2 Kings 22: Josiah, the book of the law found in Yahweh's house, and Huldah the prophetess
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Josiah becomes king at eight years old and does what is right in Yahweh's eyes. In his eighteenth year, when he sends Shaphan the scribe to Yahweh's house about the money for the repairs, Hilkiah the high priest says he has found the book of the law there, and Shaphan reads it before the king, who tears his clothes. The king sends men to ask Yahweh, and Huldah the prophetess answers with Yahweh's message: he will bring disaster on this place, but because the king's heart was tender and he humbled himself, he will be gathered to his grave in peace and not see it.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. Josiah gives orders to Shaphan in verses 3 to 7 and to his officials in verses 12 and 13. Hilkiah speaks to Shaphan in verse 8, and Shaphan speaks to the king in verses 9 and 10. Huldah the prophetess answers in verses 15 to 20 with Yahweh's message, "Yahweh the God of Israel says"; she speaks those words as a prophet, so they are not in gold. 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. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
In plain English: Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and walked in all 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 and walked in all the way of David his father (or: his ancestor). He did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to Yahweh’s house, saying,
In plain English: In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to Yahweh's house, saying,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which is brought into Yahweh’s house, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people.
In plain English: "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, so that he may count up (literally: complete) the money that has been brought into Yahweh's house, which the doorkeepers (this Bible: keepers of the threshold) have collected from the people.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5Let them deliver it into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of Yahweh’s house; and let them give it to the workers who are in Yahweh’s house, to repair the damage to the house,
In plain English: Let them hand it over to the workers who are in charge of Yahweh's house, and let them give it to the workers who are in Yahweh's house, to repair the damage to the house:
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house.
In plain English: to the craftsmen (this Bible: carpenters), the builders and the masons, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the house.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7However, no accounting shall be asked of them for the money delivered into their hand, for they deal faithfully.”
In plain English: But no account is to be asked of them for the money handed to them, because they work faithfully."
Good to know: said the same of the workers in the days of King Joash: "they didn't demand an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money ... for they dealt faithfully".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in Yahweh’s house.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
In plain English: Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book (or: the scroll) of the law in Yahweh's house." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
The Hebrew words: "The book of the law" is sefer ha-torah. The dictionary gives sefer as "writing (the art or a document)", and so "a book"; the STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "the scroll". The dictionary gives torah as "a precept or statute".
Good to know: The text does not say what was written in the book, how long it had been in the house, or how it came to be found. It calls it "the book of the law" (here and in verse 11) and "the book of the covenant" ( and ), and speaks of "all the law of Moses". says that "Hilkiah the priest found the book of Yahweh's law given by Moses" when the money was brought out.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hands of the workmen who have the oversight of Yahweh’s house.”
In plain English: Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought him word, saying, "Your servants have emptied out (literally: poured out) the money that was found in the house, and have handed it to the workers who are in charge of Yahweh's house."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.” Then Shaphan read it before the king.
In plain English: Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it aloud before the king.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.
In plain English: When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
In plain English: The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13“Go inquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is Yahweh’s wrath that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.”
In plain English: "Go, ask Yahweh (this Bible: inquire of Yahweh) for me, for the people and for all Judah about the words of this book that has been found. For great is Yahweh's anger that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do all that is written concerning us."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with her.
In plain English: So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe (literally: of the garments). She lived in Jerusalem, in the second quarter (see the note). They spoke with her.
The Hebrew word: "The second quarter" is mishneh, which the dictionary gives as "a repetition, i.e. a duplicate", and so "a second (in order, rank, age, quality or location)". Here it is a part of Jerusalem. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "she dwelt in Jerusalem in Masena".
Good to know: This Bible calls Huldah a prophetess, as it does Miriam and Deborah; see the note on .
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15She said to them, “Yahweh the God of Israel says, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,
In plain English: She said to them, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'Tell the man who sent you to me,
Good to know: Huldah gives Yahweh's message in his name, "Yahweh the God of Israel says". Those are her words as a prophet, so they are not in gold, as with Isaiah in .
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16“Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.
In plain English: "Yahweh says, 'Look, I am bringing disaster (this Bible: evil) on this place and on the people who live in it, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.’”
In plain English: Because they have abandoned me and have burned incense (or: made offerings go up in smoke) to other gods, to make me angry with all the work of their hands, my anger will burn against this place, and it will not be put out.'"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, tell him, “Yahweh the God of Israel says, ‘Concerning the words which you have heard,
In plain English: But to the king of Judah, who sent you to ask Yahweh, say this to him: "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'As for the words that you have heard,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Yahweh when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,’ says Yahweh.
In plain English: because your heart was tender (literally: soft) and you humbled yourself before Yahweh when you heard what I spoke against this place and against the people who live in it, that they would become a horror (this Bible: a desolation) and a curse, and because you tore your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,' says Yahweh.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20‘Therefore behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.’”’” So they brought this message back to the king.
In plain English: 'So look, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster (this Bible: evil) that I am going to bring on this place.'"' So they brought word back to the king.
The Hebrew word: "In peace" is shalom, which the dictionary gives as "safe, i.e. ... well, happy, friendly", and also "welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace".
Good to know: tells that Pharaoh Necoh killed Josiah at Megiddo, and that he was buried in his own tomb. The text does not say more about how the words "in peace" were meant.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.