II Kings

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

He did what was pleasing to GOD and he followed all the ways of his forefather David; he did not deviate to the right or to the left.

In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent the scribe Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam to the House of GOD, saying,

“Go to the high priest Hilkiah and let him weighaweigh Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “melt down,” cf. v. 9. the silver that has been deposited in the House of GOD, which the guards of the threshold have collected from the people.

And let it be delivered to the overseers of the work who are in charge at the House of GOD, that they in turn may pay it out to the workers that are in the House of GOD, for the repair of the House:

to the carpenters, the laborers, and the masons, and for the purchase of wood and quarried stones for repairing the House.

However, no check is to be kept on them for the silver that is delivered to them, for they deal honestly.”

Then the high priest Hilkiah said to the scribe Shaphan, “I have found a scroll of the Teaching in the House of GOD.” And Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, who read it.

The scribe Shaphan then went to the king and reported to the king: “Your servants have melted down the silver that was deposited in the House, and they have delivered it to the overseers of the work who are in charge at the House of GOD.”

The scribe Shaphan also told the king, “The high priest Hilkiah has given me a scroll”; and Shaphan read it to the king.

When the king heard the words of the scroll of the Teaching, he rent his clothes.

And the king gave orders to the priest Hilkiah, and to Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Michaiah, the scribe Shaphan, and Asaiah the king’s minister:

“Go, inquire of GOD on my behalf, and on behalf of the people, and on behalf of all Judah, concerning the words of this scroll that has been found. For great indeed must be GOD’s wrath that has been kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this scroll to do all that has been prescribed for us.”

So the priest Hilkiah, and Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah—the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe—who was living in Jerusalem in the Mishneh,bMishneh A quarter in Jerusalem; cf. Zeph. 1.10. and they spoke to her.

She responded: “Thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel: Say to the one who sent you to me:

Thus said GOD: I am going to bring disaster upon this place and its inhabitants, in accordance with all the words of the scroll that the king of Judah has read.

Because they have forsaken Me and have made offerings to other gods and provoked My anger with all their deeds, My wrath is kindled against this place and it shall not be quenched.

But say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of GOD: Thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel: As for the words that you have heard—

because your heart was softened and you humbled yourself before GOD when you heard what I decreed against this place and its inhabitants—that it will become a desolation and a curse—and because you rent your clothes and wept before Me, I for My part have listened—declares GOD.

Assuredly, I will gather you to your ancestors and you will be laid in your tomb in peace. Your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.” So they brought back the reply to the king.