2Kgs 22
1
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 Bozkath.
2
And he did that which was right in the eyes of YHWH, 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 YHWH, saying,
4
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the money which is brought into
the house of YHWH, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people:
5
and let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen that have the oversight of the
house of YHWH; and let them give it to the workmen that are in the house of YHWH,
to repair the breaches of the house,
6
to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and
hewn stone to repair the house.
7
Nevertheless there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered
into their hand; for they dealt faithfully.
8
And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the
law in the house of YHWH. And Hilkiah delivered 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,
Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered
it into the hand of the workmen that have the oversight of the house of YHWH.
10
And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has 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 Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king`s servant, saying,
13
Go you, inquire of YHWH for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning
the words of this book that is found; for great is the anger of YHWH that is kindled
against us, because our fathers have not hearkened to the words of this book, to do
according to all that which is written concerning us.
14
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and 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 dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they communed
with her.
15
And she said to them, Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: Tell you the man that sent
you to me,
16
Thus says YHWH, 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 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 anger shall be
kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.
18
But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of YHWH, thus shall you say to him,
Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: As touching the words which you have heard,
19
because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before YHWH, when you heard
what I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should
become a desolation and a curse, and have rent your clothes, and wept before me; I
also have heard you, says YHWH.
20
Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to
your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring upon
this place. And they brought the king word again.