[1] Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
thirty-one years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jedidah the
daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. [2] He did that which was right in the eyes
of Yahweh, and walked in all the way of David his father, and didn`t turn
aside to the right hand or to the left. [3] It happened 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 Yahweh, saying, [4] Go up to
Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the money which is brought into
the house of Yahweh, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of
the people: [5] and let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who
have the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and let them give it to the
workmen who are in the house of Yahweh, to repair the breaches of the
house, [6] to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and
for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house. [7] However there was
no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their
hand; for they dealt faithfully. [8] Hilkiah the high priest said to
Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of
Yahweh. Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it. [9] Shaphan
the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said,
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 Yahweh. [10] Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah
the priest has delivered me a book. Shaphan read it before the king. [11]
It happened, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that
he tore his clothes. [12] The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam
the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe,
and Asaiah the king`s servant, saying, [13] Go you, inquire of Yahweh 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 Yahweh that is kindled
against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this
book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us. [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, the son of
Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second
quarter); and they talked with her. [15] She said to them, Thus says
Yahweh, the God of Israel: Tell you the man who sent you to me, [16] Thus
says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on the
inhabitants of it, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah
has read. [17] Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to
other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their
hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall
not be quenched. [18] But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of
Yahweh, thus shall you tell him, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: As
touching the words which you have heard, [19] because your heart was
tender, and you did humble yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I
spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, that they
should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and
wept before me; I also have heard you, says Yahweh. [20] Therefore, behold,
I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave
in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on
this place. They brought the king word again.
