The divided kingdomFather of ShaphanAncestor of a prominent official family in Judahc. late 700s to mid-600s BC
Azaliah, son of Meshullam, is a biblical figure primarily known as the father of Shaphan – the royal scribe who played a decisive role during King Josiah's religious reforms in Judah. Although Azaliah does not appear as an active character in the biblical narratives, he founded one of the most influential official families in Judah's final phase. It was through his son Shaphan that the Book of the Law, discovered during temple repairs, was delivered to the king – an event that led to a profound religious and cultic reform around 622 BC. Azaliah's legacy was carried forward by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Ahikam, Gemariah, and Gedaliah – men who all shaped Judah's political and religious development during the dramatic period leading up to Jerusalem's fall and the Babylonian exile.
King Josiah sent Shaphan, son of Asaiah, son of Meshullam, to the temple to oversee repair work. This mission led directly to the discovery of the Book of the Law.
3In 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:
4"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.
5Let 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—
The high priest Hilkia found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord and gave it to Shaphan, son of Asaiah. Shaphan then read the contents of the book to King Josiah.
8Then 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.
9Shaphan 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."
When Shaphan read the Book of the Law aloud to King Josiah, the king tore his clothes in deep grief over the people's disobedience to God's word, and this became the starting point for a comprehensive reform.
In the wake of the discovery of the Book of the Law, the king sent a delegation that included among others Ahikam, son of Shaphan and thus grandson of Azaliah, to consult the Lord through the prophetess Huldah.
13"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."
14So 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.
Shaphan, son of Azaliah, is also mentioned in the parallel account in 2 Chronicles, where the temple repairs and the discovery of the Book of the Law are described with some differing details.
8In the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of the LORD his God.