2 Kings

Josiah of Judah (640-609)

Josiah was eight when he began to govern and reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

He did everything right in the eyes of the Lord and followed in the footsteps of David, his father, without turning aside either to the right or the left.

In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent his secretary Shaphan, son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying:

“Go up to the high priest Hilkiah and give him the amount of money which the people offer for the house of the Lord, and that which the gatekeepers have collected, and when these have been smelted down,

let them turn it over to those in charge of the house of the Lord.

It shall be given to those carpenters and construction workers who do the repairs of the house. Similarly, they shall purchase the necessary wood and stones to repair the house.

But do not ask them any account of the money, for they are honorable men.”

At that moment, Hilkiah, the high priest, said to Shaphan, the secretary: “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And he entrusted the Book to Shaphan, who read it.

Then Shaphan went to the king and said, “We have gathered the money in the house, and this has been turned over to the caretakers of the house to make the repairs.”

And Shaphan added: “The priest Hilkiah has turned over a book to me.” And Shaphan read the book to the king.

When the king heard the contents of the book, he tore his clothes and

commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, the secretary Shaphan, and Asaiah, his minister, to do the following:

“Go and consult the Lord about the threats in this book which you have found. Consult him for me, the people, and the whole of Judah since our fathers did not listen to what this book says or its ordinances. This is why the anger of the Lord is ready to burn against us.”

The priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to consult the prophetess Huldah, wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the new city.

She answered them:

“You will say to the one who sent you to me: This is what the Lord says: ‘I shall bring evil upon this place and its inhabitants according to all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read,

for this people have abandoned me and they have burned incense in honor of other gods. Because of all they have done, I am angry about this place, and the fire of my anger will not be quenched.’

You shall deliver this answer to the king of Judah, who has sent you to consult the Lord: the Lord, the God of Israel, says this—‘The warnings in this book shall not reach you,

for your heart has been touched, and you have done penance in the presence of the Lord when you heard what I have said against this place and its inhabitants, that this place shall be desolate and cursed. You have torn your garments and wept before me, and I have heard you, says the Lord.

Therefore, you shall join your fathers; you shall die and be buried in peace, without seeing any of the evils I shall send against this place.’” This they reported to the king.