2 Kings 22:14-20

Huldah Predicts

14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of ¹Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the ²Second Quarter); and they spoke to her.

15 She said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to me,

16 thus says the LORD, "Behold, I ³bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.

17 "⁴Because * 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 burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched."'

18 "But to ⁵the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD thus shall you say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, "Regarding the words which you have heard,

19 ⁶because your heart was tender and ⁷you humbled yourself before * the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become ⁸a desolation and a ⁹curse, and you have ¹⁰torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD.

20 "Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and ¹¹you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.""' So they brought back word to the king.

2 Kings 22:14-20 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.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Chronicles 34:22
• 2. Zephaniah 1:10
• 3. Deuteronomy 29:27; Daniel 9:11-14
• 4. Deuteronomy 29:25, 26; 2 Kings 21:22
• 5. 2 Chronicles 34:26
• 6. 1 Samuel 24:5; Psalms 51:17
• 7. Exodus 10:3; 1 Kings 21:29
• 8. Leviticus 26:31
• 9. Jeremiah 26:6
• 10. 2 Kings 22:11
• 11. 2 Kings 23:30

Footnotes

• [a]. In 2 Chr 34:22, "Tokhath, son of Hasrah"