A crew is repairing the temple. Somewhere in the building, the high priest finds a book that nobody has been reading.
It is carried to a king who has been on the throne since he was eight. He listens to it, and then he tears his clothes, because he has just understood how far the country is from what he is hearing.
The Story of Josiah and the Book of the Law
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
In the eighteenth year of his reign he sent Shaphan the scribe to the house of the LORD to count the silver the doorkeepers had gathered and hand it to the workmen repairing the breaches of the house. The text pauses to note that no reckoning was made with the workmen about the money, because they dealt faithfully.
In the middle of that routine errand, Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. He gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
Shaphan went back to the king, reported on the money first, and then mentioned it almost in passing: Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his clothes.
His reaction is not to organize a reform first. He sends men to enquire of the LORD, saying, great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book. He assumes the words are true and that the country is already in trouble.
The delegation went to Huldah the prophetess, who lived in Jerusalem in the college. Her answer came in two halves. To the nation: I will bring evil upon this place, because they have forsaken me, and my wrath shall not be quenched. To the king: because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me, I also have heard thee. He would be gathered to his grave in peace, and his eyes would not see all the evil coming.
Key Verses
“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign” 2 Kings 22:1
“There was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully” 2 Kings 22:7
“I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD” 2 Kings 22:8
“When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes” 2 Kings 22:11
“Went unto Huldah the prophetess” 2 Kings 22:14
“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD” 2 Kings 22:19
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation.
What the Story of Josiah and the Book of the Law Teaches Us
The book is found by accident, during building work, by people sent to do accounting. Nobody in the chapter set out to recover it. The most important discovery in Josiah’s reign happens while everyone is busy with something else.
Josiah’s first response is grief, not administration. He tears his clothes before he issues a single order, and Huldah singles out exactly that, saying his heart was tender and he had wept. The reform in the next chapter starts from there rather than from a policy.
Huldah’s two-part answer is worth sitting with. The judgment on Judah is not lifted, and the king’s repentance is still answered personally. The text lets both be true without explaining how they fit together.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Josiah when he became king?
Eight years old. He reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem and did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, walking in all the way of David his father.
Who found the book of the law?
Hilkiah the high priest found it in the house of the LORD during the temple repairs, and gave it to Shaphan the scribe, who read it and then read it before the king.
Why did Josiah tear his clothes?
Because of what he heard when the book of the law was read to him. He said great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book.
Who was Huldah?
Huldah was a prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, keeper of the wardrobe. She dwelt in Jerusalem in the college, and the king’s delegation went to her to enquire of the LORD.
What did Huldah tell Josiah?
That God would bring evil on the place because the people had forsaken him, but that because Josiah’s heart was tender and he had humbled himself, rent his clothes and wept, he would be gathered to his grave in peace and would not see the evil coming.
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