Kungatiden
Josiah Cleanses the Land and Finds the Book of the Law
King Josiah leads a thorough cleansing of Judah and Jerusalem from idolatry and sends workers to repair the temple. During the work, the priest Hilkiah finds the Book of the Law of the Lord. When the king hears its words, he tears his clothes and sends messengers to the prophetess Huldah. She proclaims that disaster will come upon the place, but not in Josiah's lifetime because he humbled himself before God. The king gathers the people, reads from the Book of the Covenant, and renews the covenant with the Lord.
Andra Krönikeboken 34,1-33
1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
בֶּן־שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה שָׁנִ֖ים יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ בְמָלְכ֑וֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וְאַחַת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
2He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, walking in the ways of David his father and turning aside neither to the right nor to the left.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ בְּדַרְכֵי֙ דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֔יו וְלֹא־סָ֖ר יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃
3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the cast idols.
וּבִשְׁמוֹנֶ֨ה שָׁנִ֜ים לְמָלְכ֗וֹ וְהוּא֙ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ נַ֔עַר הֵחֵ֕ל לִדְר֕וֹשׁ לֵאלֹהֵ֖י דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֑יו וּבִשְׁתֵּ֧ים עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֗ה הֵחֵל֙ לְטַהֵ֔ר אֶת־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם מִן־הַבָּמוֹת֙ וְהָ֣אֲשֵׁרִ֔ים וְהַפְּסִלִ֖ים וְהַמַּסֵּכֽוֹת׃
4Under his direction they tore down the altars of the Baals; he cut to pieces the incense altars that stood above them, and he shattered the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the cast idols, ground them to dust, and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
וַיְנַתְּצ֣וּ לְפָנָ֗יו אֵ֚ת מִזְבְּח֣וֹת הַבְּעָלִ֔ים וְהַֽחַמָּנִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־לְמַ֥עְלָה מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם גִּדֵּ֑עַ וְ֠הָאֲשֵׁרִים וְהַפְּסִלִ֤ים וְהַמַּסֵּכוֹת֙ שִׁבַּ֣ר וְהֵדַ֔ק וַיִּזְרֹק֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַקְּבָרִ֔ים הַזֹּבְחִ֖ים לָהֶֽם׃
5He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
וְעַצְמוֹת֙ כֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים שָׂרַ֖ף עַל־*מזבחותים **מִזְבְּחוֹתָ֑ם וַיְטַהֵ֥ר אֶת־יְהוּדָ֖ה וְאֶת־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
6He did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins that lay around them.
וּבְעָרֵ֨י מְנַשֶּׁ֧ה וְאֶפְרַ֛יִם וְשִׁמְע֖וֹן וְעַד־נַפְתָּלִ֑י *בהר *בתיהם **בְּחַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם סָבִֽיב׃
7He tore down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and the carved images into powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
וַיְנַתֵּ֣ץ אֶת־הַֽמִּזְבְּח֗וֹת וְאֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרִ֤ים וְהַפְּסִלִים֙ כִּתַּ֣ת לְהֵדַ֔ק וְכָל־הַֽחַמָּנִ֥ים גִּדַּ֖ע בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּ֖שָׁב לִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ ס
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.
וּבִשְׁנַ֨ת שְׁמוֹנֶ֤ה עֶשְׂרֵה֙ לְמָלְכ֔וֹ לְטַהֵ֥ר הָאָ֖רֶץ וְהַבָּ֑יִת שָׁ֠לַח אֶת־שָׁפָ֨ן בֶּן־אֲצַלְיָ֜הוּ וְאֶת־מַעֲשֵׂיָ֣הוּ שַׂר־הָעִ֗יר וְ֠אֵת יוֹאָ֤ח בֶּן־יֽוֹאָחָז֙ הַמַּזְכִּ֔יר לְחַזֵּ֕ק אֶת־בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽיו׃
9They went to Hilkiah the high priest and handed over the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites who guarded the thresholds had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.[^1]
[^1]: The written Hebrew text reads "the inhabitants of Jerusalem"; the traditional reading is "and they returned to Jerusalem."
וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ אֶל־חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ ׀ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֗וֹל וַֽיִּתְּנוּ֮ אֶת־הַכֶּסֶף֮ הַמּוּבָ֣א בֵית־אֱלֹהִים֒ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָסְפֽוּ־הַלְוִיִּם֩ שֹׁמְרֵ֨י הַסַּ֜ף מִיַּ֧ד מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה וְאֶפְרַ֗יִם וּמִכֹּל֙ שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִכָּל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן *וישבי **וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ יְרֽוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
10They handed it over to those doing the work, the men appointed over the house of the LORD, and those who were doing the work in the house of the LORD used it to restore and repair the temple.
וַֽיִּתְּנ֗וּ עַל־יַד֙ עֹשֵׂ֣ה הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה הַמֻּפְקָדִ֖ים בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ אֹת֜וֹ עוֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר עֹשִׂים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה לִבְדּ֥וֹק וּלְחַזֵּ֖ק הַבָּֽיִת׃
11They gave it to the carpenters and builders to buy dressed stone and timber for couplings and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.
וַֽיִּתְּנ֗וּ לֶחָֽרָשִׁים֙ וְלַבֹּנִ֔ים לִקְנוֹת֙ אַבְנֵ֣י מַחְצֵ֔ב וְעֵצִ֖ים לַֽמְחַבְּר֑וֹת וּלְקָרוֹת֙ אֶת־הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁחִ֖יתוּ מַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃
12The men did the work faithfully. Over them were appointed Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, to direct them, along with the Levites who were all skilled with musical instruments.
וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩ עֹשִׂ֨ים בֶּאֱמוּנָ֜ה בַּמְּלָאכָ֗ה וַעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם ׀ מֻ֠פְקָדִים יַ֣חַת וְעֹבַדְיָ֤הוּ הַלְוִיִּם֙ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י וּזְכַרְיָ֧ה וּמְשֻׁלָּ֛ם מִן־בְּנֵ֥י הַקְּהָתִ֖ים לְנַצֵּ֑חַ וְהַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם כָּל־מֵבִ֖ין בִּכְלֵי־שִֽׁיר׃
13They were also over the laborers and directed all the workmen in every kind of task. Some of the Levites served as scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.
וְעַ֣ל הַסַּבָּלִ֗ים וּֽמְנַצְּחִים֙ לְכֹל֙ עֹשֵׂ֣ה מְלָאכָ֔ה לַעֲבוֹדָ֖ה וַעֲבוֹדָ֑ה וּמֵֽהַלְוִיִּ֔ם סוֹפְרִ֥ים וְשֹׁטְרִ֖ים וְשׁוֹעֲרִֽים׃
14While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses.
וּבְהוֹצִיאָ֣ם אֶת־הַכֶּ֔סֶף הַמּוּבָ֖א בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה מָצָא֙ חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֶת־סֵ֥פֶר תּֽוֹרַת־יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃
15Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD," and he gave the book to Shaphan.
וַיַּ֣עַן חִלְקִיָּ֗הוּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־שָׁפָ֣ן הַסּוֹפֵ֔ר סֵ֧פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֛ה מָצָ֖אתִי בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֧ן חִלְקִיָּ֛הוּ אֶת־הַסֵּ֖פֶר אֶל־שָׁפָֽן׃
16Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported to him as well, "Your servants are doing everything that was entrusted to them.
וַיָּבֵ֨א שָׁפָ֤ן אֶת־הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֨שֶׁב ע֧וֹד אֶת־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ דָּבָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־נִתַּ֥ן בְּיַד־עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ הֵ֥ם עֹשִֽׂים׃
17They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and handed it over to the supervisors and the workmen."
וַיַּתִּ֕יכוּ אֶת־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּמְצָ֣א בְּבֵית־יְהוָ֑ה וַֽיִּתְּנ֗וּהוּ עַל־יַד֙ הַמֻּפְקָדִ֔ים וְעַל־יַ֖ד עוֹשֵׂ֥י הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃
18Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
וַיַּגֵּ֞ד שָׁפָ֤ן הַסּוֹפֵר֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֔ר סֵ֚פֶר נָ֣תַן לִ֔י חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיִּקְרָא־ב֥וֹ שָׁפָ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
19When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.
וַיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֣י הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו׃
20He gave this command to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant:
וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־חִלְקִיָּ֡הוּ וְאֶת־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁ֠פָן וְאֶת־עַבְדּ֨וֹן בֶּן־מִיכָ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שָׁפָ֣ן הַסּוֹפֵ֗ר וְאֵ֛ת עֲשָׂיָ֥ה עֶֽבֶד־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹֽר׃
21"Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who remain in Israel and Judah concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us, because our fathers did not keep the word of the LORD by doing everything written in this book.
לְכוּ֩ דִרְשׁ֨וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֜ה בַּעֲדִ֗י וּבְעַד֙ הַנִּשְׁאָר֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל וּבִֽיהוּדָ֔ה עַל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַסֵּ֖פֶר אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִמְצָ֑א כִּֽי־גְדוֹלָ֤ה חֲמַת־יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִתְּכָ֣ה בָ֔נוּ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־שָׁמְר֤וּ אֲבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת כְּכָל־הַכָּת֖וּב עַל־הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַזֶּֽה׃ פ
22So Hilkiah and those the king had sent went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District, and they spoke with her about this.
וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ חִלְקִיָּ֜הוּ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶל־חֻלְדָּ֨ה הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה אֵ֣שֶׁת ׀ שַׁלֻּ֣ם בֶּן־*תוקהת **תָּקְהַ֗ת בֶּן־חַסְרָה֙ שׁוֹמֵ֣ר הַבְּגָדִ֔ים וְהִ֛יא יוֹשֶׁ֥בֶת בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יהָ כָּזֹֽאת׃ ס
23She said to them: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם כֹּה־אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִמְר֣וּ לָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃ ס
24this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants—all the curses written in the book that was read before the king of Judah.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֨י מֵבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה עַל־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וְעַל־יוֹשְׁבָ֑יו אֵ֤ת כָּל־הָאָלוֹת֙ הַכְּתוּב֣וֹת עַל־הַסֵּ֔פֶר אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָֽרְא֔וּ לִפְנֵ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃
25Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods, provoking me to anger with all the works of their hands, my wrath will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.
תַּ֣חַת ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲזָב֗וּנִי *ויקטירו **וַֽיְקַטְּרוּ֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים לְמַ֙עַן֙ הַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי בְּכֹ֖ל מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְדֵיהֶ֑ם וְתִתַּ֧ךְ חֲמָתִ֛י בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה׃
26But say this to 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:
וְאֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה הַשֹּׁלֵ֤חַ אֶתְכֶם֙ לִדְר֣וֹשׁ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה כֹּ֥ה תֹאמְר֖וּ אֵלָ֑יו ס כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמָֽעְתָּ׃
27Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes, and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.
יַ֠עַן רַךְ־לְבָ֨בְךָ֜ וַתִּכָּנַ֣ע ׀ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֗ים בְּשָׁמְעֲךָ֤ אֶת־דְּבָרָיו֙ עַל־הַמָּק֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ וְעַל־יֹ֣שְׁבָ֔יו וַתִּכָּנַ֣ע לְפָנַ֔י וַתִּקְרַ֥ע אֶת־בְּגָדֶ֖יךָ וַתֵּ֣בְךְּ לְפָנָ֑י וְגַם־אֲנִ֥י שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
28Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be laid in your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am bringing on this place and on its inhabitants." So they brought back word to the king.
הִנְנִ֨י אֹֽסִפְךָ֜ אֶל־אֲבֹתֶ֗יךָ וְנֶאֱסַפְתָּ֣ אֶל־קִבְרֹתֶיךָ֮ בְּשָׁלוֹם֒ וְלֹא־תִרְאֶ֣ינָה עֵינֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹל֙ הָֽרָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנִ֥י מֵבִ֛יא עַל־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וְעַל־יֹשְׁבָ֑יו וַיָּשִׁ֥יבוּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ דָּבָֽר׃ פ
29Then the king sent word and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֕ף אֶת־כָּל־זִקְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
30He went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, from the greatest to the least, and he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
וַיַּ֣עַל הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ בֵּית־יְ֠הוָה וְכָל־אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדָ֜ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם מִגָּד֣וֹל וְעַד־קָטָ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֣א בְאָזְנֵיהֶ֗ם אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי֙ סֵ֣פֶר הַבְּרִ֔ית הַנִּמְצָ֖א בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
31The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, carrying out the words of the covenant written in this book.
וַיַּעֲמֹ֨ד הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ עַל־עָמְד֗וֹ וַיִּכְרֹ֣ת אֶֽת־הַבְּרִית֮ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָה֒ לָלֶ֜כֶת אַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה וְלִשְׁמ֤וֹר אֶת־מִצְוֺתָיו֙ וְעֵֽדְוֺתָ֣יו וְחֻקָּ֔יו בְּכָל־לְבָב֖וֹ וּבְכָל־נַפְשׁ֑וֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י הַבְּרִ֔ית הַכְּתוּבִ֖ים עַל־הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַזֶּֽה׃
32Then he had everyone present in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
וַיַּעֲמֵ֕ד אֵ֛ת כָּל־הַנִּמְצָ֥א בִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם כִּבְרִ֥ית אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
33Josiah removed all the detestable things from all the lands belonging to the Israelites, and he made all who were in Israel serve the LORD their God. As long as he lived, they did not turn away from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.
וַיָּ֨סַר יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֜הוּ אֶת־כָּל־הַתּוֹעֵב֗וֹת מִֽכָּל־הָאֲרָצוֹת֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַֽיַּעֲבֵ֗ד אֵ֤ת כָּל־הַנִּמְצָא֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַעֲב֖וֹד אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם כָּל־יָמָ֕יו לֹ֣א סָ֔רוּ מֵֽאַחֲרֵ֕י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ פ