Melachim Bais 22:14

14 So Chilkiyahu HaKohen, and Achikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asayah, went unto Chuldah the neviah, the wife of Shallum ben Tikvah, ben Charchas, Shomer HaBegadim (Keeper of the Wardrobe); (now she dwelt in Yerushalayim in the Mishneh); and they spoke with her.

Melachim Bais 22:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 22:14

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan,
and Asahiah, went down to Huldah the prophetess
Such as were Miriam and Deborah; in imitation of those Satan had very early his women prophetesses, the Sibyls, so called from their being the council and oracle of God, and consulted as such on occasion, as Huldah now was; and the first of the Sibyls, according to Suidas F14, was a Chaldean or a Persian; and some say an Hebrew; and Pausanias expressly says F15, that with the Hebrews above Palestine was a woman prophetess, whose name was Sabba, whom some called the Babylonian, others the Egyptian Sibyl. Aelian relates F16 that one of them was a Jewess:

the wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of
the wardrobe;
but whether the king's wardrobe in the palace, or the priest's in the temple, is not certain; he is called Hasrah, ( 2 Chronicles 34:22 ) who is here called Harhas:

now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;
in the college of the prophets; in the house of instruction, as the Targum; the school where the young prophets were instructed and trained up; though Jarchi observes, that some interpret this "within the two walls"; Jerusalem it seems had three walls, and within the second this woman lived; there were gates in the temple, as he also observes, called the gates of Huldah F17, but whether from her cannot be said: this place of her dwelling seems to be mentioned as a reason why these messengers went to her, because she was near, as well as well known for her prophetic spirit, prudence, and faithfulness, and not to Jeremiah, who in all probability was at Anathoth; and so also is the reason why they went not to Zephaniah, if he as yet had begun to prophesy, because he might be at a distance also: and they communed with her; upon the subject the king sent them about.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 In voce (sibulla) .
F15 Phocica, sive, l. 10. p. 631.
F16 Var. Hist. l. 12. c. 35.
F17 Misn. Middot, c. 1. sect. 3.

Melachim Bais 22:14 In-Context

12 And HaMelech commanded Chilkiyah HaKohen, and Achikam Ben Shaphan, and Achbor Ben Michayah, and Shaphan the Sofer, and Asayah Eved HaMelech, saying,
13 Go ye, inquire of Hashem for me, and for HaAm, and for kol Yehudah, concerning the Divrei HaSefer that is found; for gedolah is chamat Hashem that is kindled against us, because Avoteinu have not paid heed unto the Divrei HaSefer Hazeh, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
14 So Chilkiyahu HaKohen, and Achikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asayah, went unto Chuldah the neviah, the wife of Shallum ben Tikvah, ben Charchas, Shomer HaBegadim (Keeper of the Wardrobe); (now she dwelt in Yerushalayim in the Mishneh); and they spoke with her.
15 And she said unto them, Thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Tell the ish that sent you to me,
16 Thus saith Hashem, Hineni, I will bring ra’ah upon this makom (place), and upon the inhabitants thereof, even kol Divrei HaSefer which Melech Yehudah hath read;
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