1    ^noteJosiah was eight years old when he came to the throne, and he reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-one years; his mother was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2   He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord; he followed closely in the footsteps of his forefather David, swerving neither right nor left.

3    ^noteIn the eighteenth year of his reign Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the adjutant-general, to the house of the Lord. 4   ‘Go to the high priest Hilkiah,’ he said, ‘and tell him to melt down ^note the silver that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which those on duty at the entrance have received from the people, and to hand it over to the foremen in the house of the Lord, 5   to pay the workmen who are carrying out repairs in it, 6   the carpenters, builders, and masons, and to purchase timber and hewn stones for its repair. 7   They are not to be asked to account for the money that has been given them; they are acting on trust.’ 8   The high priest Hilkiah told Shaphan the adjutant-general that he had discovered the book of the law in the house of the Lord, and he gave it to him, and Shaphan read it. 9   Then Shaphan came to report to the king and told him that his servants had melted down the silver in the house of the Lord and handed it over to the foremen there. 10   Then Shaphan the adjutant-general

The last kings of Judah told the king that the high priest Hilkiah had given him a book, and he read it out in the king's presence. 11   When the king heard what was in the book of the law, 12   he rent his clothes, and ordered the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the adjutant-general, 13   and Asaiah the king's attendant, to go and seek guidance of the Lord for himself, for the people, and for all Judah, about what was written in this book that had been discovered. ‘Great is the wrath of the Lord’, he said, ‘that has been kindled against us, because our forefathers did not obey the commands in this book and do all that is laid upon us.’

14   So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe, and consulted her at her home in the second quarter of Jerusalem. 15   ‘This is the word of the Lord the God of Israel,’ she answered: ‘Say to the man who sent you to me, “This is the word of the Lord: 16   I am bringing disaster on this place and its inhabitants as foretold in the book which the king of Judah has read, because they have forsaken me and burnt sacrifices to other gods, 17   provoking my anger with all the idols they have made with their own hands; therefore, my wrath is kindled against this place and will not be quenched.” 18   This is what you shall say to the king of Judah who sent you to seek guidance of the Lord: “This is the word of the Lord the God of Israel: 19   You have listened to my words and shown a willing heart, you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard me say that this place and its inhabitants would become objects of loathing and scorn, you rent your clothes and wept before me. Because of all this, ^note I for my part have heard you. This is the very word of the Lord. 20   Therefore, I will gather you to your forefathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace; you will not live to see all the disaster which I am bringing upon this place.”’ So they brought back word to the king.

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