2 Kings 22

Josiah becomes Judah’s king

Josiah was eight years old when he took the throne, and he reigned for thirty-one years from Jerusalem. His mom was Jedidah (the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath). He did what was right in the Existing One’s eyes and walked in all the ways of his forefather David, not veering to the right or the left.

Josiah repairs God’s temple

In King Josiah’s eighteenth year of being king, he sent the secretary Shaphan (Azaliah’s son and Meshullam’s grandson) to the Existing One’s house, saying, “Go up to the high priest Hilkiah so he can count the offering money donated to the Existing One’s house. Give it to the workers who are repairing the Existing One’s house (including the carpenters, builders, and masons) so that they can buy timber and stone for the repairs. No need to collect their receipts, because they deal honestly.”

Priest rediscovers Book of the Law

The high priest Hilkiah told Shaphan the secretary, “I found the Book of the Law in the Existing One’s house,” and Hilkiah gave it to Shaphan who read it. When Shaphan reported to the king, “We delivered the money to the workmen,” he also added, “Hilkiah the priest has given me this book” and then read it to the king.

When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. He turned to Hilkiah (the priest), Ahikam (Shaphan’s son), Achbor (Micaiah’s son) and Shaphan (the secretary) and ordered them, “On behalf of me, the people, and all of Judah: Go ask the Existing One about the words written in this book we found. The Existing One must be really angry at us since our forefathers haven’t been implementing these teachings or living in line with it.”

Prophetess consulted, destruction confirmed

So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asiah went to Huldah the prophetess (she was married to Shallum, who was Tikvah’s son, who was Harhas’s son, and Harhas was the wardrobe manager). She lived in Jerusalem where she studied Israel’s traditions, so they went and spoke with her. She told them, “Israel’s God the Existing One says: ‘Tell the man who sent you, Take heed, because I will bring disaster upon this country and its inhabitants, just like the book says. Because they have abandoned me to make offerings to other gods, everything they do makes me furious. That’s what awakened my fury against this place, and it will not be quenched. But tell Judah’s king who sent you that Israel’s God the Existing One declares: because your heart was regretful after you read those words, and because you humbled yourself before me when you heard how this country would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you. So now when I bring you to your grave, it will be peacefully so you don’t have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place.” So they went back and brought that message to the king.