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 .

²He did that which was right in the LORD ’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 .

³In the eighteenth year of King Josiah , the king sent Shaphan , the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam , the scribe , to the LORD ’s house , saying,

⁴“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest , that he may count the money which is brought into the LORD ’s house , which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people .

⁵Let them deliver it into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the LORD ’s house ; and let them give it to the workers who are in the LORD ’s house , to repair the damage to the house ,

⁶to the carpenters , and to the builders , and to the masons , and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house .

⁷However , no accounting shall be asked of them for the money delivered into their hand , for they deal faithfully.”

⁸Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe , “I have found the book of the law in the LORD ’s house .” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan , and he read it .

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 the LORD ’s house .”

¹⁰Shaphan the scribe told the king , saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me .” Then Shaphan read it before the king .

¹¹When the king had heard the words of the book of the law , he tore his clothes.

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,

¹³“Go enquire of the LORD for me , and for the people , and for all Judah , concerning the words of this book that is found ; for great is the LORD ’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 .”

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 .

¹⁵She said to them , “The LORD the God of Israel says , ‘Tell the man who sent you to me ,

¹⁶“The LORD 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 .

¹⁷Because they have forsaken me and have burnt 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 .’”

¹⁸But to the king of Judah , who sent you to enquire of the LORD , tell him , “The LORD the God of Israel says , ‘Concerning the words which you have heard ,

¹⁹because your heart was tender , and you humbled yourself before the LORD 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 the LORD .

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 .