2 Kings 22 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

Hilkiah finds the Book of the Law

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 31 years. His mother’s name was Jedidah. She was the daughter of Adaiah. She was from Bozkath. 2 Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He lived the way King David had lived. He didn’t turn away from it to the right or the left. 3 King Josiah sent his secretary Shaphan to the LORD’s temple. It was in the 18th year of Josiah’s rule. Shaphan was the son of Azaliah. Azaliah was the son of Meshullam. Josiah said, 4 ‘Go up to Hilkiah the high priest. Let him add up the money that has been brought into the LORD’s temple. The men who guard the doors have collected it from the people. 5 Let them put all the money in the care of certain men. These men have been put in charge of the work on the LORD’s temple. Let them pay the workers who repair it. 6 Let them pay the builders and those who work with wood. Let them pay those who lay the stones. Also let them buy lumber and blocks of stone to repair the temple. 7 But they don’t have to report how they use the money that is given to them. That’s because they are completely honest.’ 8 Hilkiah the high priest spoke to Shaphan the secretary. Hilkiah said, ‘I’ve found the Book of the Law in the LORD’s temple.’ Hilkiah gave it to Shaphan, who read it. 9 Then Shaphan went to King Josiah. Shaphan told him, ‘Your officials have paid out the money that was in the LORD’s temple. They’ve put it in the care of the workers and directors there.’ 10 Shaphan continued, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ Shaphan read some of it to the king. 11 The king heard the words of the Book of the Law. When he did, he tore his royal robes. 12 He gave orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah. Ahikam was the son of Shaphan. Akbor was the son of Micaiah. And Asaiah was the king’s attendant. Josiah commanded them, 13 ‘Go. Ask the LORD for advice. Ask him about what is written in this book that has been found. Do it for me. Also do it for the people and the whole nation of Judah. The LORD is very angry with us. That’s because our people who have lived before us didn’t obey the words of this book. They didn’t do everything written there about us.’ 14 Hilkiah the priest went to speak to Huldah the prophet. So did Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah. Huldah was the wife of Shallum. Shallum was the son of Tikvah. Tikvah was the son of Harhas. Shallum took care of the sacred robes. Huldah lived in the New Quarter of Jerusalem. 15 Huldah said to them, ‘The LORD is the God of Israel. He says, “Here is what you must tell the man who sent you to me. 16 Tell him, ‘The LORD says, “I am going to bring horrible trouble on this place and its people. Everything written in the book the king of Judah has read will take place. 17 That’s because the people have deserted me. They have burned incense to other gods. They have made me very angry because of the statues of gods their hands have made. So my anger will burn like a fire against this place. And the fire of my anger will not be put out.” ’ ” 18 The king of Judah sent you to ask the LORD for advice. Tell him, “The LORD is the God of Israel. He has a message for you about the things you heard. He says, 19 ‘Your heart was tender. You made yourself humble in the eyes of the LORD. You heard what I spoke against this place and its people. I said they would be under a curse. I told them they would be destroyed. You tore your royal robes and wept in front of me. And I have heard you,’ announces the LORD. 20 ‘You will join the members of your family who have already died. You will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the trouble I am going to bring on this place.’ ” ’ Huldah’s answer was taken back to the king.

English Standard Version

Josiah Reigns in Judah

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 the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. (Jos 15:39; 2Ch 34:1) 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. (De 5:32)

Josiah Repairs the Temple

3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the Lord, saying, 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people. (2Ki 12:4; 2Ki 12:9; 2Ki 12:10) 5 And let it be given into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workmen who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house (2Ki 12:11; 2Ki 12:14) 6 (that is, to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons), and let them use it for buying timber and quarried stone to repair the house. 7 But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.” (2Ki 12:15)

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

8 And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “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. (De 31:24; 2Ch 34:14) 9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. (Jos 7:6) 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, (2Ki 25:22; 2Ch 34:20; Jer 26:24; Jer 39:14; Jer 40:5)

2Ki 25:222Ch 34:20Jer 26:24Jer 39:14Jer 40:5

13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (De 29:27) 14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her. (2Ch 34:22; Zep 1:10) 15 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. (De 29:25; 2Ki 21:22; 2Ki 22:13) 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. (Le 26:31; 1Ki 21:29; 2Ki 22:11; 2Ch 30:7; Ps 51:17; Isa 57:15; Jer 24:9; Jer 25:18; Jer 26:6; Jer 44:22; Mic 6:16)

Le 26:311Ki 21:292Ki 22:112Ch 30:7Ps 51:17Isa 57:15Jer 24:9Jer 25:18Jer 26:6Jer 44:22Mic 6:16

20 Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’” And they brought back word to the king. (Ps 37:37; Isa 57:1)