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 Boscath . 2And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD , 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 the LORD , saying , 4Go up to Hilkiah the high priest , that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD , which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people : 5And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work , that have the oversight of the house of the LORD : and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD , to repair the breaches of the house , 6Unto carpenters , and builders , and masons , and to buy 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 , because 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 the LORD . And Hilkiah gave 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 gathered the money that was found in the house , and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work , that have the oversight of the house of the LORD . 10And Shaphan the scribe shewed 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 Michaiah , and Shaphan the scribe , and Asahiah a servant of the king’s , saying , 13Go ye, enquire of the LORD 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 the LORD 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 Asahiah , 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 college ;) and they communed with her. 15And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel , Tell the man that sent you to me, 16Thus saith the LORD , 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 works of their hands ; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place , and shall not be quenched . 18But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD , thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel , As touching the words which thou hast heard ; 19Because thine heart was tender , and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD , 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 the LORD . 20Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers , and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace ; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place . And they brought the king word again .