Josiah Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 34:1–2)
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. Jos 15:392Ch 34:1-331Ki 13:22Ki 11:212Ki 21:1Ecc 10:16Isa 3:4Jer 1:2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. Deu 5:32Jos 1:72Ki 18:31Ki 3:61Ki 11:382Ch 29:22Ki 16:2Pro 20:11
Funding the Temple Repairs
(2 Chronicles 34:8–13)
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the scribe, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying, 2Ch 34:3-33 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 2Ki 12:41Ch 26:13-191Ch 6:131Ch 9:111Ch 9:192Ch 24:8-122Ch 34:9-182Ch 8:14 And let them deliver it into the hands of the supervisors of those doing the work on the house of the LORD, who in turn are to give it to the workmen repairing the damages to the house of the LORD— 2Ki 12:11-142Ki 12:52Ch 24:12-132Ch 24:272Ch 24:7Ezr 3:7 to the carpenters, builders, and masons—to buy timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. But they need not account for the money put into their hands, since they work with integrity.” 2Ki 12:151Co 4:22Ch 24:142Co 8:20-21Luk 16:10-12Neh 7:2Pro 28:202Ti 2:2
Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
(2 Chronicles 34:14–21)
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Deu 31:24-262Ch 34:14-28
And Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the temple and have put it into the hands of the workers and supervisors of the house of the LORD.” 2Ki 18:182Ki 22:122Ki 22:32Ki 25:22Ezk 8:11Jer 26:24Jer 29:3Jer 36:10-12
Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. Jer 36:212Ch 34:18Deu 17:18-20Deu 31:9-13Jer 13:18Jer 22:1-2Jer 36:15Jer 36:6
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes 2Ch 34:19Jol 2:13Jon 3:6-72Ki 22:19Jer 36:24Jos 7:6 and commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor 1son of Micaiah, 2 Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king: Jer 26:242Ki 25:222Ch 34:19-212Ki 19:2-32Ki 22:9Isa 37:1-4Jer 26:22 “Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.” Neh 9:3Deu 29:23-28Deu 31:17-18Deu 4:23-27Exo 20:5Jas 1:22-25Jer 37:171Ch 10:13-14
Huldah’s Prophecy
(2 Chronicles 34:22–28)
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, 3 the son of Harhas, 4 the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District. 5 2Ch 34:22Jdg 4:42Ki 10:22Act 21:9Exo 15:20Luk 1:41-56Luk 2:36Mic 6:4
And Huldah said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you 2Ki 1:162Ki 1:6Jer 23:28 that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read, Dan 9:11-14Jos 23:152Ch 34:24-252Ki 20:172Ki 21:12-132Ki 25:1-4Deu 28:15-68Deu 29:18-23 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be kindled against this place and will not be quenched.’ 2Ki 21:221Ki 9:6-91Th 2:162Ch 36:16Deu 29:24-28Deu 32:15-19Deu 32:22Exo 32:34
But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard, 2Ch 34:26-28Isa 3:10Mal 3:16-17 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its people, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD. Psa 51:171Ki 21:29Exo 10:3Isa 57:151Pe 5:5-61Sa 24:5Mic 6:8Isa 66:5
‘Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place.’” Psa 37:37Isa 57:1-21Ch 17:11Gen 25:8Jer 22:15-162Ki 23:29-30Jer 22:102Ch 34:28
So they brought her answer back to the king.