2 Kings 22:1-6

1 Josiah was 8 years old when he began to rule, and he was king for 31 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath.

2 Josiah did what the LORD considered right. He lived in the ways of his ancestor David and never stopped.

3 In Josiah's eighteenth year as king of Judah, he sent the scribe Shaphan, son of Azaliah and grandson of Meshullam, to the LORD's temple with these instructions:

4 "Go to the chief priest Hilkiah. Have him count the money that has been brought into the LORD's temple, [the money] that the doorkeepers have collected from the people.

5 Give [some of] it to the foremen who are in charge of the LORD's temple. They should give it to the workmen who are making repairs on the LORD's temple.

6 (These workers include the carpenters, builders, and masons.) Also, use [the rest of] the money to buy lumber and quarried stones to repair the temple.

2 Kings 22:1-6 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.