2 Kings 22

1Josiah 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 of Bozkath.

2He acted uprightly in the eyes of Yahweh and walked in all the ways of his father David, turning aside neither to the right nor to the left.

3It happened in the eighteenth year of king Josiah that the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying,

4Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the silver brought into the house of Yahweh, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered from the people.

5Let them give it into the hand of the doers of the work, the overseers in the house of Yahweh, and let them give it to the doers of the work who are in the house of Yahweh to strengthen the breaches of the house.

6to the craftsmen, the builders, and the masons, and for buying timber and hewn stones to strengthen the house.

7However, no reckoning was made with them of the money given into their hand, because they acted faithfully.

8Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

9Shaphan the scribe came to the king, reported back to him, and said, "Your servants have emptied out the silver found in the house and handed it over into the hand of the workers overseeing the house of Yahweh."

10Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book," and Shaphan read it before the king.

11When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.

12The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,

13Go, inquire of Yahweh for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of Yahweh that has kindled against us because our fathers did not listen to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.

14Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah son of Harhas, keeper of the garments—she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter—and they spoke to her.

15She said to them, "Thus says Yahweh, God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me,"

16Thus says Yahweh: "Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and its inhabitants, all the words of the book that Judah's king has read."

17Because they abandoned me and offered incense to other gods in order to rouse my anger with every deed of their hands, my wrath will blaze against this place, and it will not be quenched.

18To the king of Judah who sent you to seek Yahweh, this is what you shall say to him: This is what Yahweh God of Israel declares about the words you heard.

19Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before Yahweh when you heard what I spoke against this place and its dwellers, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard, says Yahweh.

20Therefore, look, I will bring you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your graves in peace; your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place. They brought word back to the king.