1.
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
eight years. Manasseh began at twelve, bred under godly Hezekiah. Josiah began at eight, bred by ungodly Amon. Contrast the two characters.
Boscath. In Judah. Compare Joshua 15:39 .
2.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
turned not aside. Josiah is the only king of whom this is said.
3.
And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,
the eighteenth year. Marks the completion of the work (2 Kings 23:23 ). Begun in the twelfth year (2 Chronicles 34:3 , 2 Chronicles 34:8 ). Jeremiah was called in Josiah's thirteenth year (Jeremiah 1:2 ; Jeremiah 25:3 ), and was to Josiah what Isaiah had been to Hezekiah.
Shaphan. Eight relatives mentioned in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles:
(1) His grandfather, Meshullam (2 Kings 22:3 );
(2) his father, Azaliah (2 Kings 22:3 );
(3) his son, Ahikam (2 Kings 22:12 );
(4) his son, Gemariah (Jeremiah 36:10 );
(5) his son, Elasah (Jeremiah 29:3 );
(6) his son, Jaazaniah (Ezekiel 8:11 );
(7) his grandson, Michaiah (Jeremiah 36:11 , Jeremiah 36:13 );
(8) his grandson, Gedaliah ( Jer 39:43 ).
4.
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:
Hilkiah. The son of Shallum and father of Azariah (1 Chronicles 6:13 ). sum = pour out, or pay away.
5.
And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,
of the doers. These were the overseers. to the doers. These were the labourers.
6.
Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.
the house. Some codices, with two early printed editions, and Septuagint, read "the breaches of the house", as in 2 Kings 22:5 .
7.
Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
8.
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
the book of the law. i.e. the original copy of the Pentateuch, laid up by the side of the Ark (Deuteronomy 31:24-26 ). Probably secreted during the reigns of Manasseh (2 Kings 21:16 ) and Amon (2 Kings 21:21 ). See App-47 .
9.
And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD.
10.
And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
read it. Especially those parts applicable to the then circumstances, such as Leviticus 26 . Deuteronomy 28 . &c.
11.
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
he rent his clothes. Not necessarily on account of his surprise, but on account of the solemnity of the words.
12.
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,
Ahikara. The friend of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24 ) and father of Gedaliah (Compare 2 Kings 25:22 .Jeremiah 39:14 , Jeremiah 40:5 ). See note on "Shaphan" (2 Kings 22:3 ).
Achbor. Not the same person as Abdon, in 2 Chronicles 34:20 .
13.
Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
and for all Judah. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "and for the remnant in Israel and in Judah". Compare 2 Chronicles 34:21 . 2 Chronicles 6:4 ); Deborah (Judges 4:4 ); Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14 ); Isaiah's wife (Isaiah 8:3 ); Anna (Luke 2:36 ); and Philip's daughters (Acts 21:9 ).
the wife. Compare the usage (Judges 4:4 ). The employment of a woman as prophet shows the degeneracy of the times, deplored by Isaiah (2 Kings 9:15 ), denounced by Jeremiah (2 Kings 5:7 , 2 Kings 5:8 ; 2 Kings 14:14 ; 2 Kings 23:14-30 ; 2Ki 37:19 . Lamentations 2:14 ), and by Ezekiel (2 Kings 13:2-23 ). Inferred also from Huldah's words (verses: 2 Kings 22:15-18 ), and Jeremiah 5:31 .
wardrobe: i.e. vestry, or vestments.
now. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis.
in the college. Hebrew in the second. Some supply "part", or "city". Probably = "second gate [of the city]". Compare 2 Chronicles 34:22 and Zephaniah 1:10 ,
14.
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
15.
And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
16.
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
17.
Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
forsaken Me. Huldah adopts the words of Deuteronomy 29:25-27 .
18.
But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
As touching. No Ellipsis here, but at end of verse. See below.
heard, or hearkened to. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis thus: "Thus saith Jehovah Elohim: the words which thou hast hearkened to [shall surely come to pass]. In that thine heart was tender . . . I also have heard thee".
19.
Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.
Because = In that.
a desolation and a curse. These words are from Deuteronomy 11:26 ; Deuteronomy 28:15-19 ; Deuteronomy 29:19 ; Deuteronomy 30:1 . Compare Jeremiah 44:22 .
20.
Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
gathered. See note on Genesis 49:33 .
thy grave. Hebrew. keber (not Sheol). in 2 Kings 21:26 rendered sepulchre.
in peace. Josiah died in war (2 Kings 23:29 ); but why not "in peace" of mind and heart as well? Compare Isaiah 57:2 ,