1Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign ; and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem : and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath . 2And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah , and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left . 3And it came to pass 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 Jehovah , saying, 4Go up to Hilkiah the high priest , that he may sum the money which is brought into the house of Jehovah , which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people : 5and let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen that have the oversight of the house of Jehovah ; and let them give it to the workmen that are in the house of Jehovah , to repair the breaches of the house , 6unto the carpenters , and to the builders , and to the masons , and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house . 7Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand ; for they dealt faithfully. 8And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe , I have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah . And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan , and he read it . 9And Shaphan the scribe came to the king , and brought the king word again , and said , Thy servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house , and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen that have the oversight of the house of Jehovah . 10And Shaphan the scribe told the king , saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book . And Shaphan read it before the king .
Josiah's Reaction and Inquiry
11And it came to pass , when the king had heard the words of the book of the law , that he rent his clothes. 12And 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, 13Go ye , inquire of Jehovah 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 Jehovah that is kindled against us , because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book , to do according unto all that which is written concerning us . 14So Hilkiah the priest , and Ahikam, and Achbor , and Shaphan , and Asaiah , went unto Huldah the prophetess , the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah , the son of Harhas , keeper of the wardrobe ( now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they communed with her . 15And she said unto them , Thus saith Jehovah , the God of Israel : Tell ye the man that sent you unto me , 16Thus saith Jehovah , Behold , I will bring evil upon this place , and upon the inhabitants thereof , even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read . 17Because they have forsaken me , and have burned incense unto 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 . 18But unto the king of Judah , who sent you to inquire of Jehovah , thus shall ye say to him , Thus saith Jehovah , the God of Israel : As touching the words which thou hast heard , 19because thy heart was tender , and thou didst humble thyself before Jehovah , when thou heardest what I spake against this place , and against the inhabitants thereof , that they should become a desolation and a curse , and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me ; I also have heard thee , saith Jehovah . 20Therefore , behold , I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace , neither shall thine eyes see all the evil which I will bring upon this place . And they brought the king word again .