1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
2 He did what was right in the sight of the LORD and followed in every way the path of his father David, turning aside neither to the right nor to the left.
3 In his eighteenth year King Josiah sent the scribe Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam to the LORD's house with these instructions:
4 "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money brought into the LORD's house, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people.
5 Have them hand it over to the men appointed to oversee the work on the LORD's house, and have them pay it to the workmen who are repairing the LORD's house,
6 the carpenters, builders and masons, and use it to buy timber and hewn stone for repairing the house.
7 But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are acting honestly."
8 Hilkiah the high priest told Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the LORD's house." He gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.
9 Then Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported to him: "Your servants have emptied out the money that was in the house and have handed it over to the men appointed to oversee the work on the LORD's house."
10 Shaphan the scribe also informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in front of the king.
11 As soon as the king heard what was written in the book of the law, he tore his clothes.
12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe and Asaiah the king's servant:
13 "Go and consult the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, about what is written in this book that has been found. The LORD's wrath that burns against us is great, because our fathers did not obey the words of this book by doing everything written there concerning us."
14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophetess Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe, and she lived in Jerusalem, in the Second Quarter.
15 She told them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Tell the man who sent you to me,
16 This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring evil on this place and its people, all that is written in the book the king of Judah has read.
17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods, provoking me with everything their hands have made, my wrath will burn against this place and will not be put out.'
18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to consult the LORD, say this: 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard:
19 Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I said against this place and its people, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you tore your clothes and wept in my presence, I in turn have heard you, declares the LORD.
20 So I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evil I am going to bring on this place.'" And they took her answer back to the king.