THE SECOND BOOK OF
THE KINGS,
2 Kings 22 ©
Josiah’s pious government, v. 1, etc. He takes care for the repairing of the temple, 3. The book of the law is found by Hilkiah in the temple, and delivered into the king’s hand by Shaphan, 8. The king, having understood what God therein threatens to back-sliders, asks counsel of the Lord by Huldah the prophetess, 11. The prophetess returns an answer, 15.
JOSIAH wasa 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 1Boscath.
And he did that which was 2right in the sight of the LORD, and 3walked in all the way of David his father, and 4turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
¶And it came to pass in the 5eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the 6scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,
Go up to Hilkiah the 7high priest, that he may sum 8the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the 9keepers of the 10door have gathered of the people:
And let them deliver it into the hand of the 11doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the 12doers of the work 13which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,
Unto carpenters, and builders, and 14masons, and to buy timber and 15hewn stone to repair the house.
Howbeit there was 16no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt 17faithfully.
¶And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the 18book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, 19Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the 20house, and have 21delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD.
And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a 22book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent 23his clothes.
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and 24Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah 25a servant of the king's, saying,
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 26concerning us.
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Sha-phan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of 27Tikvah, the son of Harhas, 28keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem 29in the college;) and they communed with her.
¶And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring 30evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto 31other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all 32the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
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 33the words which thou hast heard;
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.
Behold therefore, I will 34gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy 35grave in 36peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And 37they brought the king word again.