The Book Speaks (II Kings 22)
During the ancient reign of righteous King Josiah, when a revival of Israel’s people back to walking with, not contrary to the Lord their GOD, HIS Temple was being restored and cleaned, whenHE arranged for the High Priest Hilkiah to find “the Book” of Moses which was hidden for a long time.
Being impressed by the Book, High Priest Hilkiah immediately sent it to King Josiah, who, upon hearing it read to him, recognized why the Lord their GOD had sent the recent calamities upon Israel and Judah, and he repented.
8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe: ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the House of HaShem.‘ And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought back word unto the king, and said: `Thy servants have poured out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen that have the oversight of the house of HaShem.’
10 And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying: ‘Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book.’ And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the Law, that he rent his clothes.
12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying:
13 ‘Go ye, inquire of HaShem for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this Book that is found; for great is the wrath of HaShem that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the Words of this Book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.‘
14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe–now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter–and they spoke with her.
15 And she said unto them: ‘Thus saith HaShem, the G-d of Israel: Tell ye the man that sent you unto me:
16 Thus saith HaShem: Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read;
17 because they have forsaken ME, and have offered unto other gods (Exodus 20:5), that they might provoke ME with all the work of their hands; therefore MY wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.
18 But unto the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of HaShem, thus shall ye say to him: Thus saith HaShem, the G-d of Israel: As touching the words which thou hast heard,
19 because your heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before HaShem, when thou heardest what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become an astonishment and a curse, and hast rent your clothes, and wept before ME, I also have heard you, saith HaShem.
20 Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.’ And they brought back word unto the king.