2Chronicles 34

Josiah Rules in Judah

34Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.H2977H8083H8141H1121H4427H4427H3389H259H7970H81412He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.H6213H3477H5869H3068H3212H1870H1732H1H5493H3225H80403During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images.H8083H8141H4427H5288H2490H1875H430H1732H1H8147H6240H8141H2490H2891H3063H3389H1116H842H6456H45414He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down. He also made sure that the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images were smashed and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.H5422H4196H1168H6440H2553H4605H1438H842H6456H4541H7665H1854H2236H6440H6913H20765He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem.H8313H6106H3548H4196H2891H3063H33896He did the same thing in the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, and in the regions

all around them.H5892H4519H669H8095H5321H2719H54397He destroyed the pagan altars and the Asherah poles, and he crushed the idols into dust. He cut down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Finally, he returned to Jerusalem.H5422H4196H842H3807H6456H1854H1438H2553H776H3478H7725H33898In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purified the land and the Temple, Josiah appointed Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of Jerusalem, and Joah son of Joahaz, the royal historian, to repair the Temple of the LORD his God.H8083H6240H8141H4427H2891H776H1004H7971H8227H1121H683H4641H8269H5892H3098H1121H3099H2142H2388H1004H3068H4309They gave Hilkiah the high priest the money that had been collected by the Levites who served as gatekeepers at the Temple of God. The gifts were brought by people from Manasseh, Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, as well as from all Judah, Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem.H935H2518H1419H3548H5414H3701H935H1004H430H3881H8104H5592H622H3027H4519H669H7611H3478H3063H1144H7725H3427H338910He entrusted the money to the men assigned to supervise the restoration of the LORD's Temple. Then they paid the workers who did the repairs and renovation of the Temple.H5414H3027H6213H4399H6485H1004H3068H5414H6213H4399H6213H1004H3068H918H2388H100411They hired carpenters and builders, who purchased finished stone for the walls and timber for the rafters and beams. They restored what earlier kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.H2796H1129H5414H7069H4274H68H6086H4226H7136H1004H4428H3063H784312The workers served faithfully under the leadership of Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the Merarite clan, and Zechariah and Meshullam, Levites of the Kohathite clan. Other Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians,H582H6213H4399H530H5329H3189H5662H3881H1121H4847H2148H4918H6956H6485H3881H995H3627H789213were put in charge of the laborers of the various trades. Still others assisted as secretaries, officials, and gatekeepers.H5449H5329H6213H4399H5656H3881H5608H7860H7778

Hilkiah Discovers God’s Law

14While they were bringing out the money collected at the LORD's Temple, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD that was written by Moses.H3318H3701H935H1004H3068H2518H3548H4672H5612H8451H3068H3027H487215Hilkiah said to Shaphan the court secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the LORD's Temple!" Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.H2518H6030H559H8227H5608H4672H5612H8451H1004H3068H2518H5414H5612H822716Shaphan took the scroll to the king and reported, "Your officials are doing everything they were assigned to do.H8227H935H5612H4428H7725H4428H1697H7725H559H5414H3027H5650H621317The money that was collected at the Temple of the LORD has been turned over to the supervisors and workmen."H5413H3701H4672H1004H3068H5414H3027H6485H3027H6213H439918Shaphan also told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll." So Shaphan read it to the king.H8227H5608H5046H4428H559H2518H3548H5414H5612H8227H7121H6440H442819When the king heard what was written in the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.H4428H8085H1697H8451H7167H89920Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah

, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king's personal adviser.H4428H6680H2518H296H1121H8227H5658H1121H4318H8227H5608H6222H5650H4428H55921"Go to the Temple and speak to the LORD for me and for all the remnant of Israel and Judah. Inquire about the words written in the scroll that has been found. For the LORD's great anger has been poured out on us because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the LORD. We have not been doing everything this scroll says we must do."H3212H1875H3068H7604H3478H3063H1697H5612H4672H1419H2534H3068H5413H1H8104H1697H3068H6213H3789H561222So Hilkiah and the other men went to the New Quarter

of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe.H2518H4428H3212H2468H5031H802H7967H1121H8616H8445H1121H2641H8104H899H3427H3389H4932H169623She said to them, "The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you,H559H559H3068H430H3478H559H376H797124'This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this city

and its people. All the curses written in the scroll that was read to the king of Judah will come true.H559H3068H935H7451H4725H3427H423H3789H5612H7121H6440H4428H306325For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.'H5800H6999H6999H312H430H3707H4639H3027H2534H5413H4725H351826"But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the LORD and tell him: 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard.H413H4428H3063H7971H1875H3068H559H559H3068H430H3478H1697H808527You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the LORD.H3824H7401H3665H6440H430H8085H1697H4725H3427H3665H6440H7167H899H1058H6440H8085H5002H306828So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You yourself will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city and its people.'" So they took her message back to the king.H622H1H622H6913H7965H5869H7200H7451H935H4725H3427H7725H4428H1697H7725

Josiah’s Religious Reforms

29Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.H4428H7971H622H2205H3063H338930And the king went up to the Temple of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the Levites—all the people from the greatest to the least. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the LORD's Temple.H4428H5927H1004H3068H376H3063H3427H3389H3548H3881H5971H1419H6996H7121H241H1697H5612H1285H4672H1004H306831The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the LORD's presence. He pledged to obey the LORD by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll.H4428H5975H5977H3772H1285H6440H3068H3212H310H3068H8104H4687H5715H2706H3824H5315H6213H1697H1285H3789H561232And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge. The people of Jerusalem did so, renewing their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors.H4672H3389H1144H5975H3427H3389H6213H1285H430H430H133So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the LORD their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the LORD, the God of their ancestors.H2977H5493H8441H776H1121H3478H4672H3478H5647H5647H3068H430H3117H5493H310H3068H430H1