CHAPTER 22
Josiah
was eight
years old
when he became king,
and he reigned
in Jerusalem
thirty-one
years.
His mother’s
name
was Jedidah
the daughter
of Adaiah;
she was from Bozkath.
And he did
what was right
in the eyes
of the LORD
and walked
in all
the ways
of David
his forefather;
he did not
turn aside
to the right
or to the left.
Now
in the eighteenth
year
of his reign,
King
Josiah
sent
the scribe,
Shaphan
son
of Azaliah,
the son
of Meshullam,
to the house
of the LORD,
saying,
“Go up
to
Hilkiah
the high
priest
and have him count
the money
that has been brought
into the house
of the LORD,
which
the doorkeepers
have collected
from the people.
And let them deliver it
into
the hands
of the supervisors
of those doing
the work
on the house
of the LORD,
who in turn are to give
it
to the workmen
repairing
the damages
to the house
of the LORD—
Then Hilkiah
the high
priest
said to
Shaphan
the scribe,
“I have found
the Book
of the Law
in the house
of the LORD!”
And he
gave
it
to
Shaphan,
who read it.
And Shaphan
the scribe
went
to
the king
and reported,
“Your servants
have paid out
the money
that was found
in the temple
and have put
it into
the hands
of the workers
and supervisors
of the house
of the LORD.”
Moreover, Shaphan
the scribe
told
the king,
“Hilkiah
the priest
has given
me
a book.”
And Shaphan
read it
in the presence
of the king.
and
commanded
Hilkiah
the priest,
Ahikam
son
of Shaphan,
Achbor
son
of Micaiah,
Shaphan
the scribe,
and Asaiah
the servant
of the king:
“Go
and inquire
of the LORD
for me,
for
the people,
and for
all
Judah
concerning
the words
in this
book
that has been found.
For
great
is the wrath
of the LORD
that
burns
against us
because
our fathers
have not
obeyed
the words
of this
book
by doing
all
that is written
about us."
So Hilkiah
the priest,
Ahikam,
Achbor,
Shaphan,
and Asaiah
went
and spoke
to
Huldah
the prophetess,
the wife
of Shallum
son
of Tikvah,
the son
of Harhas,
the keeper
of the wardrobe.
She
lived
in Jerusalem,
in the Second District.
And Huldah said
to them,
“This is what
the LORD,
the God
of Israel,
says:
‘Tell
the man
who
sent
you
that this is what
the LORD
says:
I am about to bring
calamity
on
this
place
and on
its people,
according to all
the words
of the book
that
the king
of Judah
has read,
because
they have forsaken Me
and burned incense
to other
gods,
that
they might provoke Me to anger
with all
the works
of their hands.
My wrath
will be kindled
against this
place
and will not
be quenched.’
But as for
the king
of Judah,
who sent
you
to inquire
of the LORD,
tell him
that this is what
the LORD,
God
of Israel,
says:
‘As for the words
that
you heard,
because
your heart
was tender
and you humbled yourself
before
the LORD
when you heard
what
I spoke
against
this
place
and against
its people,
that they would become
a desolation
and a curse,
and because you have torn
your clothes
and wept
before Me,
I
have heard you,'
declares
the LORD.
‘Therefore
I will indeed gather
you to
your fathers,
and you will be gathered
to
your grave
in peace.
Your eyes
will not
see
all
the calamity
that
I
will bring
on
this
place.’”
So they brought
her answer
back to the king.