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It happened in the eighteenth year of king Yoshiyahu, that the king sent Shafan, the son of Atzalyahu the son of Meshullam, the Sofer, to the house of the LORD, saying,
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Go up to Hilkiyah the Kohen Gadol, that he may sum the money which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people:
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and let 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 breaches of the house,
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to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house.
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However there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand; for they dealt faithfully.
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Hilkiyah the Kohen Gadol said to Shafan the Sofer, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. Hilkiyah delivered the book to Shafan, and he read it.
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Shafan the Sofer 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 hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.
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Shafan the Sofer told the king, saying, Hilkiyah the Kohen has delivered me a book. Shafan read it before the king.
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It happened, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he tore his clothes.
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The king commanded Hilkiyah the Kohen, and Achikam the son of Shafan, and `Akhbor the son of Mikhayahu, and Shafan the Sofer, and `Asayah the king's servant, saying,
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Go you, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Yehudah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of the LORD 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.