2 Chronicles 34: Josiah cleanses the land, and the book of the law is found
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What happens?
Josiah becomes king at eight, begins to seek the God of David in his eighth year, and in his twelfth year begins to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and images. In his eighteenth year he sends men to repair Yahweh's house, and Hilkiah the priest finds the book of Yahweh's law there. Josiah tears his clothes when it is read to him and sends men to inquire of Yahweh. Huldah the prophetess answers them with words from Yahweh, and Josiah then reads the book of the covenant to all the people and makes a covenant before Yahweh.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. Hilkiah speaks in verse 15, Shaphan in verses 16 to 18, and Josiah in verse 21. In verses 23 to 28 the prophetess Huldah speaks, saying again and again what Yahweh says; she is a person passing on his words, so they are her words in this study and are not in gold. Verse 27 ends with "says Yahweh" inside her speech. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
In plain English: Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
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2He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left.
In plain English: He did what was right in Yahweh's eyes. He walked in the ways of David his father and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
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3For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images.
In plain English: In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of David his father. In the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles (or: the Asherah; see the note), the carved images and the cast images.
The Hebrew word: "Asherah poles" is asherah, which the dictionary gives as "Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same". This Bible says "Asherah" or a longer form in 37 of the 40 verses that use the word.
What changes: Read as an image of the goddess, as "Asherah poles" does, he cleared away objects. Read as the goddess's name, the verse names her herself. The text does not say which.
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4They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images in pieces, made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
In plain English: In his presence they pulled down the altars of the Baals, and he cut down the incense altars that stood above them. He broke in pieces the Asherah poles, the carved images and the cast images, ground them to dust, and scattered it on the surface of the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
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5He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.
In plain English: He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
Good to know: The text says plainly that he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. says he killed all the priests of the high places that were there, on the altars, and burned men's bones on them. This verse does not say they were killed.
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6He did this in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali, around in their ruins.
In plain English: In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, around in their ruins (or: with their swords, all around; see the note),
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew of the end of this verse is hard. This Bible reads "around in their ruins". The word-by-word meanings given for this verse read "with their swords, all around". The text does not make clear which is meant. The Hebrew as written in this study's database has two words at this point, listed as "mountain" and "houses", where the word-by-word meanings have one word.
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7He broke down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, then returned to Jerusalem.
In plain English: he pulled down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and the carved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
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8Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of Yahweh his God.
In plain English: In the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of Yahweh his God.
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9They came to Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that was brought into God’s house, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered from the hands of Manasseh, Ephraim, of all the remnant of Israel, of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
In plain English: They came to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into God's house. The Levites who kept the threshold had gathered it from Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the rest of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the people living in Jerusalem.
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10They delivered it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of Yahweh’s house; and the workmen who labored in Yahweh’s house gave it to mend and repair the house.
In plain English: They put it into the hands of the workmen who were in charge of Yahweh's house, and the workmen who were working in Yahweh's house gave it to mend and repair the house.
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11They gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy cut stone and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
In plain English: They gave it to the craftsmen and the builders to buy cut stone and wood for the clamps, and to make beams for the houses that the kings of Judah had ruined.
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12The men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to give direction; and others of the Levites, who were all skillful with musical instruments.
In plain English: The men worked faithfully. Over them were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to oversee the work. And the Levites, every one who was skilled with instruments of song,
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13Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and directed all who did the work in every kind of service. Of the Levites, there were scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.
In plain English: were over the burden-bearers and oversaw everyone who did work in every kind of service. Some of the Levites were scribes, officials and gatekeepers.
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14When they brought out the money that was brought into Yahweh’s house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of Yahweh’s law given by Moses.
In plain English: When they were bringing out the money that had been brought into Yahweh's house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of Yahweh's law (literally: by the hand of Moses; see the note).
Good to know: "Given by Moses" is word for word "by the hand of Moses". The text does not say more about the book than this verse and the names it gets in verse 15 ("the book of the law") and verse 30 ("the book of the covenant").
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15Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in Yahweh’s house.” So Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
In plain English: Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in Yahweh's house." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.
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16Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, “All that was committed to your servants, they are doing.
In plain English: Shaphan brought the book to the king, and he also brought the king word, saying, "All that was given into the hand of your servants, they are doing.
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17They have emptied out the money that was found in Yahweh’s house, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and into the hand of the workmen.”
In plain English: They have poured out the money that was found in Yahweh's house, and have put it into the hand of those in charge and into the hand of the workmen."
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18Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book.” Shaphan read from it to the king.
In plain English: Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it before the king.
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19When the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
In plain English: When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
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20The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
In plain English: The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,
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21“Go inquire of Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is Yahweh’s wrath that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept Yahweh’s word, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
In plain English: "Go, consult Yahweh for me and for those left in Israel and in Judah, about the words of this book that has been found. For great is Yahweh's anger that has been poured out on us, because our ancestors did not keep Yahweh's word, to do everything written in this book."
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22So Hilkiah and those whom the king had commanded went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke to her to that effect.
In plain English: So Hilkiah and those the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the garments. She was living in Jerusalem in the second district (or: the second quarter; see the note), and they spoke to her about this.
Good to know: tells the same visit. It names Huldah's husband's father and grandfather as Tikvah and Harhas, where this verse has Tokhath and Hasrah. In the king's order names Achbor the son of Micaiah, where has Abdon the son of Micah. The text does not explain the differences.
The Hebrew word: "Second district" is mishneh, which the dictionary gives as "a second (in order, rank, age, quality or location)". The Hebrew says only "the second". This Bible adds "quarter".
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23She said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel says: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,
In plain English: She said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,
Good to know: Huldah says "Yahweh, the God of Israel says" and what follows to the end of verse 28 is what she tells the king's men. In this study those words are not printed in gold, because the text gives them to Huldah, a prophetess passing on what Yahweh says, and not to Yahweh himself. tells the same answer in nearly the same words.
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24“Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.
In plain English: this is what Yahweh says: Look, I am about to bring harm on this place and on those living in it, all the curses written in the book that people have read aloud before the king of Judah.
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25Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath is poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’”’
In plain English: Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, to make me angry with all the works of their hands, my anger is poured out on this place and will not be put out.
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26But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, you shall tell him this, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says: “About the words which you have heard,
In plain English: But to the king of Judah, who sent you to consult Yahweh, you are to say this to him: This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says about the words you have heard:
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27because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and against its inhabitants, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,” says Yahweh.
In plain English: Because your heart was soft, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and those living in it, and you humbled yourself before me, and tore your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says Yahweh.
Good to know: has these words with some differences: "humbled yourself before Yahweh" where this verse has "before God", "what I spoke" where this verse has "his words", and it adds "that they should become a desolation and a curse". The text does not explain the differences.
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28“Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes won’t see all the evil that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” They brought back this message to the king.
In plain English: Look, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the harm that I am about to bring on this place and on those living in it." And they brought word back to the king.
Good to know: has the same promise of burial "in peace". This verse adds "and on its inhabitants" after "this place". How Josiah died is in . The text does not say more about how the two fit.
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29Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
In plain English: Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
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30The king went up to Yahweh’s house with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small—and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: The king went up to Yahweh's house with every man of Judah, the people living in Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites and all the people, from the great to the small. He read aloud in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in Yahweh's house.
Good to know: The text gives the found book three names: "the book of Yahweh's law" in , "the book of the law" in , and "the book of the covenant" here. also says "the book of the covenant". The text does not say what else the book held.
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31The king stood in his place and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
In plain English: The king stood in his place and made the covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, to keep his commands, his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his being, and to do the words of the covenant written in this book.
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32He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
In plain English: He made everyone found in Jerusalem and Benjamin stand. The people of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.
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33Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. All his days they didn’t depart from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
In plain English: Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands that belonged to the people of Israel, and made everyone found in Israel serve Yahweh their God. All his days they did not turn aside from following Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.
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