2 Kings 22:2-12

2 He did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he ¹turn aside to the right or to the left.

3 Now ²in the eighteenth * year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the LORD saying,

4 "³Go up to Hilkiah the high priest that he may count the money brought in to the house of the LORD which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people.

5 "⁴Let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD, and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of the LORD to repair the damages of the house,

6 to the carpenters and the builders and the masons and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house.

7 "Only ⁵no accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully."

The Lost Book

8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "⁶I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it.

9 Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to the king and said, "Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD."

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

11 When the king heard the words of the book of the law, ⁷he tore his clothes.

12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, ⁸Ahikam the son of Shaphan, ⁹Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant saying,

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2 Kings 22:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 22

This chapter begins with the age and character of Josiah king of Judah, 2Ki 22:1-2, relates his orders for repairing the temple, 2Ki 22:3-7, his attention to the book of the law, which was found, and read to him, and the effect it had upon him, 2Ki 22:8-11, the command he gave to certain persons to inquire of the Lord about it, who applied to Huldah the prophetess, 2Ki 22:12-14, who returned an answer by them to the king, foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem, and giving the reason of it, and at the same time assuring the king it should not be in his days, 2Ki 22:15-20.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 9

1. Deuteronomy 5:32; Joshua 1:7
2. 2 Chronicles 34:8
3. 2 Kin 12:4, 9, 10
4. 2 Kings 12:11-14
5. 2 Kings 12:15; 1 Corinthians 4:2
6. Deuteronomy 31:24-26; 2 Chronicles 34:14, 15
7. Genesis 37:34; Joshua 7:6
8. 2 Kings 25:22; Jeremiah 26:24
9. 2 Chronicles 34:20

Footnotes 3

[a]. Or "total"
[b]. Lit "breach"
[c]. In 2 Chr 34:20, "Abdon, son of Micah"