2 KingsChapter 22

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Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah, from Bozkath.

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, turning aside neither to the right nor to the left.

In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the LORD with these orders:

"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people.

Let it be handed over to the supervisors appointed over the house of the LORD, and let them pay it out to those working on the house of the LORD, to repair its damage—

to the carpenters, the builders, and the masons, and for buying timber and quarried stone to repair the house.

But no accounting is to be required of them for the money handed over to them, because they deal honestly."

Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: "Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and handed it over to the workmen appointed to oversee the house of the LORD."

Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it aloud before the king.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.

He gave this command to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant:

"Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah about the words of this book that has been found. Great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us, because our fathers did not obey the words of this book by doing all that is written concerning us."

So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District, and they spoke with her.

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

This is what the LORD says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants—everything written in the book that the king of Judah has read—

because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods, provoking me to anger with all the work of their hands. My wrath burns against this place, and it will not be quenched.

But tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD: This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you have heard:

Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and its inhabitants—that they would become a desolation and a curse—and because you tore your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.

Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place." So they brought back word to the king.

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Summary2

Chapter 22

Main Theme: The discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple leads to Josiah’s repentance and a prophetic message from Huldah.

Content: King Josiah, who became king at eight years old, ruled righteously according to the Lord’s will. In his eighteenth year as king, the high priest Hilkia found the Book of the Law during temple repairs. When Josiah heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes in despair and sent messengers to the prophetess Huldah. She delivered a double message: The Lord would bring disaster upon Jerusalem because of the people’s rebellion, but Josiah himself would die in peace because his heart was tender and he humbled himself before God.

Key Words/Images:

Book of the Law (סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה): The scroll found in the temple that revealed the people’s disobedience to God.
Tearing clothes: Josiah’s response to the words of the law—an expression of deep grief and repentance.
Huldah: The female prophetess who conveyed God’s judgment and grace to the king.
Tender heart: Josiah’s humble attitude, which led to his being spared from witnessing the coming disaster.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for 2 Kings 22

People

Josiah (יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ) became king at the age of eight and reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother, Jedidah (יְדִידָה), was the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath (v. 1). The text emphasizes that he "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" and followed the path of his ancestor David without turning to the right or to the left (v. 2).

Hilkiah (חִלְקִיָּהוּ), the high priest, played a key role in the discovery of the book. A seal with the inscription "belonging to Hilkiahhu, son of [...], the priest" has been found in the Jerusalem area, possibly belonging to him or a close relative. Shaphan (שָׁפָן) was the royal scribe (סֹּפֵר), a high-ranking official responsible for documents and finances.

The five messengers (vv. 12–14): Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant—were sent to seek the will of the Lord.

Huldah (חֻלְדָּה) is one of the few female prophets mentioned in the Old Testament. The fact that the king's delegation sought her out shows that female prophets held recognized authority. She was married to Shallum, "keeper of the wardrobe" (שֹׁמֵר הַבְּגָדִים)—likely responsible for royal or temple ceremonial garments.

Places

Mishneh (בַּמִּשְׁנֶה), where Huldah lived (v. 14), means "the second [quarter]" and refers to an expansion of Jerusalem. This quarter was likely located in the area west of the Temple Mount. Archaeological excavations have confirmed that this district existed during Josiah's time.

Bozkath (בָּצְקַת), Jedidah's hometown, was located in the Shephelah region (the lowlands of Judah) and is identified with the modern Eglon area.

Events and Customs

Temple repair and funding (vv. 4–7) reveal an established practice for temple maintenance. The "doorkeepers" (שֹׁמְרֵי הַסַּף) collected contributions from the people. The fact that the craftsmen did not need to provide accounts because they worked "in faithfulness" (בֶאֱמוּנָה) reflects a trust-based economy within the temple context.

Tearing one's clothes (וַיִּקְרַע אֶת־בְּגָדָיו, v. 11) was the standardized expression for grief, shock, or repentance in ancient Near Eastern culture. Josiah's reaction shows that the content of the book was understood as a serious judgment against the people's practices.

Key Terms

"The Book of the Law" (סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה) found (v. 8) has been the subject of academic debate regarding which text it refers to. The term "found" (מָצָאתִי) could mean either a literal discovery of a forgotten scroll or the rediscovery of a text that had fallen out of use.

"To seek the Lord" (דִרְשׁוּ אֶת־יְהוָה, v. 13) was the technical term for consulting a prophet or oracle to receive divine guidance. This was standard practice when kings faced important decisions.

Huldah's double prophecy (vv. 15–20): She proclaimed both judgment upon Jerusalem and the people (vv. 16–17) and personal mercy for Josiah because of his humble heart (vv. 19–20). The expression "your heart was tender" (רַךְ־לְבָבְךָ) and "you humbled yourself" (וַתִּכָּנַע) describe the attitude that led to Josiah being granted a peaceful death.

Chapter-Specific Findings

Bullae (clay seal impressions) from Josiah's time have been found in Jerusalem. One seal belongs to "Asaiah, the king's servant" (עֲשָׂיָה עֶבֶד הַמֶּלֶךְ), possibly identical with Asaiah mentioned in verse 12. These findings from the City of David confirm that the individuals in the narrative represent historical officials in the late Judean court.

People16

Shallum1 David1 Asaiah2 Meshullam1 Ahikam2 Akkbor2 Hilkiah (Father of Eliakim, steward under King Hezekiah)5 Harhas1 Adaiah1 Huldah (prophetess, wife of Shallum)1 Josiah2 Asaiah1 Tikva1 Shaphan (scribe under Josiah)5 Micah1 Jedidah1

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Key words7

Josiah — A young king of Judah who introduced religious reforms and removed idolatry from the kingdom.
Hilkiah — High priest in the temple during King Josiah's reign, who found the Book of the Law (the Torah).
Shaphan — Scribe and official in King Josiah's court, who helped convey the discovery of the Book of the Law.
Book of the Law — A scroll containing God's laws and commands, likely part of the books of Moses, which was found in the temple.
Reform — A change or improvement of something, in this case Josiah's attempt to restore monotheism and remove idolatry.
Idolatry — Worship of false gods or idols, which was forbidden according to the discovered Book of the Law.
Huldah — A prophetess who confirmed the authenticity of the Book of the Law and predicted that God's judgment would come upon Judah.