1Josiah was a son of eight years when he became king, and thirty-one years he reigned in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
2And he did the right in the eyes of YHWH, and walked in all the way of David his father, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
3And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of YHWH, saying,
4"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the silver that is brought into the house of YHWH, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered from the people,
5and let them give it into the hand of the doers of the work who are appointed over the house of YHWH; and let them give it to the doers of the work who are in the house of YHWH, to repair the breaches of the house,
6to the craftsmen, and to the builders, and to the masons, and to buy timber and hewn stones to repair the house."
7Only no reckoning shall be made with them of the silver given into their hand, for they deal in faithfulness.
8And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the Torah in the house of YHWH." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, "Your servants have poured out the silver that was found in the house, and have given it into the hand of the doers of the work who are appointed over the house of YHWH."
10And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.
11And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the book of the Torah, that he tore his clothes.
12And the king commanded (tzivvah) Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king, saying,
13"Go, inquire of YHWH 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 YHWH that is kindled against us, because our fathers did not listen to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us."
14So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife (ishah) of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the garments—now she was dwelling in Jerusalem in the second quarter—and they spoke to her.
15And she said to them, "Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: Tell the man (ish) who sent you to me,
16Thus says YHWH: Behold, I am bringing evil upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read,
17because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me with all the work of their hands; therefore My wrath is kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.
18And to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of YHWH, thus you shall say to him: Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: As for the words which you have heard,
19because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before YHWH when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard, declares YHWH.
20Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your graves in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the evil which I am bringing upon this place." And they brought the king word again.