2 Kings 22:8-20

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

8And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found athe Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “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 the house of the Lord.” 10Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, bhe tore his clothes. 12And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and cAhikam the son of Shaphan, and dAchbor the son of eMicaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is fthe wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed 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 gTikvah, son of hHarhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in ithe Second Quarter), and they talked with her. 15And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 jBecause they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore kmy wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. 18But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 lbecause your heart was penitent, and you mhumbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become na desolation and oa curse, and you phave torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and qyou shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’” And they brought back word to the king.

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