The Book of the Law is Read to King Hezekiah |
2 Kings 22:1-20 2 Kings [in Smaller Chunks] |
Josiah was 8 years old when he began to [rule] & he [ruled] 31 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah, [Adaiah's] daughter, [from] Boscath. |
[Josiah] did [what] was right in the sight of the Lord. He [followed] all the [paths] of David, his [forefather & didn't] turn aside to the right or the left. |
It [happened] in the 18th year king [Josiah ruled,] that [the] king sent Shaphan, [Azaliah's] son, [from] Meshullam, [who was] the scribe, to the house of the Lord, saying, |
Go up to Hilkiah, the high priest, [so] he may [count] the silver brought into the [Lord's] house [as offerings] that the door keepers have gathered [from] the people. |
Let them deliver it into the hands of the [workers who supervise the repair of the damage to the Lord's] house. [The money shall be given] to: carpenters, builders & masons, [those who do stone work,] to buy timber & [cut] stone to repair the house. |
[But] there was no [reason to make them account for] the money delivered into their hand, because they [all] dealt faithfully. Hilkiah, the high priest, said to Shaphan, the scribe, I have found a Book of the Law, in the [Lord's] house. |
Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan & he read it. Shaphan, the scribe, came & brought word to king [Josiah] & said, Your servants have gathered the money found in the [Lord's] house & have delivered it into the hand of the [workers, who supervise the repairs to the Lord's] house. |
Shaphan said [while showing] the king the book, Hilkiah, the priest, has delivered a book to me. Shaphan read it [in front of] king [Josiah]. It [happened] when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, [Josiah tore] his clothes [in mourning]. |
King [Josiah] commanded Hilkiah, the priest; Ahikam, [Shaphan's] son; Achbor, [Michaiah's] son; Shapha, the scribe & Asahiah, the king's servant, saying, Go inquire of the Lord for me, for all the people & for all Judah, [about] the words of this book that was found. |
For the [anger] of the Lord [has grown large] against us, because our [forefathers haven't paid attention] to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written [related] to us. |
So, Hilkiah, the priest; Ahikam; Achbor; Shaphan & Asahiah went to Huldah, the prophetess, [who was] the wife of Shallum, [Tikvah's] son, [who was Harha's] son, [the] keeper of the wardrobe. |
(Now, [Huldah lived] in Jerusalem in the college) & they [spoke] with her. She said The Lord [says this, Watch] I will bring [calamity] upon this place & [its residents,] even all the words the king of Judah has read. |
Because they have [abandoned] Me & burned incense to [false] gods, [so] they might provoke Me to anger with all the [evil] works [deeds & actions] of their hands. |
Therefore, My [anger shall grow] against this place & shall not be [put out]. But to the king of Judah [who] sent you to inquire of the Lord. You shall say [this] to him, The Lord God of Israel [says this, Related] to the words you have heard. |
Because your heart was tender & you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard I [spoke] against this place & [its residents,] that they [will] become a desolation & a curse & [that you] had [torn] your clothes & wept before Me, I have also heard you, [says] the Lord. |
Therefore, I will gather you to your [forefathers] & you will be gathered to your grave in peace. [Also,] your eyes shall not see all the evil [that] I will bring upon this place. They brought [her answer to the king]. |