1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for thirty-one years.
2He did what was right in Yahweh’s eyes and followed the ways of his father David, not straying to the right or to the left.
3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year, he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem by removing the high places, Asherah poles, idols, and metal images.
4In his presence, they tore down the altars of the Baals. He also cut down the incense altars that were installed high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the idols, and the metal images into pieces, ground them to dust, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
5He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and in this way, he purified Judah and Jerusalem.
6He did this in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, all the way to Naphtali, and throughout their ruined areas.
7He tore down the altars, crushed the Asherah poles and carved idols into powder, cut down all the incense altars throughout Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.
8In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purified the land and the Temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city governor, and Joah son of Joahaz the record keeper, to repair the house of Yahweh his God.
9They went to Hilkiah the high priest and handed over the money that had been brought into God's house. The Levites, who guarded the entrance, had collected this money from people in Manasseh, Ephraim, all the rest of Israel, all of Judah and Benjamin, and the residents of Jerusalem.
10They gave the money to the workmen supervising Yahweh's house, and these workmen then gave it to the laborers working on Yahweh's house to mend and repair the house.
11They gave it to the carpenters and builders to buy cut stone and timber for supporting structures, and to make beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had destroyed.
12The men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites from the family of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, from the family of Kohath, who directed the work. Other Levites, all skilled musicians, also helped.
13They also supervised those who carried burdens and directed all who did work of every kind. Among the Levites were scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.
14When they took out the money that had been brought into Yahweh's house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of Yahweh's law that Moses had given.
15Hilkiah told Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in Yahweh's house." So Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.
16Shaphan took the book to the king and also reported back to the king, saying, "Your servants are doing everything that was assigned to them.
17They have taken the money that was found in Yahweh’s temple and given it to the supervisors and the workers.”
18Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” Shaphan then read it to the king.
19When the king heard what the law said, he tore his clothes in distress.
20The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah, the king’s servant, saying,
21“Go, ask Yahweh for guidance for me and for everyone left in Israel and Judah, about what is written in this book that has been found. Yahweh’s anger that has been poured out on us is great, because our ancestors have not followed Yahweh’s word or done everything written in this book.”
22So Hilkiah and those the king had commanded went to Huldah the prophetess. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, responsible for the living quarters. She lived in Jerusalem in the New Quarter. They spoke to her about these matters.
23She told them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,
24“Yahweh says, ‘Look, I will bring disaster on this place and on its people, all the curses written in the book they read before the king of Judah.
25Because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods, making me angry with everything they have made, my anger is poured out on this place and it will not be put out.’”’
26But to the king of Judah, who sent you to ask Yahweh for guidance, tell him this: ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: “Regarding the words you have heard,
27because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its people. You humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes, and cried before me. Because of this, I have heard you,” says Yahweh.
28“Look, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I will bring on this place and its people.”” Then they reported this back to the king.
29Then the king sent messengers and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30The king went up to Yahweh’s house with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and everyone else, from the most important to the least important. He read aloud for them to hear all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in Yahweh’s house.
31The king stood in his place and made a covenant before Yahweh. He promised to follow Yahweh and to keep his commands, testimonies, and laws with all his heart and soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant written in this book.
32He made everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to this. The people of Jerusalem did what was written in the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.
33Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the lands that belonged to the people of Israel. He made everyone in Israel serve Yahweh their God. Throughout his lifetime, they did not stop following Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.