Josiah Makes Judah a Better Nation
1Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 31 years. 2He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He lived the way King David had lived. He didn’t turn away from it to the right or the left.
3While he was still young, he began to worship the God of King David. It was the eighth year of Josiah’s rule. In his 12th year Josiah began to get rid of the high places in Judah and Jerusalem. He removed the poles used to worship the female god named Asherah. He also removed the statues of other false gods. 4He ordered the altars of the gods that were named Baal to be torn down. Josiah cut to pieces the altars above them that were used for burning incense. He smashed the Asherah poles. He also smashed the statues of other false gods. Josiah broke all of them to pieces. He scattered the pieces over the graves of those who had offered sacrifices to those gods. 5He burned the bones of the priests on their altars. That’s the way he made Judah and Jerusalem pure and “clean.” 6Josiah went to the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon. He went all the way to Naphtali. He also went to the destroyed places around all those towns. 7Everywhere Josiah went he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles. He crushed the statues of gods to powder. He cut to pieces all the altars for burning incense. He destroyed all those things everywhere in Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.
8In the 18th year of Josiah’s rule, he decided to make the land and temple pure and “clean.” So he sent Shaphan, Maaseiah and Joah to repair the temple of the Lord his God. Shaphan was the son of Azaliah. Maaseiah was ruler of the city. And Joah, the son of Joahaz, kept the records.
9These men went to Hilkiah the high priest. They gave him the money that had been brought into God’s temple. The Levites who guarded the gates had collected it. They had received some of the money from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim. They had also received some from the other people who remained in Israel. The rest of the money came from other people. It came from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the people living in Jerusalem. 10Men were appointed to direct the work on the Lord’s temple. All the money collected was given to them. These men paid the workers who repaired the temple. They made it look like new again. 11They also gave money to the builders and those who worked with wood. The workers used it to buy lumber and blocks of stone. The lumber was used for the supports and beams for the buildings. The kings of Judah had let the buildings fall down.
12The workers were faithful in doing the work. Jahath and Obadiah directed them. They were Levites from the family line of Merari. Zechariah and Meshullam also directed them. They were from the family line of Kohath. The Levites were skilled in playing musical instruments. 13They were in charge of the laborers. They directed all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries and writers. Other Levites guarded the gates.
Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
14The money that had been taken into the Lord’s temple was being brought out. At that time Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord. It had been given through Moses. 15Hilkiah spoke to Shaphan the secretary. Hilkiah said, “I’ve found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.
16Then Shaphan took the book to King Josiah. He told him, “Your officials are doing everything they’ve been asked to do. 17They have paid out the money that was in the Lord’s temple. They’ve put it in the care of the directors and workers.” 18Shaphan continued, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” Shaphan read some of it to the king.
19The king heard the words of the Law. When he did, he tore his royal robes. 20He gave orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam, Abdon, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah. Ahikam was the son of Shaphan. Abdon was the son of Micah. And Asaiah was the king’s attendant. Josiah commanded them, 21“Go. Ask the Lord for advice. Ask him about what is written in this book that has been found. Do it for me. Also do it for the people who remain in Israel and Judah. The Lord has been very angry with us. That’s because our people before us didn’t obey what the Lord had said. They didn’t do everything written in this book.”
22Hilkiah and the people the king had sent with him went to speak to Huldah the prophet. She was the wife of Shallum. Shallum was the son of Tokhath. Tokhath was the son of Hasrah. Shallum took care of the sacred robes. Huldah lived in the New Quarter of Jerusalem.
23Huldah said to them, “The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, ‘Here is what you should tell the man who sent you to me. 24“The Lord says, ‘I am going to bring horrible trouble on this place and its people. There are curses written down in the book that has been read to the king of Judah. All those curses will take place. 25That’s because the people have deserted me. They have burned incense to other gods. They have made me very angry because of everything their hands have made. So my anger will burn like a fire against this place. And the fire of my anger will not be put out.’ ” ’ 26The king of Judah sent you to ask for advice. Tell him, ‘The Lord is the God of Israel. He has a message for you about the things you heard. 27The Lord says, “Your heart was tender. You made yourself humble in my sight. You heard what I spoke against this place and its people. So you made yourself humble. You tore your royal robes and wept. And I have heard you,” announces the Lord. 28You will join the members of your family who have already died. You will be buried in peace. You will not see all the trouble I am going to bring. I am going to bring trouble on this place and the people who live here.’ ”
Huldah’s answer was taken back to the king.
29Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30He went up to the Lord’s temple. The people of Judah and Jerusalem went with him. So did the priests and Levites. All of them went, from the least important of them to the most important. The king had all the words of the Book of the Covenant read to them. The book had been found in the Lord’s temple. 31The king stood next to his pillar. He agreed to the terms of the covenant in front of the Lord. The king promised to serve the Lord and obey his commands, directions and rules. He promised to obey them with all his heart and with all his soul. So the king promised to obey the terms of the covenant that were written in that book.
32Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and in Benjamin commit themselves to the covenant. The people of Jerusalem did it in keeping with the covenant of the God of Israel.
33Josiah removed all the statues of false gods from the whole territory that belonged to the Israelites. The Lord hated those statues. Josiah had everyone in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they didn’t fail to follow the Lord, the God of their people.
Yosia Di Ɔhene Wɔ Yuda
1Yosia bɛdii adeɛ no, na wadi mfirinhyia nwɔtwe, na ɔdii ɔhene wɔ Yerusalem mfirinhyia aduasa baako. 2Ɔyɛɛ deɛ ɛsɔ Awurade ani, yɛɛ deɛ ne tete agya Dawid yɛeɛ no bi. Wamfiri adeteneneeyɛ ho.
3Yosia hyɛɛ aseɛ hwehwɛɛ ne tete agya Dawid Onyankopɔn akyiri ɛkwan wɔ ɛberɛ a na ɔda so yɛ abɔfra a wadi adeɛ mfeɛ nwɔtwe. Na ne mfeɛ dumienu so no, ɔdwiraa Yuda ne Yerusalem, sɛee abosonsom asɔreeɛ nyinaa, Asera afɔrebukyia, ahoni a wɔasene ne nsɛsodeɛ a wɔagu no nyinaa. 4Ɔhwɛ ma wɔbubuu Baal nsɛsodeɛ afɔrebukyia no ne nnuhwam afɔrebukyia no nyinaa guiɛ. Ɔmaa wɔdwerɛɛ Asera afɔrebukyia, ahoni a wɔasene ne nsɛsodeɛ a wɔagu no nyinaa, na wɔto petee awufoɔ a wɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ maa wɔn no damena so. 5Afei, ɔhyee abosomfoɔ nnompe. Ɔhyee no wɔn ankasa afɔrebukyia so, nam so dwiraa Yuda ne Yerusalem ho. 6Ɔyɛɛ saa ara wɔ Manase, Efraim ne Simeon nkuro so, kɔeɛ ara mpo, kɔduruu Naftali. 7Ɔsɛee abosonsomfoɔ afɔrebukyia, Asera afɔrebukyia, na ɔyam ahoni no muhumuhu. Ɔdwirii nnuhwam afɔrebukyia a ɛwɔ Israelman mu nyinaa, na ɔsane kɔɔ Yerusalem.
8Nʼadedie mfeɛ dunwɔtwe so no a ɔwiee asase no ne asɔredan no ho dwira no, Yosia yii Asalia babarima Safan, Maaseia a ɔyɛ Yerusalem amrado ne Yoahas babarima Yoa, adehyeɛ abakɔsɛm twerɛfoɔ, sɛ wɔnsiesie Awurade, ne Onyankopɔn asɔredan no.
9Wɔde sika a Lewifoɔ a wɔsom sɛ aponoanohwɛfoɔ agyegye wɔ Onyankopɔn Asɔredan no ho maa ɔsɔfopanin Hilkia. Manase ne Efraim nkurɔfoɔ ne Israel nkaeɛfoɔ nyinaa ne Yuda ne Benyamin ne Yerusalemfoɔ na wɔde akyɛdeɛ no baeɛ. 10Ɔde sika no maa nnipa a wɔayi wɔn sɛ wɔnhwɛ nsiesie Awurade Asɔredan no. Na wɔtuaa wɔn a wɔyɛɛ adwuma no ka. 11Wɔbɔɔ nnua dwumfoɔ ne adansifoɔ paa, tɔɔ aboɔ a wɔatwa a wɔde bɛsiesie afasuo no ne nnua a wɔde bɛyɛ nsamsoɔ ne mpunan. Wɔsiesiee deɛ anka Yuda ahemfo a wɔdii ɛkan no rema asɛe no.
12Adwumayɛfoɔ no de nokorɛdie yɛɛ adwuma. Yahat ne Obadia a wɔyɛ Lewifoɔ a wɔfiri Merarifoɔ abusua mu, ne Sakaria ne Mesulam a wɔyɛ Lewifoɔ a wɔfiri Kohatfoɔ abusua mu na wɔhwɛɛ adwumafoɔ no so. Lewifoɔ a aka a wɔn nyinaa wɔ nnwontodeɛ ho nimdeɛ no, 13wɔmaa wɔyɛɛ sohwɛfoɔ maa adwumayɛfoɔ akuo hodoɔ. Na afoforɔ bi nso yɛɛ adwuma sɛ atwerɛfoɔ, mpanimfoɔ ne aponoanohwɛfoɔ.
Hilkia Kɔhunu Awurade Mmara Nwoma No
14Na ɔsɔfopanin Hilkia retwerɛtwerɛ sika a wɔagyegye wɔ Awurade Asɔredan no ho no, ɔhunuu Awurade mmara nwoma a wɔnam Mose so de maeɛ no. 15Na Hilkia ka kyerɛɛ Safan a ɔyɛ asɛnnie twerɛfoɔ no sɛ, “Mahunu mmara nwoma no wɔ Awurade Asɔredan no mu.” Na Hilkia de nwoma mmobɔeɛ no maa Safan.
16Safan de nwoma mmobɔeɛ no kɔmaa ɔhene kaa sɛ, “Wo mpanimfoɔ no reyɛ biribiara a wɔkyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnyɛ no. 17Sika a wɔgyegyee no Awurade Asɔredan no mu no, wɔde ama sohwɛfoɔ ne adwumayɛfoɔ no.” 18Safan ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Ɔsɔfopanin Hilkia de nwoma mmobɔeɛ bi ama me.” Na Safan kenkan kyerɛɛ ɔhene.
19Ɛberɛ a ɔhene no tee mmara no mu nsɛm no, ɔde ahometeɛ sunsuanee ne ntadeɛ mu. 20Afei, ɔhyɛɛ Hilkia, Safan babarima Ahikam, Mika babarima Abdon, asɛnnie twerɛfoɔ Safan ne ɔhene ɔfotufoɔ Asaia sɛ, 21“Monkɔ Asɔredan no mu na mo ne Awurade nkɔkasa mma me ne Israel ne Yuda nkaeɛfoɔ nyinaa. Mommisa no nsɛm a wɔatwerɛ wɔ saa nwoma mmobɔeɛ a wɔahunu no ho nsɛm. Awurade abufuo aba yɛn so, ɛfiri sɛ, yɛn agyanom anni Awurade asɛm so. Yɛnyɛ deɛ nwoma mmobɔeɛ yi ka sɛ yɛnyɛ.”
22Hilkia ne mmarima a aka no kɔɔ odiyifoɔ baa Hulda a na ɔyɛ Tikwa babarima Salum yere ne Hasra a na ɔhwɛ Asɔredan mu adakaten so no nana nkyɛn, wɔ Yerusalem fa bi a wɔfrɛ hɔ sɛ Misne.
23Ɔbaa no ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, akasa! Monkɔka nkyerɛ onipa a ɔsomaa mo no sɛ, 24‘Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie: Akyinnyeɛ biara nni ho sɛ, mɛsɛe saa kuro yi ne emu nnipa. Nnome a wɔatwerɛ wɔ nwoma mmobɔeɛ a moakenkane yi mu nyinaa bɛba mu. 25Ɛfiri sɛ, nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda apa me na wɔsom abosonsomfoɔ anyame. Ɛno enti, me bo afu wɔn yie wɔ biribiara a wɔayɛ ho. Mʼabufuo bɛhwie agu saa beaeɛ ha, na biribiara rentumi nsi ano.’ 26Na monkɔ Yudahene a ɔsomaa mo sɛ monkɔhwehwɛ Awurade no nkyɛn, na monka nkyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Yei na Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, ka fa asɛm a motee seesei no ho. 27Ɛberɛ a wotee asɛm a meka de tiaa saa kuropɔn yi ne emu nnipa no, ɛhaa wo, maa wobrɛɛ wo ho ase Onyankopɔn anim. Wobrɛɛ wo ho ase, de ahometeɛ sunsuanee wʼatadeɛ mu, de ahonu suu wɔ mʼanim. Enti, nokorɛm, mate wo nne, Awurade na ɔseɛ. 28Meremma amanehunu a mahyehyɛ atia kuropɔn yi ne emu nnipa no mma mu, kɔsi sɛ wobɛwu na wɔasie wo asomdwoeɛ mu. Worenhunu amanehunu a mede bɛba beaeɛ yi so.’ ”
Enti, wɔsane de ɔbaa no nkra kɔmaa ɔhene no.
Yosia Ɔsom Nhyehyɛeɛ
29Na ɔhene no frɛɛ ntuanofoɔ a wɔwɔ Yuda ne Yerusalem nyinaa. 30Na ɔhene no ne Yuda ne Yerusalem manfoɔ nyinaa ne asɔfoɔ ne Lewifoɔ, nnipa no nyinaa, firi ɔkɛseɛ so kɔsi akumaa so, kɔɔ Awurade Asɔredan no mu. Ɛhɔ na ɔhene no kenkanee apam nwoma a wɔhunuu no Awurade Asɔredan mu no kyerɛɛ wɔn. 31Ɔhene no gyinaa nʼafa wɔ afadum no nkyɛn, na ɔtii apam no mu wɔ Awurade anim. Ɔhyɛɛ bɔ sɛ ɔfiri nʼakoma ne ne kra nyinaa mu bɛdi Awurade ɔhyɛ nsɛm, ahyɛdeɛ ne mmara so. Ɔhyɛɛ bɔ sɛ, ɔbɛdi apam no mu nhyehyɛeɛ a wɔatwerɛ wɔ nwoma mmobɔeɛ no mu no so.
32Na ɔka kyerɛɛ obiara a ɔwɔ Yerusalem ne nnipa a wɔwɔ Benyamin no sɛ, wɔnhyɛ bɔ saa ara. Ɔmanfoɔ a wɔwɔ Yerusalem yɛɛ saa no, wɔde tii wɔne Onyankopɔn, wɔn agyanom Onyankopɔn apam no mu.
33Enti, Yosia yiyii ahoni a ɛyɛ akyiwadeɛ no firii Israel asase no nyinaa so. Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ obiara nsom Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn. Na ne nkwa nna a aka no mu no nyinaa, wɔannane wɔn akyi ankyerɛ Awurade wɔn agyanom Onyankopɔn no da.
