2 Kings 22

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 daughter of Adaiah, from Bozkath. [a] 2 And he did what was right 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.

3 And in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, in the eighth month, the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the scribe of the house of the Lord, and said, 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, and seal up the money that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which those who keep the doorway have collected from the people; [b] 5 and let them give it into the hand of the men who do the work, those appointed in the house of the Lord.” And he gave it to the men who did the work, to those in the house of the Lord, to make good the damage of the house — 6 to the carpenters and the builders and the wall-builders, and to buy timber and cut stone, to make good the damage of the house. [c] 7 Only, they kept no accounts with them for the money that was given into their hands, because they acted faithfully.

8 And Hilkiah the high priest said to 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 he came in to king Josiah and brought back word to the king and said, “Your servants have melted down the money that was found in the house of the Lord and have given it into the hand of the men who do the work, those appointed in the house of the Lord.” [d] 10 And Shaphan the scribe spoke to the king and said, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 And when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.

12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam son of Shaphan, and Achbor son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, and said, 13 “Go, seek the Lord for me, and for all the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the anger of the Lord that has been kindled against us, because our fathers did not listen to the words of this book, to do according to everything written against us.”

14 So Hilkiah the priest went, and Ahikam and Achbor and Shaphan and Asaiah, to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the robes. She was living in Jerusalem, in the Second Quarter; and they spoke to her. [e] 15 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Say to the man who sent you to me, 16 ‘Thus says the Lord: Look, I am bringing evils on this place and on those who live in it — all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read; 17 because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods, so as to provoke me to anger by the works of their hands. And my wrath will be kindled against this place and will not be quenched.’” [f]

18 “And to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek out the Lord, this is what you are to say: ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: As for the words you have heard — 19 because your heart was softened and you were humbled before the Lord when you heard all that I spoke against this place and against those who live in it, that it would become a waste and a curse; and because you tore your clothes and wept before me — I also have heard, says the Lord. [g] 20 It shall not be so. Look, I will add you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your tomb in peace, and your eyes will not see any of all the evils that I am bringing on this place.’” And they brought back word to the king. [h]