Jakautunut kuningaskuntaServantWise manc. 650–600 BC
Shaphan was a royal scribe under King Josiah of Judah. He played a crucial role in the religious reformation when he received the Book of the Law found in the temple and read it aloud to the king. His family continued to serve in important positions and supported the prophet Jeremiah.
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—
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."
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.