2 Chronicles 34:14-21

Expanded Bible

The Book of the Teachings Is Found

¹⁴ The Levites brought out the money that was in the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord. As they were doing this, Hilkiah the priest found the ·Book [scroll] of the Lord’s ·Teachings [instructions; laws] that had been given through Moses. ¹⁵ Hilkiah said to Shaphan the royal ·secretary [scribe] , “I’ve found the ·Book [scroll] of the ·Teachings [instructions; laws] in the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord!” Then he gave it to Shaphan.

¹⁶ Shaphan took the ·book [scroll] to the king and reported to Josiah, “Your ·officers [officials] are doing everything you ·told [assigned; entrusted] them to do. ¹⁷ They have paid out the ·money [silver] that was in the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord and have ·given [delivered; entrusted] it to the ·supervisors [overseers] and the workers.” ¹⁸ Then Shaphan the royal ·secretary [scribe] told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a ·book [scroll].” And Shaphan read from the ·book [scroll] to the king.

¹⁹ When the king heard the words of the ·Teachings [instructions; laws], he tore his clothes [^Ca sign of mourning or distress]. ²⁰ He gave orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the royal ·secretary [scribe], and Asaiah, the king’s servant. These were the orders: ²¹ “Go and ·ask [inquire of] the Lord about the words in the ·book [scroll] that was found. Ask for me and for the ·people who are left alive in [remnant of] Israel and Judah. The Lord is ·very angry with [^Lpouring out/igniting his wrath on] us, because our ·ancestors [fathers] did not ·obey [seek] the Lord’s word; they did not ·do [act in accordance with] everything this ·book [scroll] says to do.”