1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah, from Bozkath.
2He did what was right in Yahweh's eyes and followed completely in the footsteps of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
3In the eighteenth year of King Josiah's reign, the king sent Shaphan, the scribe, son of Azaliah and grandson of Meshullam, to Yahweh's house, saying,
4"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him accurately weigh the money that has been brought into Yahweh's house, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people.
5They are to give it to the foremen who supervise the work on Yahweh's house. Then they are to give it to the workers in Yahweh's house to repair the damage to the house—
6to the carpenters, the builders, and the masons— and also to buy timber and cut stone for repairing the house.
7However, no accounting was required from them for the money entrusted to them, because they acted honestly."
8Hilkiah the high priest told Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in Yahweh's house." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, "Your servants have taken out the money that was found in the house and have given it to the foremen who supervise the work on Yahweh's house."
10Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it aloud to the king.
11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in distress.
12The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,
13"Go, ask Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, about the words of this book that has been found. For Yahweh's intense anger is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book, to do everything written in it concerning us."
14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, who was in charge of the royal wardrobe. (She lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) They talked with her.
15She told them, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'Tell the man who sent you to me:
16“Yahweh says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, fulfilling all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read.
17Because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods, making me angry with everything they have done, my anger is kindled against this place and will not be put out.’”
18“But to the king of Judah, who sent you to ask Yahweh, tell him, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you have heard:
19‘Because your heart was sensitive, and you humbled yourself before Yahweh when you heard what I said against this place and its inhabitants—that they would become a desolate ruin and a curse—and because you tore your clothes and wept before me, I have heard you,’ says Yahweh.
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 will bring on this place.’”” So they reported this message back to the king.