. 32Furthermore, he made allH3605 who wereH4672 presentH4672 in JerusalemH3389 and BenjaminH1144 standH5975 with him. So the inhabitantsH3427 of JerusalemH3389 actedH6213 in accordance with the covenantH1285 of GodH430, the GodH430 of their fathersH1. 33JosiahH2977 44removedH5493 allH3605 the abominationsH8441 from allH3605 the landsH776 belonging to the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, and made allH3605 who wereH4672 presentH4672 in IsraelH3478 serveH5647 the LordH3068 their GodH430. ThroughoutH3605 his 45lifetimeH3605H3117 they did not turnH5493 from followingH310 the LordH3068 GodH430 of their fathersH1.