2 Kings 22:8-20

8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it.

9 Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.”

10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

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

12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant:

13 “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

15 She said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,

16 ‘This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read.

17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made,^[a] my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’

18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard:

19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse^[b] and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.

20 Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’ ” So they took her answer back to the king.

2 Kings 22:8-20 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. S Deuteronomy 28:61; S Deuteronomy 31:24; Galatians 3:10
• 2. Jeremiah 36:21
• 3. ver 8
• 4. 2 Kings 25:22; Jeremiah 26:24; Jeremiah 39:14
• 5. 1 Samuel 8:14
• 6. S Genesis 25:22; S 1 Samuel 9:9
• 7. Deuteronomy 29:24-28; S Deuteronomy 31:17; Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 42:25; Amos 2:4
• 8. S Exodus 15:20
• 9. S Deuteronomy 31:29; S Joshua 23:15; Jeremiah 6:19; Jeremiah 11:11; Jeremiah 18:11; Jeremiah 35:17
• 10. Deuteronomy 29:27; Daniel 9:11
• 11. S 1 Kings 9:9; Deuteronomy 29:25-27
• 12. 2 Chronicles 34:26; Jeremiah 21:2; Jeremiah 37:3,7
• 13. S Exodus 10:3; 1 Kings 21:29; Psalms 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 61:1; Micah 6:8
• 14. Jeremiah 24:9; Jeremiah 25:18; Jeremiah 26:6
• 15. Leviticus 26:31
• 16. Isaiah 47:11; Isaiah 57:1; Jeremiah 18:11
• 17. S 1 Kings 21:29

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "by everything they have done"
• [b]. That is, their names would be used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, others would see that they are cursed.