2 Chronicles 34 - Summary

Josiah became king at eight years old and in the eighth year of his reign, while still young, began to seek the God of his father David; in the twelfth year he began purging Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherim, and carved and metal images, breaking down the Baal altars and incense altars, pulverizing the Asherim and idols, scattering the dust on graves of those who had sacrificed to them, and burning the priests' bones on the altars throughout Judah and even into Naphtali and Manasseh. In his eighteenth year, while repairing the temple, Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the law of the Lord given through Moses, and when Shaphan the scribe read it to Josiah, the king tore his clothes in distress and sent delegates to inquire of Huldah the prophetess, who confirmed that the curses written in the book would come upon Judah for their forsaking God, but because Josiah had humbled himself and wept before the Lord, he would be gathered to his grave in peace before the disaster. Josiah gathered all the elders and went to the temple with all the people, read the book of the covenant in their hearing, and made a covenant to follow the Lord with all his heart and soul, then removed all abominations and made all present in Israel serve the Lord; they did not turn from following the Lord God of their fathers all his days.