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约西亚做王毁除崇邱偶像

34 约西亚登基的时候年八岁,在耶路撒冷做王三十一年。 他行耶和华眼中看为正的事,效法他祖大卫所行的,不偏左右。 他做王第八年,尚且年幼,就寻求他祖大卫的神。到了十二年,才洁净犹大耶路撒冷,除掉丘坛、木偶、雕刻的像和铸造的像。 众人在他面前拆毁巴力的坛,砍断坛上高高的日像,又把木偶和雕刻的像并铸造的像打碎成灰,撒在祭偶像人的坟上, 将他们祭司的骸骨烧在坛上,洁净了犹大耶路撒冷 又在玛拿西以法莲西缅拿弗他利各城和四围破坏之处,都这样行。 又拆毁祭坛,把木偶和雕刻的像打碎成灰,砍断以色列遍地所有的日像,就回耶路撒冷去了。

修葺圣殿

约西亚王十八年,净地净殿之后,就差遣亚萨利雅的儿子沙番、邑宰玛西雅约哈斯的儿子史官约亚去修理耶和华他神的殿。 他们就去见大祭司希勒家,将奉到神殿的银子交给他,这银子是看守殿门的利未人从玛拿西以法莲和一切以色列剩下的人,以及犹大便雅悯众人,并耶路撒冷的居民收来的。 10 又将这银子交给耶和华殿里督工的,转交修理耶和华殿的工匠, 11 就是交给木匠、石匠,买凿成的石头和架木与栋梁,修犹大王所毁坏的殿。 12 这些人办事诚实,督工的是利未米拉利的子孙雅哈俄巴底,督催的是哥辖的子孙撒迦利亚米书兰,还有善于作乐的利未人。 13 他们又监管扛抬的人,督催一切做工的,利未人中也有做书记、做司事、做守门的。

希勒家得律书

14 他们将奉到耶和华殿的银子运出来的时候,祭司希勒家偶然得了摩西所传耶和华的律法书。 15 希勒家对书记沙番说:“我在耶和华殿里得了律法书。”遂将书递给沙番 16 沙番把书拿到王那里,回复王说:“凡交给仆人们办的都办理了。 17 耶和华殿里的银子倒出来,交给督工的和匠人的手里了。” 18 书记沙番又对王说:“祭司希勒家递给我一卷书。”沙番就在王面前读那书。 19 王听见律法上的话,就撕裂衣服, 20 吩咐希勒家沙番的儿子亚希甘米迦的儿子亚比顿、书记沙番和王的臣仆亚撒雅说: 21 “你们去,为我,为以色列犹大剩下的人,以这书上的话求问耶和华。因我们列祖没有遵守耶和华的言语,没有照这书上所记的去行,耶和华的烈怒就倒在我们身上。”

22 于是,希勒家和王所派的众人都去见女先知户勒大户勒大是掌管礼服沙龙的妻,沙龙哈斯拉的孙子、特瓦的儿子。户勒大住在耶路撒冷第二区,他们请问于她。 23 她对他们说:“耶和华以色列的神如此说:你们可以回复那差遣你们来见我的人说: 24 ‘耶和华如此说:我必照着在犹大王面前所读那书上的一切咒诅,降祸于这地和其上的居民。 25 因为他们离弃我,向别神烧香,用他们手所做的惹我发怒,所以我的愤怒如火倒在这地上,总不熄灭。’ 26 然而,差遣你们来求问耶和华的犹大王,你们要这样回复他说:‘耶和华以色列的神如此说:至于你所听见的话, 27 就是听见我指着这地和其上居民所说的话,你便心里敬服,在我面前自卑,撕裂衣服,向我哭泣,因此我应允了你。这是我耶和华说的。 28 我必使你平平安安地归到坟墓,到你列祖那里。我要降于这地和其上居民的一切灾祸,你也不致亲眼看见。’”他们就回复王去了。

王诵约书于民众

29 王差遣人招聚犹大耶路撒冷的众长老来。 30 王和犹大众人与耶路撒冷的居民,并祭司、利未人,以及所有的百姓,无论大小,都一同上到耶和华的殿。王就把殿里所得的约书念给他们听。

立约守诫

31 王站在他的地位上,在耶和华面前立约,要尽心、尽性地顺从耶和华,遵守他的诫命、法度、律例,成就这书上所记的约言, 32 又使住耶路撒冷便雅悯的人都服从这约。于是耶路撒冷的居民都遵行他们列祖之神的约。 33 约西亚以色列各处将一切可憎之物尽都除掉,使以色列境内的人都侍奉耶和华他们的神。约西亚在世的日子,就跟从耶和华他们列祖的神,总不离开。

猶大王約西亞

34 約西亞八歲登基,在耶路撒冷執政三十一年。 他做耶和華視為正的事,效法他祖先大衛,不偏不離。

約西亞清除偶像

他執政第八年,雖然還年幼,卻開始尋求他祖先大衛的上帝。他執政第十二年,開始清除猶大和耶路撒冷的邱壇、亞舍拉神像、雕刻和鑄造的偶像。 眾人在他面前拆毀巴力的祭壇,他砍掉高高的香壇,又把亞舍拉神像及雕刻和鑄造的偶像磨成粉末,撒在祭拜它們之人的墳墓上, 把它們祭司的骸骨放在它們的壇上焚燒。這樣,他潔淨了猶大和耶路撒冷。 約西亞還在瑪拿西、以法蓮、西緬,遠至拿弗他利的各城邑及其周圍的荒廢之地做了同樣的事情。 他拆毀祭壇和亞舍拉神像,把偶像磨成粉末,砍掉以色列境內所有的香壇,然後回到耶路撒冷。

發現律法書

約西亞執政第十八年,潔淨國土和聖殿以後,就差遣亞薩利雅的兒子沙番、耶路撒冷的總督瑪西雅和約哈斯的兒子約亞史官負責整修他的上帝耶和華的殿。 他們到希勒迦大祭司那裡,把獻給上帝殿的銀子交給他。這銀子是守殿門的利未人從瑪拿西人和以法蓮人,所有剩下的以色列人,所有的猶大人和便雅憫人,以及耶路撒冷的居民那裡收來的。 10 他們把銀子交給負責管理耶和華殿的督工,由他們轉交給整修耶和華殿的工人, 11 也就是木匠和石匠,讓他們用來購買鑿好的石頭、木架和棟樑,整修猶大諸王毀壞的殿。 12 工人都忠誠地工作。他們的督工是利未人米拉利的子孫雅哈和俄巴底,哥轄的子孫撒迦利亞和米書蘭。其他精通樂器的利未人 13 負責監督搬運工人,還有一些做書記、官員和殿門守衛。

14 他們把奉獻到耶和華殿裡的銀子拿出來的時候,希勒迦祭司發現了摩西所傳的耶和華的律法書。 15 希勒迦就對沙番書記說:「我在耶和華的殿裡發現了律法書。」希勒迦就把書卷交給沙番。 16 沙番把書卷帶到王那裡,向王稟告說:「凡交給僕人們辦的事,都已辦妥。 17 耶和華殿裡的銀子已被取出來交給督工和工人。」 18 沙番書記又對王說:「希勒迦祭司交給我一卷書。」沙番就在王面前誦讀這書。 19 王聽了律法書上的話,就撕裂衣服, 20 吩咐希勒迦、沙番的兒子亞希甘、米迦的兒子亞比頓、沙番書記和王的臣僕亞撒雅: 21 「你們去為我、為以色列和猶大的餘民求問耶和華有關這書卷上的話。耶和華的烈怒已經臨到我們身上,因為我們的祖先沒有遵守耶和華的話,沒有遵行這書卷上的話。」

22 於是,王派去的人跟著希勒迦去求問女先知戶勒妲,她是負責管理禮服的沙龍之妻。沙龍是哈斯拉的孫子、特瓦的兒子。戶勒妲住在耶路撒冷第二區。他們向她說明來意, 23 她對他們說:「以色列的上帝耶和華要你們回去告訴差你們來見我的人, 24 耶和華說,『我要照在猶大王面前所讀的那書上的一切咒詛,降災難給這地方及這裡的居民。 25 因為他們背棄我,給別的神明燒香,製造偶像惹我發怒,所以我的怒火要在這地方燃燒,絕不止息。』 26 你們告訴差你們來求問耶和華的猶大王,『至於你所聽見的那些話,以色列的上帝耶和華說, 27 因為你聽到我對這地方及這裡居民的警告,便悔改,在我面前謙卑、撕裂衣服,向我哭泣,我垂聽了你的禱告。這是我耶和華說的。 28 我會讓你平安入土,你不會看到我要降給這地方及這裡居民的一切災難。』」他們便回去稟告王。

約西亞立約順服上帝

29 於是,王召集猶大和耶路撒冷的所有長老, 30 與猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民、祭司和利未人等全體民眾,不論貴賤,一同上到耶和華的殿。王把在耶和華殿中發現的約書念給他們聽。 31 王站在自己的位置上,在耶和華面前立約,要全心全意地跟隨耶和華,遵從祂的一切誡命、法度和律例,履行約書上的規定。 32 他使耶路撒冷和便雅憫的人都遵行這約。於是,耶路撒冷的居民都遵行他們祖先的上帝的約。 33 約西亞除去以色列境內所有的可憎之物,又吩咐所有住在以色列的人都事奉他們的上帝耶和華。約西亞在世時,他們都沒有偏離他們祖先的上帝耶和華。

Josiah Institutes Religious Reforms

34 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did what the Lord approved[a] and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps;[b] he did not deviate to the right or the left.

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor[c] David. In his twelfth year he began ridding[d] Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, idols, and images. He ordered the altars of the Baals to be torn down,[e] and broke the incense altars that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, idols, and images, crushed them, and sprinkled the dust over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them. He burned the bones of the pagan priests[f] on their altars; he purified Judah and Jerusalem. In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins[g] around them, he tore down the altars and Asherah poles, demolished the idols, and smashed all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

In the eighteenth year of his reign, he continued his policy of purifying the land and the temple.[h] He sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city official, and Joah son of Joahaz the secretary to repair the temple of the Lord his God. They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the silver that had been brought to God’s temple. The Levites who guarded the door had collected it from the people of[i] Manasseh and Ephraim and from all who were left in Israel, as well as from all the people of[j] Judah and Benjamin and the residents of[k] Jerusalem. 10 They handed it over to the construction foremen[l] assigned to the Lord’s temple. They in turn paid the temple workers to restore and repair it.[m] 11 They gave money to the craftsmen and builders to buy chiseled stone and wood for the braces and rafters of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into disrepair.[n] 12 The men worked faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah (Levites descended from Merari), as well as Zechariah and Meshullam (descendants of Kohath). The Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians, 13 supervised the laborers and all the foremen on their various jobs.[o] Some of the Levites were scribes, officials, and guards.

14 When they took out the silver that had been brought to the Lord’s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the Lord had given to Moses. 15 Hilkiah informed Shaphan the scribe, “I found the law scroll in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan. 16 Shaphan brought the scroll to the king and reported,[p] “Your servants are doing everything assigned to them. 17 They melted down the silver in the Lord’s temple[q] and handed it over to the supervisors and the construction foremen.” 18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king. 19 When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. 20 The king ordered Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah,[r] Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, 21 “Go, ask the Lord[s] for me and for those who remain in Israel and Judah about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the Lord’s great fury has been ignited[t] against us, because our ancestors did not obey the word of the Lord by living[u] according to all that is written in this scroll.”

22 So Hilkiah and the others sent by the king[v] went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah,[w] the supervisor of the wardrobe.[x] (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh[y] district.) They stated their business,[z] 23 and she said to them: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Say this to the man who sent you to me: 24 “This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, all the curses that are recorded in the scroll which they read before the king of Judah. 25 This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices[aa] to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made.[ab] My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’” 26 Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the Lord: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard: 27 ‘You displayed a sensitive spirit[ac] and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words concerning this place and its residents. You humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the Lord. 28 ‘Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace.[ad] You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place and its residents.’”’” Then they reported back to the king.

29 The king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem.[ae] 30 The king went up to the Lord’s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the Levites. All the people were there, from the oldest to the youngest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the Lord’s temple. 31 The king stood by his pillar[af] and renewed[ag] the covenant before the Lord, agreeing to follow[ah] the Lord and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being,[ai] by carrying out the terms[aj] of this covenant recorded on this scroll. 32 He made all who were in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to it.[ak] The residents of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged[al] all who were in Israel to worship the Lord their God. Throughout the rest of his reign[am] they did not turn aside from following the Lord God of their ancestors.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 34:2 tn Heb “he did what was proper in the eyes of the Lord.”
  2. 2 Chronicles 34:2 tn Heb “and walked in the ways of David his father.”
  3. 2 Chronicles 34:3 tn Heb “father.”
  4. 2 Chronicles 34:3 tn Heb “purifying.”
  5. 2 Chronicles 34:4 tn Heb “and they tore down before him the altars of the Baals.”
  6. 2 Chronicles 34:5 tn Heb “the priests”; the qualifying adjective “pagan” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  7. 2 Chronicles 34:6 tn “In their ruins” is the marginal reading (Qere) of the Hebrew text.
  8. 2 Chronicles 34:8 tn Heb “to purify the land and the house.”
  9. 2 Chronicles 34:9 tn Heb “from Manasseh and Ephraim.” The words “the people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the names “Manasseh and Ephraim” here by metonymy for the people of Manasseh and Ephraim.
  10. 2 Chronicles 34:9 tn Heb “all Judah and Benjamin.” The words “the people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the names “Judah and Benjamin” here by metonymy for the people of Judah and Benjamin.
  11. 2 Chronicles 34:9 tc The Hebrew consonantal text (Kethib) assumes the reading, “and the residents of.” The marginal reading (Qere) is “and they returned.”
  12. 2 Chronicles 34:10 tn Heb “doer[s] of the work.”
  13. 2 Chronicles 34:10 tn Heb “and they gave it to the doers of the work who were working in the house of the Lord to restore and to repair the house.”
  14. 2 Chronicles 34:11 tn Heb “of the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed.”
  15. 2 Chronicles 34:13 tn Heb “[were] over the laborers and were directing every doer of work for work assignment and work assignment.”
  16. 2 Chronicles 34:16 tn Heb “returned still the king a word, saying.”
  17. 2 Chronicles 34:17 tn Heb “that was found in the house of the Lord.”
  18. 2 Chronicles 34:20 tn The parallel account in 2 Kgs 22:12 has the variant spelling “Achbor son of Micaiah.”
  19. 2 Chronicles 34:21 sn The implication is to seek a prophetic oracle.
  20. 2 Chronicles 34:21 tc The MT reads נִתְּכָה (nittekah, “has gushed forth”) but the LXX implies נִצְתָה (nitsetah, “has been ignited”).
  21. 2 Chronicles 34:21 tn Heb “doing.”
  22. 2 Chronicles 34:22 tn Heb “and those who [were sent by] the king.”
  23. 2 Chronicles 34:22 tn The parallel account in 2 Kgs 22:14 has the variant spelling “son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas.”
  24. 2 Chronicles 34:22 tn Heb “the keeper of the clothes.”
  25. 2 Chronicles 34:22 tn Or “second.” For a discussion of the possible location of this district, see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 283.
  26. 2 Chronicles 34:22 tn Heb “and they spoke to her like this.”
  27. 2 Chronicles 34:25 tn Or “burned incense.”
  28. 2 Chronicles 34:25 tn Heb “angering me with all the work of their hands.” The present translation assumes this refers to idols they have manufactured (note the preceding reference to “other gods”). However, it is possible that this is a general reference to their sinful practices, in which case one might translate, “angering me by all the things they do.”
  29. 2 Chronicles 34:27 tn Heb “Because your heart was tender.”
  30. 2 Chronicles 34:28 tn Heb “Therefore, behold, I am gathering you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your tomb in peace.”
  31. 2 Chronicles 34:29 tn Heb “and the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.”
  32. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tc This assumes an emendation to עַמּוּדוֹ (ʿammudo), see 23:13. The MT reads “at his place.”
  33. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tn Heb “cut,” that is, “made” or “agreed to.”
  34. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tn Heb “walk after.”
  35. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tn Or “soul.”
  36. 2 Chronicles 34:31 tn Heb “words.”
  37. 2 Chronicles 34:32 tn Heb “and he caused to stand everyone who was found in Jerusalem and Benjamin.”
  38. 2 Chronicles 34:33 tn Or “caused, forced.”
  39. 2 Chronicles 34:33 tn Heb “All his days.”