2 Kings 22

King James Version

Full text for 2 Kings Chapter 22

1¶ Josiah [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.

11¶ And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Josiah, reigning righteously in Judah, initiated repairs for the house of the LORD in his eighteenth year. During this work, Hilkiah the high priest discovered the Book of the Law. Upon hearing its words, Josiah was greatly distressed, recognizing the nation's failure to obey God's commands. He sent messengers to inquire of the LORD, and Huldah the prophetess foretold impending judgment upon Judah for their idolatry, but promised Josiah peace and a peaceful death due to his humble heart.

Medium Summary

Josiah began his righteous reign at eight years old, faithfully following the ways of David. In his eighteenth year, he commanded Shaphan the scribe to oversee the collection of silver for repairing the temple. During this process, Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law within the house of the LORD. Shaphan read the book to the king, who, upon hearing its contents, rent his clothes in distress, recognizing Judah's disobedience. Josiah then dispatched a delegation, including Hilkiah and Shaphan, to inquire of the LORD concerning the words of the book. They consulted Huldah the prophetess, who declared that great evil would come upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants due to their forsaking the LORD. However, because Josiah's heart was tender and he humbled himself, he would be gathered to his fathers in peace before the prophesied destruction.

Long Summary

King Josiah commenced his reign at the age of eight, ruling for thirty-one years in Jerusalem, and consistently did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, emulating his father David without deviation. In the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah dispatched Shaphan the scribe to Hilkiah the high priest, instructing him to sum the silver gathered by the temple keepers for the purpose of repairing the breaches in the house of the LORD. This money was faithfully delivered to the workmen, including carpenters, builders, and masons, for the purchase of timber and hewn stone. During this renovation, Hilkiah the high priest made a significant discovery: he found the Book of the Law within the temple. Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it and subsequently presented it to the king, reading it aloud before him. Upon hearing the words of the Book of the Law, King Josiah was deeply moved and rent his clothes in an act of profound humility and distress. Recognizing the severity of Judah's disobedience, he commanded Hilkiah, Shaphan, and others to inquire of the LORD concerning the words of the newly found book, acknowledging the great wrath kindled against them due to their fathers' failure to hearken to its precepts. The delegation went to Huldah the prophetess, who resided in Jerusalem. Huldah delivered a divine message, declaring that the LORD would bring evil upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants, fulfilling all the words of the book, because they had forsaken Him and burned incense to other gods. However, to King Josiah, the LORD conveyed a message of grace: because his heart was tender, and he had humbled himself, wept, and rent his clothes upon hearing the prophecy of desolation, he would be gathered to his fathers in peace and would not witness the evil that would befall the city.

Core Concepts

  • Josiah's Righteous ReignJosiah began his reign at eight years old and consistently did what was right in the sight of the LORD, walking in the ways of David his father and not turning aside.
  • Temple Repair InitiativeIn his eighteenth year, King Josiah commanded the collection of silver and the oversight of workmen to repair the breaches and restore the house of the LORD, demonstrating his devotion to God's sanctuary.
  • Discovery of the Book of the LawDuring the temple repairs, Hilkiah the high priest found a significant 'Book of the Law' within the house of the LORD, a pivotal event that revealed God's forgotten commands to the nation.
  • King's Humiliation and RepentanceUpon hearing the words of the Book of the Law, Josiah rent his clothes in distress, recognizing the nation's profound disobedience and humbling himself before the LORD in sorrow.
  • Huldah the ProphetessWhen King Josiah sought divine counsel concerning the newly found Book of the Law, his messengers consulted Huldah, a prophetess in Jerusalem, who delivered the LORD's authoritative message.
  • Impending Judgment on JudahHuldah prophesied that great evil and desolation would come upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants because they had forsaken the LORD and provoked Him with idolatry.
  • Divine Grace for JosiahDespite the impending judgment on Judah, Huldah conveyed the LORD's promise to Josiah that he would be gathered to his fathers in peace and would not witness the coming destruction, due to his tender heart and humility.