Bible Study 2 Kings 22
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2 Kings 22 · WEB

Josiah Discovers the Book of the Law; Huldah the Prophetess

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Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
2He did that which was right in Yahweh's eyes, and walked in all the way of David his father, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
3In the eighteenth year of king Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to Yahweh's house, saying,
4"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which is brought into Yahweh's house, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered from the people.
5Let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of Yahweh's house. Let them give it to the workmen who are in Yahweh's house, to repair the broken parts of the house —
6to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons — and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the house.
7However there was no accounting made with them for the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully."
8Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in Yahweh's house." Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, saying, "Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of Yahweh's house."
10Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me." Shaphan read it before the king.
11When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.
12The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,
13"Go inquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us."
14So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe — now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter — and they talked with her.
15She said to them, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'Tell the man who sent you to me,
16"Yahweh says, 'Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read;
17because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands. Therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place and shall not be quenched.'"'
18But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, tell him, 'Yahweh, the God of Israel says: "Concerning the words which you have heard,
19because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before Yahweh when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you," says Yahweh.
20"Therefore behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered into your tomb in peace. Your eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring on this place."'" They brought back word to the king.
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Summary

At age twenty-six, Josiah initiates a Temple repair project that echoes Joash's efforts two centuries earlier. In the process, Hilkiah the priest discovers what is called the "Book of the Law" — almost certainly at least a portion of Deuteronomy. When its words are read aloud to Josiah, he tears his clothes in grief and horror, recognizing how far Judah has strayed from everything God commanded. He sends a delegation to consult the prophetess Huldah, who delivers a two-part message: Jerusalem's destruction is certain because of the nation's apostasy, but Josiah personally will be gathered to his grave in peace because of the tenderness and humility with which he responded to God's word.

Themes

  • The power of God's word to convict and transform when it is actually heard and taken seriously
  • Humility before God's word as the proper response to conviction
  • The combination of sovereign judgment and personal mercy — God's word is both
  • Women in prophetic ministry — Huldah speaks authoritatively for God at a national level

Key verses

  • 2 Kgs 22:11 — “When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.”
  • 2 Kgs 22:19-20 — “Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before Yahweh… I also have heard you… you will be gathered into your tomb in peace.”
  • 2 Kgs 22:8 — “I have found the book of the law in Yahweh's house.”

Context & background

Jerusalem (modern Jerusalem, Israel) in Josiah's time was a city that had spent most of the previous century under Manasseh's deeply paganized rule, which means the Temple had been neglected and the Law essentially forgotten for two or more generations. The "Book of the Law" found in the Temple is widely identified by scholars as Deuteronomy, or a core portion of it — its rediscovery would have included the covenant blessings and curses of Deuteronomy 27-28, which explains Josiah's anguished reaction. Huldah the prophetess is remarkable as one of several female prophets in the Old Testament (alongside Miriam, Deborah, and Anna), and the fact that the royal delegation went to her rather than to the prophet Zephaniah (who was prophesying at the same time) indicates her recognized authority. The "second quarter" of Jerusalem where she lived is the Mishneh district, a newer residential area in the city.

Cross-references

  • 2 Chr 34:1-28 — The Chronicler's parallel account, revealing that Josiah had begun reforms earlier, before the book was found
  • Deut 28:15-68 — The covenant curses that would have terrified Josiah when he heard them read
  • Jer 22:15-16 — Jeremiah praises Josiah: "Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him."
  • Judg 4:4-5 — Deborah, another female judge and prophet who spoke authoritatively for God
  • Neh 8:5-9 — Ezra reads the Law and the people weep — echoing Josiah's response to God's word

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    What triggered Josiah's grief, and how did he respond immediately?

  2. Observe

    What two-part message did Huldah deliver?

  3. Interpret

    What does the loss of the Book of the Law inside the Temple itself reveal about religious drift?

  4. Interpret

    What does it mean that Josiah's reforms could not prevent national judgment but did change his personal outcome?

  5. Apply

    When Scripture confronts your lifestyle or attitudes, what response is modeled by Josiah?

  6. Apply

    What practices help keep a heart tender and receptive to God's word?

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