2 Kings chapter 22
Josiah becomes king of Judah. Hilkiah finds a copy of the Scriptures. Huldah the prophetess instructs the king.
JOSIAH BECOMES KING OF JUDAH
VERSE 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.
Josiah was eight years old. For this reason, he is often referred to as “the boy king.”
That nickname does not fit, since his major activities began when he was 24 years old. And he reigned until 39 years old. But somehow, the nickname persists.
VERSE 2. He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, and walked in all the way of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left.
He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes. Of the 20 kings of Judah, most were bad guys. Only four did what was right in the LORD’s eyes. Read more »
VERSE 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,
VERSE 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.
VERSE 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,
to repair the damage to the house. King Josiah launches a campaign to restore the temple.
The previous kings had let it fall into a state of serious disrepair.
VERSE 6. to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house.
VERSE 7. However, no accounting shall be asked of them for the money delivered into their hand, for they deal faithfully.”
they dealt faithfully. These Jewish craftsmen have such high integrity that their accounting practices need no accountability.
Christians are often untrustworthy. Corrupt. It is necessary to have contracts. And lawyers and lawsuits. Why are Christians so dishonest? Read more »
HILKIAH FINDS A COPY OF THE SCRIPTURES
VERSE 8. Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the scroll of the Torah in the LORD’s house.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
I have found the scroll of the Torah in the LORD’s house. This is one of the great statements of world history.
Hilkiah finds a copy of the Scriptures. It may have been the final extant copy on earth.
VERSE 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.”
VERSE 10. Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.” Then Shaphan read it before the king.
Shaphan read it before the king. King Josiah hears the entire content of the Scriptures read to him.
It revolutionizes his own life. And soon he will revolutionize his entire nation.
There is a great deal to be said for reading the Bible silently to oneself. That is awesome.
But there is even more to be said for listening to the Bible, or at least reading it to yourself aloud. St. Paul wrote that faith comes by hearing the Word of God:
Romans 10:17. So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
VERSE 11. When the king had heard the words of the scroll of the Torah, he tore his clothes.
he tore his clothes. King Josiah just heard the Bible read to him. Now he responds.
Josiah responds by repenting.
He himself is righteous. He has nothing to repent of. But his nation does.
VERSE 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,
VERSE 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.”
HULDAH THE PROPHETESS INSTRUCTS THE KING
VERSE 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.
went to. Hilkiah just discovered the Scriptures. It is one of the greatest of discoveries in human history. He found what may have been the final extant copy of the Scriptures on earth.
It is read to the king. The king hears it, and repents. Now, to whom does he go for advice?
A woman.
Huldah the prophetess. The Bible describes Huldah as a prophet. She is one of the five female prophets mentioned in the Old Testament.
The Bible and the Jewish tradition are very open to female prophets. How strange that we Christians are not. Read more »
VERSE 15. She said to them, “The LORD the God of Israel says, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,
VERSE 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.
VERSE 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.’ ”
VERSE 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,
VERSE 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.
VERSE 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.
2 KINGS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Corrupt Leaders, Miracles, Horses and Chariots of Fire
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.