2 Kings 22

Josiah Reigns in Judah// 2 Chronicles 34:1–2

¹Josiah 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. ²And he did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Funding the Temple Repairs// 2 Chronicles 34:8–13

³Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the scribe, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of Yahweh, saying, ⁴“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money that has been brought into the house of Yahweh, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. ⁵And let them deliver it into the hands of the supervisors of those doing the work on the house of Yahweh, who in turn are to give it to the workmen repairing the damages to the house of Yahweh— ⁶to the carpenters, builders, and masons—to buy timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. ⁷But they need not account for the money put into their hands, since they work with integrity.”

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law// 2 Chronicles 34:14–21

⁸Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of Yahweh!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it.

• 2KI 22:8[NOTE]THE BOOK OF THE LAW. See the Big Question pages Josiah and the Book of the Law.

⁹And 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 Yahweh.”

¹⁰Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

¹¹When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes ¹²and commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king: ¹³“Go and inquire of Yahweh 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 Yahweh that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”

• 2KI 22:13[NOTABLE]When Josiah heard God's word read, he did not argue with it. He tore his clothes and asked what God wanted. That is how revival starts.

Huldah’s Prophecy// 2 Chronicles 34:22–28

¹⁴So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.

• 2KI 22:14[NOTE]HULDAH was a prophetess, like Miriam and Deborah. Her message from God prints red, like the other prophets.

¹⁵And Huldah said to them, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you ¹⁶that this is what Yahweh 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, ¹⁷because 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 22:16[PROPHECY]Huldah said disaster would come on Jerusalem because the people served other gods → 2KI 25:9
• 2KI 22:17[DEMONIC]Judah burned incense to other gods

¹⁸But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, tell him that this is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard, ¹⁹because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before Yahweh 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 Yahweh.

• 2KI 22:19[HEART]Josiah's heart was tender and he humbled himself when he heard God's word, so God heard him.

²⁰‘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.’”

So they brought her answer back to the king.

• 2KI 22:20[PROPHECY]Josiah would die before the disaster and not see it → 2KI 23:29-30