2 Kings 22

Josiah and the Book of the Law

1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2He did what was right in Yahweh’s eyes and walked in every way of David his father, turning aside neither to the right nor to the left. 3In the eighteenth year of king Josiah, the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying, 4“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him total the silver that has been brought into the house of Yahweh, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5Let it be entrusted to the men appointed to oversee the work on the house of Yahweh, and let them pay the workers who repair the house — 6the carpenters, the builders, and the masons — and let it be used to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the house. 7But no accounting need be required of them for the silver entrusted to them, for they are dealing honestly.” 8Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of Yahweh.” Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it. 9Then Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants have collected the silver that was in the house and entrusted it to the men appointed to oversee the work on the house of Yahweh.” 10Shaphan the scribe also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll,” and Shaphan read it aloud before the king. 11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant: 13“Go and inquire of Yahweh for me, for the people, and for all Judah, about the words of this scroll that has been found. Great is Yahweh’s fury that burns against us, because our fathers did not obey the words of this scroll or act according to everything written for us.”

Huldah the Prophetess

14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District, and they spoke to her there. 15She said to them, “This is what Yahweh, God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me —” 16“This is what Yahweh says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its people — all the words written in the scroll the king of Judah has read — 17because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods, provoking me with everything their hands have made. My fury burns against this place, and it will not be quenched.” 18But tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, this: “This is what Yahweh, God of Israel, says about the words you have heard —” 19“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before Yahweh when you heard what I spoke against this place and its people — that they would become a desolation and a curse — and because you tore your clothes and wept before me, I too have heard you — declares Yahweh. 20Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.” So they brought back word to the king.