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2 Chronicles 34
1599 Geneva Bible

34 1 Josiah destroyeth the idols. 8 And restoreth the Temple. 14 The book of the Law is found. 21 He sendeth to Huldah the Prophetess for counsel. 27 God heareth his prayer. 31 He maketh a covenant with God.

1 Josiah (A)was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

2 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of [a]David his father, and bowed neither to the right hand nor to the left.

3 And in the eighth year of his reign (when he was yet a [b]child) he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah, and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and molten images.

4 And they brake down [c]in his sight the altars of Baal, and he caused to cut down the images that were on high upon them: he brake also the groves, and the carved images and the molten images, and stamped them to powder, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

5 Also he burnt the [d]bones of the Priests upon their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.

6 And in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mauls they brake all round about.

7 And when he had [e]destroyed the altars, and the groves, and had broken and stamped to powder the images, and had cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

8 (B)Then in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the Recorder to repair the house of the Lord his God.

9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high Priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the door, had gathered at the hand of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and of all the residue of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and [f]of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

10 And they put it in the hands of [g]them that should do the work, and had the oversight in the house of the Lord: and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the Lord to repair and amend the house.

11 Even to the workmen and to the builders gave they it to buy hewed stone and timber for couples, and for beams of the [h]houses, which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

12 And the men did the work [i]faithfully, and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the children of Merari, and Zechariah, and Meshullam, of the children of the Kohathites to set it forward: and of the Levites all that could skill of instruments of music.

13 And they were over the bearers of burdens, and them that set forward all the workmen in every work: and of the Levites were scribes, and officers and porters.

14 ¶ And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the Priest found the [j]book of the Law of the Lord given by the hand of Moses.

15 Therefore Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the chancellor, I have found the book of the Law in the house of the Lord: and Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

16 And Shaphan carried the book to [k]the King, and brought the King word again, saying, All that is committed to the hand of thy servants, that do they.

17 For they have gathered the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hands of the overseers, and to the hands of the workmen.

18 Also Shaphan the chancellor declared to the King, saying, Hilkiah the Priest hath given me a book, and Shaphan read it before the King.

19 And when the King had heard the words of the Law, he [l]tare his clothes,

20 And the King commanded Hilkiah and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the chancellor, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,

21 Go and inquire of the Lord for me, and for the rest in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is fallen upon us, because our [m]fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book.

22 Then Hilkiah and they that the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess the wife of Shallum, the son of [n]Tokhath, the son of [o]Hasrah keeper of the [p]wardrobe (and she dwelt in Jerusalem within the [q]college) and they communed hereof with her.

23 And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell ye [r]the man that sent you to me,

24 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses, that are written in the book which they have read before the King of Judah:

25 Because they have forsaken me, and burnt incense unto other gods, to anger me with all the works of their [s]hands, therefore shall my wrath fall upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

26 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The words which thou hast heard, shall come to pass.

27 But because thine heart did [t]melt, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and tearest thy clothes, and weptest before me, I have also heard it, saith the Lord.

28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be put in thy grave in peace, and thine eyes shall not see all the evil, which I will bring upon this [u]place and upon the inhabitants of the same. Thus they brought the King word again.

29 ¶ Then the King sent and gathered all the Elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

30 And the King went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the Priests and the Levites, and all the people from the greatest to the [v]smallest, and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the Covenant that was found in the house of the Lord.

31 And the King stood by his pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart, and with all his soul, and that he would accomplish the words of the Covenant written in the same book.

32 And he caused all that were found in Jerusalem, and Benjamin to stand to it: and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the Covenant of God, even the God of their fathers.

33 So Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and compelled all [w]that were found in Israel, to serve the Lord their God: so all his days they turned not back from the Lord God of their fathers.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 34:2 He followed David in all points that he followed the Lord.
  2. 2 Chronicles 34:3 When he was but sixteen years old he showed himself zealous of God’s glory, and at twenty years old he abolished idolatry, and restored the true religion.
  3. 2 Chronicles 34:4 Which showeth that he would see the reformation with his own eyes.
  4. 2 Chronicles 34:5 Read 2 Kings 23:16.
  5. 2 Chronicles 34:7 This great zeal of this godly King the holy Ghost setteth forth as an example and pattern to other kings and rulers, to teach them what God requireth of them.
  6. 2 Chronicles 34:9 Or, they returned to Jerusalem.
  7. 2 Chronicles 34:10 Meaning Shaphan, etc.
  8. 2 Chronicles 34:11 For there were many portions and pieces annexed to the Temple.
  9. 2 Chronicles 34:12 Meaning, that they were in such credit for their fidelity, that they made none accounts of that which they received, 2 Kings 22:7, 9.
  10. 2 Chronicles 34:14 Read 2 Kings 22:8.
  11. 2 Chronicles 34:16 For the king was commanded to have continually a copy of this book, and to read therein day and night, Deut. 17:18.
  12. 2 Chronicles 34:19 For sorrow that the word of God had been so long suppressed and the people kept in ignorance, considering also the curses contained therein against the transgressors.
  13. 2 Chronicles 34:21 Thus the godly do not only lament their own sins, but also that their fathers and predecessors have offended God.
  14. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Or, Tiknah.
  15. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Or, Harhas.
  16. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Meaning, either of the Priest’s apparel, or of the King’s.
  17. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Read hereof, 2 Kings 22:15.
  18. 2 Chronicles 34:23 That is, to the King.
  19. 2 Chronicles 34:25 This she speaketh in contempt of the idolaters, who contrary to reason and nature make that a god, which they have made and framed with their own hands.
  20. 2 Chronicles 34:27 This declareth what is the end of God’s threatenings, to call his to repentance, and to assure the unrepentant of their destruction.
  21. 2 Chronicles 34:28 It may appear that very few were touched with true repentance, seeing that God spared them for a time only for the king’s sake.
  22. 2 Chronicles 34:30 Forasmuch as neither young nor old could be exempted from the curses contained therein, if they did transgress, he knew it pertained to all, and was his duty to see it read to all sorts, that everyone might learn to avoid those punishments by serving God aright.
  23. 2 Chronicles 34:33 Because he had charge over all, and must answer for everyone that perished: he thought it his duty to see that all should make profession to receive the word of God.
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2 Chronicles 34
New International Version

Josiah’s Reforms(A)(B)(C)

34 Josiah(D) was eight years old when he became king,(E) and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David,(F) not turning aside to the right or to the left.

3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God(G) of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. 4 Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles(H) and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.(I) 5 He burned(J) the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. 6 In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, 7 he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder(K) and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

8 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.

9 They went to Hilkiah(L) the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the gatekeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. 11 They also gave money(M) to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.(N)

12 The workers labored faithfully.(O) Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments—(P) 13 had charge of the laborers(Q) and supervised all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, scribes and gatekeepers.

The Book of the Law Found(R)(S)

14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. 15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law(T) in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan.

16 Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. 17 They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” 18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

19 When the king heard the words of the Law,(U) he tore(V) his robes. 20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan(W), Abdon son of Micah,[a] Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 21 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out(X) on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”

22 Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him[b] went to speak to the prophet(Y) Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,[c] the son of Hasrah,[d] keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

23 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster(Z) on this place and its people(AA)—all the curses(AB) written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me(AC) and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made,[e] my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ 26 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 27 Because your heart was responsive(AD) and you humbled(AE) yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Now I will gather you to your ancestors,(AF) and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”(AG)

So they took her answer back to the king.

29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 He went up to the temple of the Lord(AH) with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 31 The king stood by his pillar(AI) and renewed the covenant(AJ) in the presence of the Lord—to follow(AK) the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.

32 Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

33 Josiah removed all the detestable(AL) idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 34:20 Also called Akbor son of Micaiah
  2. 2 Chronicles 34:22 One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts do not have had sent with him.
  3. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Tikvah
  4. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Harhas
  5. 2 Chronicles 34:25 Or by everything they have done
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