2 Chronicles 34

1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

2He did what was right in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the ways of his ancestor David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the metal images.

4In his presence they tore down the altars of the Baals, and he cut down the incense altars that stood above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the metal images, crushed them to dust, and scattered the dust over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

5He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem.

6In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, in the ruins all around them,

7he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles, crushed the carved images to dust, and cut down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

8In the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purified the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of Yahweh his God.

9They came to Hilkiah the high priest and handed over the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites who guarded the threshold had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the people of Jerusalem.

10They put it in the hands of the men appointed to oversee the work in the house of Yahweh, and these gave it to the workers who were working in the house of Yahweh to repair and restore the house.

11They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy cut stone and timber for the braces and to make beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had let fall into ruin.

12The men did the work faithfully. Over them were appointed Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to direct the work. The Levites, all who were skilled with musical instruments,

13were over the burden bearers and directed all who did the work in every kind of service. Some of the Levites were secretaries, officials, and gatekeepers.

14While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of Yahweh, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Yahweh given through Moses.

15Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

16Shaphan brought the book to the king and also reported to the king, “Your servants are doing everything that was entrusted to them.

17They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh and handed it over to the overseers and the workers.”

18Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it before the king.

19When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

20The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant,

21“Go and inquire of Yahweh for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah about the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of Yahweh that has been poured out on us, because our ancestors have not kept the word of Yahweh by doing all that is written in this book.”

22So Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent went to the prophet Huldah, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, and they spoke to her about this.

23She said to them, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,

24‘This is what Yahweh says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and on its people, all the curses written in the book that was read before the king of Judah.

25Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods, provoking me to anger with all the works of their hands, my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’

26But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, say this: ‘This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you have heard:

27Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your clothes and wept before me, I too have heard you, declares Yahweh.

28I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am going to bring on this place and on its people.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.

29Then the king sent word and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

30The king went up to the house of Yahweh with all the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, and all the people, from the greatest to the least. He read aloud in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of Yahweh.

31The king stood in his place and made a covenant before Yahweh to follow Yahweh and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of the covenant written in this book.

32Then he had all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin commit themselves to it. And the people of Jerusalem acted according to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

33Josiah removed all the detestable things from all the territory that belonged to the Israelites, and he made all who were present in Israel serve Yahweh their God. As long as he lived, they did not turn away from following Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.