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 Boscath.
2 And
he did that which was right
in the sight of the LORD, 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 the LORD, saying,
4 Go
up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into
the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the
people:
5 And
let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the
oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the
work which is in the
house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,
6 Unto
carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to
repair the house.
7 Howbeit
there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into
their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
8 And
Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of
the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave 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,
Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have
delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of
the house of the LORD.
10 And
Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath 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 Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of
the king's, saying,
13 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 concerning us.
14 So
Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto
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 college;)
and they communed with her.
15 And
she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent
you to me,
16 Thus
saith the LORD, 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 hath read:
17 Because
they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might
provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall
be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
18 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 the words which thou hast heard;
19 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.
20 Behold
therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into
thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will
bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
