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.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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