22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He ruled as king in Jerusalem for 31 years. His mother's name was Jedidah. She was the daughter of Adaiah, who came from Bozkath. 2 Josiah did things that the Lord said were right. He lived in the good ways of his ancestor, King David. He did not turn away from the Lord 's teaching in any way.
3 When Josiah had been king for 18 years, he sent Shaphan to the Lord 's temple. Shaphan was the son of Azaliah, and the grandson of Meshullam. He was the king's secretary. Josiah told Shaphan, 4 ‘Go to meet Hilkiah, the leader of the priests. Ask him to count the money that people have brought as gifts into the Lord 's temple. Those are the offerings that the temple guards have received from people. 5 The priests must give the money to the men who have authority over the work on the Lord 's temple. Those leaders must pay the men who are doing the repairs. 6 Those workers are the carpenters, the builders and the men who work with stones. The leaders of the work must also buy wood. And they must buy stones that are ready to use. They need those things to repair the temple. 7 The leaders of the work are honest men. So they do not need to give a report on how they use the money.’
8 Hilkiah, the leader of the priests, told Shaphan, the king's secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord 's temple.’ He gave the book to Shaphan and Shaphan read it. 9 Then Shaphan went to the king. He said to him, ‘Your officers have paid out all the money that was in the Lord 's temple. They have given it to the men who are working on the temple repairs and to their leaders.’ 10 Then Shaphan told the king, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ Shaphan started to read the book while the king listened.
11 When the king heard the words from the Book of the Law, he was very upset. He tore his clothes. 12 He gave a command to Hilkiah the priest, Shaphan's son Ahikam, Micaiah's son Acbor, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's servant. 13 He told them, ‘Go to the temple. Ask the Lord about the message in this book that Hilkiah has found. I need to know what I should do, as well as all the people of Judah. The Lord has become very angry with us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this book. They have not done the things that it tells us we should do.’
14 So Hilkiah, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to Huldah. Huldah was a prophetess who lived in the north part of Jerusalem. She was the wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvah. Tikvah was the son of Harhas, who took care of the king's clothes. The king's men told Huldah why they had come to meet her. 15 She said to them, ‘The Lord , Israel's God, says, “Tell this to the man who sent you here to me: 16 This is what the Lord says. I will bring great trouble to this place and the people who live here. The message of the book that the king of Judah has read tells about what will happen. 17 I will send this trouble because they have turned away from me. They have offered sacrifices to other gods. I am very angry with them because of all the idols that they have made for themselves. My anger is like a fire that is burning and nobody can stop it!” 18 The king of Judah sent you here to ask for the Lord 's answer. Say to the king, “The Lord , Israel's God, says this about the message that you have heard:
19 When you heard the message that I had spoken, you were very upset. You made yourself humble to respect me. You tore your clothes and you wept. You did that when you heard how I would punish this place and the people who live here. I said that I would destroy this place so that people would use its name as a curse. Because you became so upset, I have heard your prayer. 20 So I will let you die in peace and people will bury you beside your ancestors. You yourself will never see the great trouble that I will bring to this place.” That is what the Lord says.’
The men took Huldah's answer back to the king.
22 Josiah was eight years old when he began to rule. He ruled 31 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 Josiah did what the Lord said was right. He followed God like his ancestor David. Josiah obeyed God’s teachings—he did exactly what God wanted.
3 During the 18th year that Josiah was king, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the Lord ’s Temple. Josiah said, 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest. Tell him that he must get the money that people brought to the Lord ’s Temple. The gatekeepers collected that money from the people. 5 The priests must use that money to pay the workers to repair the Lord ’s Temple. They must give that money to the men who supervise the work on the Lord ’s Temple. 6 Use that money for the carpenters, stonemasons, and stonecutters. Also use that money to buy the timber and cut stones that are needed to repair the Temple. 7 Don’t count the money that you give to the workers. They can be trusted.”
8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “Look, I found the Book of the Law [ a ] in the Lord ’s Temple!” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and Shaphan read it.
9 He went to King Josiah and told him what happened. Shaphan said, “Your servants have gathered all the money that was in the Temple. They gave it to the men who supervise the work on the Lord ’s Temple.” 10 Then he told the king, “And Hilkiah the priest also gave this book to me.” Then Shaphan read the book to the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law , he tore his clothes to show he was sad and upset. 12 Then he gave a command to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant. 13 King Josiah said, “Go and ask the Lord what we should do. Ask for me, for the people, and for all Judah. Ask about the words of this book that was found. The Lord is angry with us, because our ancestors did not listen to the words of this book. They did not obey all the commands that were written for us.”
14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the woman prophet. Huldah was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas. He took care of the priests’ clothes. Huldah was living in the second quarter in Jerusalem. They went and talked with Huldah.
15 Then Huldah said to them, “The Lord , the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me: 16 ‘The Lord says this: I am bringing trouble on this place and on the people who live here. These are the troubles that are mentioned in the book that the king of Judah read. 17 The people of Judah have left me and have burned incense to other gods. They made me very angry. They made many idols. That is why I will show my anger against this place. My anger will be like a fire that cannot be stopped!’
18-19 “King Josiah of Judah sent you to ask advice from the Lord . Tell Josiah that this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: ‘You heard the words I spoke against this place and those who live here. And when you heard those things, your heart was soft, and you showed your sorrow before the Lord . I said that terrible things would happen to this place. So you tore your clothes to show your sadness, and you began to cry. That is why I heard you.’ This is what the Lord says. 20 ‘I will bring you to be with your ancestors. You will die and go to your grave in peace. So your eyes will not see all the trouble that I am bringing on this place.’”
Then Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah gave that message to the king.
22 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord , and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
3 And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the Lord , saying,
4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the Lord , which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:
5 And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord : and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the Lord , to repair the breaches of the house,
6 Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.
7 Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord . And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord .
10 And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,
13 Go ye, enquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
15 And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
16 Thus saith the Lord , Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
18 But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the Lord , thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;
19 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord , when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord .
20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
22 ( A ) Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of ( B ) Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked [ a ] entirely in the way of his father David, and did not ( C ) turn aside to the right or to the left.
3 Now ( D ) in 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 “ ( E ) Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, and have him [ b ] count all the money brought into the house of the Lord , which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5 ( F ) And have them hand it over to the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord , and have them give it to the workmen who are in the house of the Lord to repair the [ c ] damage to the house: 6 to the carpenters, the builders, the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house. 7 However, ( G ) no accounting shall be made with them for the money handed over to them, because they deal honestly.”
8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “ ( H ) I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord .” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it. 9 Then Shaphan 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 handed it over to the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord .” 10 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe informed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, ( I ) he tore his clothes. 12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, ( J ) Ahikam the son of Shaphan, [ d ] ( K ) Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for ( L ) the wrath of the Lord that burns against us is great, because our fathers did not listen to the words of this book, to act in accordance with everything that is written regarding us.”
14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of [ e ] ( M ) Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (and she lived in Jerusalem in the ( N ) Second Quarter); and they spoke to her. 15 Then she said to them, “This is what the Lord , the God of Israel says: ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 16 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, I am going to ( O ) bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants, all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17 ( P ) Since they have abandoned Me and have burned incense to other gods so that they may provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched.’” 18 But to ( Q ) the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord , this is what you shall say to him: “This is what the Lord , the God of Israel says: ‘ Regarding the words which you have heard, 19 ( R ) since your heart was tender and ( S ) you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become ( T ) an object of horror and a ( U ) curse, and you have ( V ) torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have indeed heard you,’ declares the Lord .” 20 Therefore, behold, I am going to gather you to your fathers, and ( W ) you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not look at all the devastation that I am going to bring on this place.’” So they brought back word to the king.
22 Josiah ( B ) was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. ( C ) 2 He did what was right ( D ) in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right ( E ) or to the left.
3 In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan ( F ) son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the Lord . He said: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah ( G ) the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord , which the doorkeepers have collected ( H ) from the people. 5 Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair ( I ) the temple of the Lord — 6 the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. ( J ) 7 But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.” ( K )
8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law ( L ) in the temple of the Lord .” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. 9 Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. ( M )
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, ( N ) he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam ( O ) son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: ( P ) 13 “Go and inquire ( Q ) of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord ’s anger ( R ) that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”
14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet ( S ) Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.
15 She said to them, “This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster ( T ) on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book ( U ) the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken ( V ) me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, [ a ] my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire ( W ) of the Lord , ‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled ( X ) yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse [ b ] ( Y ) and be laid waste ( Z ) —and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord . 20 Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. ( AA ) Your eyes ( AB ) will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”
So they took her answer back to the king.
