aJosiah was eight
years
old
when he became
king
, and he reigned
thirty-one
years
in Jerusalem
; and his mother's
name
was Jedidah
the daughter
of Adaiah
of bBozkath
.
He did right
in the sight
of the LORD
and walked
in all
the way
of his father
David
, nor
did he aturn
aside
to the right
or to the left
.
Now ain the eighteenth year
of King
Josiah
, the king
sent
Shaphan
, the son
of Azaliah
the son
of Meshullam
the scribe
, to the house
of the LORD
saying
,
" aGo up to Hilkiah
the high
priest
that he may 1count
the money
brought
in to the house
of the LORD
which
the doorkeepers
have gathered
from the people
.
" aLet them deliver it 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 in the house
of the LORD
to repair
the 1damages
of the house
,
to the carpenters and the builders
and the masons
and for buying
timber
and hewn
stone
to repair
the house
.
"Only ano
accounting
shall be made with them for the money
delivered
into their hands
, for they deal
faithfully
."
Then Hilkiah the high
priest
said
to Shaphan
the scribe
, " aI have found
the book
of the law
in the house
of the LORD
." And Hilkiah
gave
the book
to Shaphan
who read
it.
Shaphan the scribe
came
to the king
and brought
back
word
to the king
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 the LORD
."
Moreover, Shaphan the scribe
told
the king
saying
, "Hilkiah
the priest
has given
me a book
." And Shaphan
read
it in the presence
of the king
.
When the king heard
the words
of the book
of the law
, ahe tore
his clothes
.
Then the king commanded
Hilkiah
the priest
, aAhikam
the son
of Shaphan
, 1 bAchbor
the son
of Micaiah
, Shaphan
the scribe
, and Asaiah
the king's
servant
saying
,
"Go, inquire
of the LORD
for me and the people
and all
Judah
concerning
the words
of this
book
that has been found
, for agreat
is the wrath
of the LORD
that burns
against us, because
our fathers
have not listened
to the words
of this
book
, to do
according to all
that is written
concerning
us."
So Hilkiah the priest
, Ahikam
, Achbor
, Shaphan
, and Asaiah
went
to Huldah
the prophetess
, the wife
of Shallum
the son
of 1 aTikvah
, the son
of Harhas
, keeper
of the wardrobe
(now she lived
in Jerusalem
in the bSecond
Quarter); and they spoke
to her.
She said to them, "Thus
says
the LORD
God
of Israel
, `Tell
the man
who
sent
you to me,
thus says
the LORD
, "Behold
, I abring
evil
on this
place
and on its inhabitants
, even all
the words
of the book
which
the king
of Judah
has read
.
" aBecause 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
burns
against this
place
, and it shall not be quenched
."'
"But to athe king of Judah
who sent
you to inquire
of the LORD
thus
shall you say
to him, `Thus
says
the LORD
God
of Israel
, "Regarding the words
which
you have heard
,
abecause your heart
was tender
and byou humbled
yourself
before
the LORD
when you heard
what
I spoke
against
this
place
and against
its inhabitants
that they should become
ca desolation
and a dcurse
, and you have etorn
your clothes
and wept
before
Me, I truly
have heard
you," declares
the LORD
.
"Therefore, behold
, I will gather
you to your fathers
, and ayou will be gathered
to your grave
in peace
, and your eyes
will not see
all
the evil
which
I will bring
on this
place
.""' So they brought
back
word
to the king
.