II Kings Chapter 22

II Kings 22 — English translation

Translation: THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition. Verse numbers match the Hebrew text below.

1. 1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
2. 2He did what was pleasing to G OD and he followed all the ways of his forefather David; he did not deviate to the right or to the left.
3. 3In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent the scribe Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam to the House of G OD , saying,
4. 4“Go to the high priest Hilkiah and let him weigh the silver that has been deposited in the House of G OD , which the guards of the threshold have collected from the people.
5. 5And let it be delivered to the overseers of the work who are in charge at the House of G OD , that they in turn may pay it out to the workers that are in the House of G OD , for the repair of the House:
6. 6to the carpenters, the laborers, and the masons, and for the purchase of wood and quarried stones for repairing the House.
7. 7However, no check is to be kept on them for the silver that is delivered to them, for they deal honestly.”
8. 8Then the high priest Hilkiah said to the scribe Shaphan, “I have found a scroll of the Teaching in the House of G OD .” And Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, who read it.
9. 9The scribe Shaphan then went to the king and reported to the king: “Your servants have melted down the silver that was deposited in the House, and they have delivered it to the overseers of the work who are in charge at the House of G OD .”
10. 10The scribe Shaphan also told the king, “The high priest Hilkiah has given me a scroll”; and Shaphan read it to the king.
11. 11When the king heard the words of the scroll of the Teaching, he rent his clothes.
12. 12And the king gave orders to the priest Hilkiah, and to Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Michaiah, the scribe Shaphan, and Asaiah the king’s minister:
13. 13“Go, inquire of G OD on my behalf, and on behalf of the people, and on behalf of all Judah, concerning the words of this scroll that has been found. For great indeed must be G OD ’s wrath that has been kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this scroll to do all that has been prescribed for us.”
14. 14So the priest Hilkiah, and Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah—the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe—who was living in Jerusalem in the Mishneh, and they spoke to her.
15. 15She responded: “Thus said the E TERNAL , the God of Israel: Say to the one who sent you to me:
16. 16Thus said G OD : I am going to bring disaster upon this place and its inhabitants, in accordance with all the words of the scroll that the king of Judah has read.
17. 17Because they have forsaken Me and have made offerings to other gods and provoked My anger with all their deeds, My wrath is kindled against this place and it shall not be quenched.
18. 18But say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of G OD : Thus said the E TERNAL , the God of Israel: As for the words that you have heard—
19. 19because your heart was softened and you humbled yourself before G OD when you heard what I decreed against this place and its inhabitants—that it will become a desolation and a curse—and because you rent your clothes and wept before Me, I for My part have listened—declares G OD .
20. 20Assuredly, I will gather you to your ancestors and you will be laid in your tomb in peace. Your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.” So they brought back the reply to the king.

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