The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Kings 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 Yahweh’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 Yahweh’s house, saying,
4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that
he may count the money which is brought
into Yahweh’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
Yahweh’s house; and let them give it to
the workers who are in Yahweh’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 Yahweh’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 Yahweh’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 Yahweh for me, and for
the people, and for all Judah, concerning
the words of this book that is found; for
great is Yahweh’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, “Yahweh the God of
Israel says, ‘Tell the man who sent you to
me,
16 “Yahweh 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 Yahweh, tell him, “Yahweh the God ofIsrael says, ‘Concerning the
words which you have heard,
19 because your heart was tender, and
you humbled yourself before Yahweh
when you heard what I spoke against
this place and against its inhabitants, that
they should become a desolation and a
curse, andhave tornyour clothes and wept
before me, I also have heard you,’ says
Yahweh.
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.