1Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
2He did what was right in the sight of the LORD. He walked in all the way of David his father, and did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
3In the eighteenth year of king Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD. He said,
4"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, and let him count the silver that is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered from the people."
5"Let them hand it over to the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD. And let those men give it to the workmen who are in the house of the LORD, to mend the broken parts of the house."
6"Let it go to the carpenters, the builders and the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house."
7But no account was asked from them for the money that was handed to them, because they acted faithfully.
8Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought word back to him. He said, "Your servants have gathered up the money that was found in the house, and have handed it over to the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD."
10Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.
11When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.
12The king gave a command to Hilkiah the priest, and to Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and to Achbor the son of Michaiah, and to Shaphan the scribe, and to Asahiah a servant of the king. He said,
13"Go and ask the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, about the words of this book that has been found. For great is the anger of the LORD that is burning against us, because our fathers did not listen to the words of this book, to do everything that is written about us."
14So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the second part of the city. And they talked with her.
15She said to them, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Tell the man who sent you to me,"
16"this is what the LORD says: Look, I will bring disaster on this place and on the people who live here, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read."
17"They have left me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they made me angry with all the works of their hands. So my anger will burn against this place, and it will not be put out."
18"But to the king of Judah, who sent you to ask the LORD, you will say this: This is what the LORD God of Israel says about the words that you have heard:"
19"Your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against the people who live here, that they would become a waste and a curse. You tore your clothes and wept before me. And I also have heard you, says the LORD."
20"So look, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered into your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I will bring on this place." And they brought word back to the king.