2 Kings 22:10-14

10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. ” And Shaphan read it before the king.

11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, ¹he tore his clothes.

12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and ²Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and ³Achbor the son of ⁴Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,

13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is ⁵the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us. ”

14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of ⁶Tikvah, son of ⁷Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in ⁸the Second Quarter), and they talked with her.

2 Kings 22:10-14 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. 22:11 See Josh. 7:6
• 2. 22:12 ch. 25:22; Jer. 26:24; 39:14; 40:5
• 3. 22:12 [2 Chr. 34:20]
• 4. 22:12 [2 Chr. 34:20]
• 5. 22:13 Deut. 29:27
• 6. 22:14 [2 Chr. 34:22]
• 7. 22:14 [2 Chr. 34:22]
• 8. 22:14 Zeph. 1:10