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.

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.

² The word of the Lord came^(A) to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah^(B) son of Amon king of Judah,

¹³ While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke^(A) to you again and again,^(B) but you did not listen;^(C) I called^(D) you, but you did not answer.^(E)

² “Take a scroll^(A) and write on it all the words^(B) I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah^(C) till now.