*2 Kings 22:1-23:3
King Josiah of Judah discovers the Book of the Law during renovations in the Temple, prompting religious reforms.
- Josiah’s Righteous Reign:
- Josiah becomes king of Judah at the age of eight and reigns for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
- He walks in the ways of his ancestor David, following righteousness and devotion to Yahweh.
- Restoration of the Temple:
- In the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah commissions the repair of the temple of Yahweh.
- He instructs Shaphan the scribe to oversee the funds collected for the restoration.
- Discovery of the Book of the Law:
- During the temple renovations, Hilkiah the high priest finds the Book of the Law.
- Shaphan delivers the book to King Josiah and reads it aloud before him.
- Josiah’s Reaction:
- Upon hearing the words of the Law, Josiah tears his clothes in repentance, recognizing the magnitude of Judah’s transgressions against God’s commandments.
- He sends messengers to seek guidance from Huldah the prophetess regarding the implications of the Law.
- Response to the Law:
- Josiah gathers all the elders and people of Judah to the temple, where he reads the Book of the Law aloud to them.
- Josiah pledges to follow the Law with all his heart and soul, ensuring that the people also commit to its ordinances.
- Josiah takes proactive measures to abolish idol worship, destroying altars, images, and shrines dedicated to other gods throughout Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Kings 22:1–23:3 shows us the power of God’s Word to bring change. When King Josiah discovered the Book of the Law, he didn’t ignore it—he took action, leading the people to turn back to God. This teaches us the importance of reading and following God’s Word in our own lives. When we realize we’ve been going the wrong way, we shouldn’t just feel sorry—we should make changes that honor God. Like Josiah, we can choose to listen to God, obey Him, and help others do the same.
2 Kings 22:1-23:3 (WEB)
22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, and walked in all the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left.3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the LORD’s house, saying, 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which is brought into the LORD’s house, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people. 5 Let them deliver it into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the LORD’s house; and let them give it to the workers who are in the LORD’s house, to repair the damage to the house, 6 to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house. 7 However, no accounting shall be asked of them for the money delivered into their hand, for they deal faithfully.”8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the LORD’s house.” 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 hands of the workmen who have the oversight of the LORD’s house.” 10 Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.” Then Shaphan read it before the king.11 When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 12 The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13 “Go inquire 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 LORD’s wrath 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, Ahikam, Achbor, 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, “The LORD the God of Israel says, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 “The LORD says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, 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 will not be quenched.’ ” 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him, “The LORD the God of Israel says, ‘Concerning the words which you have heard, 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,’ says the LORD. 20 ‘Therefore behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.’ ” ’ ” So they brought this message back to the king.23:1 The king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. 2 The king went up to the LORD’s house, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him—with the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the LORD’s house. 3 The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people agreed to the covenant.