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2 Kings

Josiah Finds the Book of the Law and Reforms

22
Chapter 22
1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath. 2 And he did what was upright in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of David his father, and did not turn right or left. 3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the scribe of the house of the LORD, saying: 4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, and he will empty out the silver brought into the house of the LORD which the keepers of the silver have gathered from the people. 5 He gave it into the hand of the doers of the work, the overseers in the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the doers of the work that were in the house of the LORD to strengthen the decay of the house. 6 to carpenters and to bricks and to walls and to buy wood and cut stones to strengthen the house. 7 They alone shall not reckon for them the silver given into their hand, for they are doing it in faithfulness. 8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the Torah in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 Shaphan the scribe came to the king and reported to him. He said, "Your servants have melted the silver found in the house and have given it into the hand of the doers of the work, the overseers of the house of the LORD." 10 Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "A book Hilkiah the priest has given me." And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 When the king heard the words of the book of the Torah, he tore his garments. 12 The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah servant of the king, saying: 13 Go, inquire of the LORD on my behalf, on behalf of the people, and on behalf of all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD that has been kindled against us because our fathers did not obey the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us. 14 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 garments. She was sitting in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, and they spoke to her. 15 And she said to them, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Tell the man who sent you to me." 16 Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am bringing evil upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17 because they abandoned me and burned incense to other gods in order to provoke me with all the work of their hands, and my wrath has blazed in this place and will not be quenched. 18 And to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, this is what you shall say to him: Thus says the LORD God of Israel: The words that you have heard. 19 Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and its inhabitants, to become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your garments and wept before me, and also I have heard—oracle of the LORD. 20 Therefore, here I am. I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your burial site in peace. And your eyes will not see all the evil that I am bringing upon this place. And they brought back the king's word.