1Josiah 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.2He did what was upright in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.3In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the LORD, saying,4Go up to Hilkiah the great priest and complete the accounting of the silver that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered from the people.5Let them give it into the hand of the workmen who have oversight in the house of the LORD, and let them give it to the workmen who are carrying out the work in the house of the LORD, to repair the breach of the house.6To the craftsmen and to the builders and to the masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.7But no accounting shall be made with them for the silver that is given into their hand, for they deal in faithfulness.8Hilkiah the great priest said to Shaphan the secretary, I have found the scroll of the instruction in the house of the LORD. Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.9Shaphan the secretary came to the king and brought back word to the king, saying, Your servants have poured out the silver that was found in the house and have given it into the hand of the workmen who have oversight in the house of the LORD.10Shaphan the secretary also told the king, Hilkiah the priest gave me a scroll, and Shaphan read it before the king.11When the king heard the words of the scroll of the instruction, he tore his garments.12The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,13Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this scroll that has been found, for great is the rage of the LORD that has been kindled against us, because our fathers did not obey the words of this scroll, to do according to all that is written concerning us.14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah son of Harhas, keeper of the garments—she was living in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter—and they spoke with her.15She said to them, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me,16Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am about to bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants—all the words of the scroll that the king of Judah has read—17because they have abandoned me and have made offerings to other gods, provoking me with all the works of their hands; therefore my rage has been kindled against this place and will not be quenched.18But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, you shall say to him: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: As for the words that you have heard,19because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants—that they would become a desolation and a curse—and because you have torn your garments and wept before me, I also have heard, declares the LORD.20Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the distress that I am bringing upon this place. They brought back word to the king.