Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
1Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 31 years. His mother’s name was Jedidah. She was the daughter of Adaiah. She was from Bozkath. 2Josiah 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.
3King Josiah sent his secretary Shaphan to the Lord’s temple. It was in the 18th year of Josiah’s rule. Shaphan was the son of Azaliah. Azaliah was the son of Meshullam. Josiah said, 4“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest. Have him add up the money that has been brought into the Lord’s temple. The men who guard the doors have collected it from the people. 5Have them put all the money in the care of certain men. These men have been put in charge of the work on the Lord’s temple. Have them pay the workers who repair it. 6Have them pay the builders and those who work with wood. Have them pay those who lay the stones. Also have them buy lumber and blocks of stone to repair the temple. 7But they don’t have to report how they use the money that is given to them. That’s because they are completely honest.”
8Hilkiah the high priest spoke to Shaphan the secretary. Hilkiah said, “I’ve found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave it to Shaphan, who read it. 9Then Shaphan went to King Josiah. Shaphan told him, “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the Lord’s temple. They’ve put it in the care of the workers and directors there.” 10Shaphan continued, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” Shaphan read some of it to the king.
11The king heard the words of the Book of the Law. When he did, he tore his royal robes. 12He gave orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah. Ahikam was the son of Shaphan. Akbor was the son of Micaiah. And Asaiah was the king’s attendant. Josiah commanded them, 13“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 and the whole nation of Judah. The Lord is very angry with us. That’s because our people who have lived before us didn’t obey the words of this book. They didn’t do everything written there about us.”
14Hilkiah the priest went to speak to Huldah the prophet. So did Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah. Huldah was the wife of Shallum. Shallum was the son of Tikvah. Tikvah was the son of Harhas. Shallum took care of the sacred robes. Huldah lived in the New Quarter of Jerusalem.
15Huldah said to them, “The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, ‘Here is what you must tell the man who sent you to me. 16Tell him, “The Lord says, ‘I am going to bring horrible trouble on this place and its people. Everything written in the book the king of Judah has read will take place. 17That’s because the people have deserted me. They have burned incense to other gods. They have made me very angry because of the statues of gods 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.’ ” ’ 18The king of Judah sent you to ask the Lord for advice. Tell him, ‘The Lord is the God of Israel. He has a message for you about the things you heard. He says, 19“Your heart was tender. You made yourself humble in the eyes of the Lord. You heard what I spoke against this place and its people. I said they would be under a curse. I told them they would be destroyed. You tore your royal robes and wept in front of me. And I have heard you,” announces the Lord. 20“You will join the members of your family who have already died. You will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the trouble I am going to bring on this place.” ’ ”
Huldah’s answer was taken back to the king.
Kong Josias af Juda restaurerer templet
1Josias var otte år gammel, da han blev konge, og han regerede i Jerusalem i 31 år. Hans mor hed Jedida og var datter af Adaja fra byen Botzkat. 2Han gjorde, hvad der var ret i Herrens øjne og fulgte i sin forfar Davids spor.
3-4I sit 18. regeringsår sendte kong Josias statssekretæren Shafan, som var søn af Atzalja og sønnesøn af Meshullam, af sted til templet med følgende besked til ypperstepræsten Hilkija: „Tag de penge, som folket giver til præsterne, når de ankommer til Herrens hus, 5-6og giv pengene til dem, der fører tilsyn med tempelbygningerne, så de kan købe tømmer og sten og ansætte tømrere, bygningshåndværkere og murere, der kan restaurere templet. 7I behøver ikke at bede dem om at aflægge regnskab for, hvordan de administrerer pengene, for jeg har fuld tillid til dem—de er alle pålidelige mænd.”
Ypperstepræsten finder lovbogen under restaureringen
8En dag gik ypperstepræsten Hilkija til statssekretæren Shafan og sagde til ham: „Jeg har fundet lovbogen i Herrens hus.” Han overlod bogrullen til Shafan, som begyndte at læse i den. 9Shafan gik derefter til kongen og aflagde rapport: „De penge, der er blevet indsamlet i templet, har vi udbetalt til opsynsmændene, som aflønner dem, der arbejder på restaureringen af templet.” 10Derefter tilføjede han: „Præsten Hilkija gav mig denne bog.” Så gav han sig til at læse op for kongen. 11Da kongen hørte, hvad der stod i bogen, blev han så fortvivlet, at han rev en flænge i sit tøj. 12-13Øjeblikkeligt tilkaldte han Hilkija og nogle flere af sine embedsmænd. Det drejede sig om hans personlige tjener Asaja, Shafans søn Ahikam og Mikas søn Ahbor. „Gå hen og rådspørg Herren på mine og folkets vegne om indholdet af denne lovbog,” sagde han. „Herren er uden tvivl vred på os, for vores forfædre har ikke handlet efter forskrifterne i denne bog.”
14Derpå gik ypperstepræsten og de fire embedsmænd hen til Jerusalems nye bydel, hvor profetinden Hulda boede sammen med sin mand, Shallum (en søn af Tikva, som var søn af Harhas). Shallum havde ansvar for præstedragterne. 15-16Hulda sagde til dem: „Herren, Israels Gud, siger: Sig til den mand, som sendte jer, at jeg, Herren, vil straffe dette sted og dets indbyggere i overensstemmelse med den bog, Judas konge nu har læst, 17for de har forkastet mig til fordel for andre guder. De har ofret røgelse til afguderne og provokeret mig med alle deres afgudsbilleder. Jeg må straffe dem, og straffen står ikke til at ændre. 18Men til kongen, som sendte jer for at rådspørge Herren, skal I overbringe følgende personlige budskab: Den straf, som du lige har hørt om, står fast, 19men fordi du var fortvivlet over, hvad der er sket og ydmygede dig for mig, da du hørte om mine advarsler om den forbandelse og ødelæggelse, der skal ramme landet, og fordi du flængede dit tøj og græd for mit ansigt, så vil jeg bønhøre dig. 20Jeg vil udskyde dommens time over Jerusalem, så byen ikke bliver ødelagt i din levetid. Du skal få lov at dø i fred og blive skånet for at være vidne til den katastrofe, jeg sender over dette sted.” Med det budskab vendte de tilbage til kongen.
