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.
Yosia Mfalme Wa Yuda
(2 Nyakati 34; 35:20-27)
122:1 Yer 1:2; Yos 15:39Yosia alikuwa na miaka minane alipoanza kutawala, naye akatawala huko Yerusalemu miaka thelathini na mmoja. Mama yake aliitwa Yedida binti Adaya, kutoka Boskathi. 222:2 Kum 5:32Akafanya yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana na kuenenda katika njia zote za Daudi baba yake. Hakugeuka upande wa kuume wala wa kushoto.
322:3 2Nya 34:20; Yer 39:14Katika mwaka wa kumi na nane wa utawala wake, Mfalme Yosia akamtuma mwandishi Shafani mwana wa Azalia, mwana wa Meshulamu, kwenda katika Hekalu la Bwana. Akasema: 422:4 Ezr 7:1; 2Fal 12:4-5“Panda uende kwa Hilkia, kuhani mkuu, umwambie ahesabu zile fedha ambazo zimeletwa katika Hekalu la Bwana, ambazo mabawabu wamekusanya kutoka kwa watu. 522:5 2Fal 12:5Waambie waikabidhi kwa watu walioteuliwa kusimamia kazi ya Hekalu. Waamuru watu hawa wawalipe wafanyakazi ambao wanakarabati Hekalu la Bwana: 622:6 2Fal 12:11-12wale maseremala, wajenzi na waashi. Waambie pia wanunue mbao na mawe yaliyochongwa ili kukarabati Hekalu. 722:7 2Fal 12:15Lakini hawahitajiki kutoa hesabu ya fedha walizokabidhiwa, kwa sababu wanafanya kwa uaminifu.”
822:8 Kum 31:24; Gal 3:10Hilkia kuhani mkuu akamwambia Shafani mwandishi, “Nimekipata Kitabu cha Sheria ndani ya Hekalu la Bwana.” Akampa Shafani, ambaye alikisoma. 9Kisha Shafani mwandishi akamwendea mfalme na kumpa taarifa akisema: “Maafisa wako wametoa ile fedha ambayo ilikuwa ndani ya Hekalu la Bwana na imekabidhiwa mikononi mwa wasimamizi wa marekebisho ya Hekalu.” 1022:10 Yer 36:21Ndipo Shafani mwandishi akampasha mfalme habari kwamba: “Hilkia kuhani amenipa kitabu hiki.” Naye Shafani akakisoma kile kitabu mbele ya mfalme.
11Mfalme aliposikia maneno ya kile Kitabu cha Sheria, akararua mavazi yake. 1222:12 2Fal 25:22; Isa 8:14Akatoa maagizo haya kwa Hilkia kuhani, Ahikamu mwana wa Shafani, Akbori mwana wa Mikaya, Shafani mwandishi, na Asaya mtumishi wa mfalme: 1322:13 Kum 29:24-28; Amo 2:4“Nendeni mkamuulize Bwana kwa ajili yangu, na kwa ajili ya watu na Yuda wote kuhusu yale yaliyoandikwa ndani ya kitabu hiki ambacho kimepatikana. Hasira ya Bwana ni kubwa inayowaka dhidi yetu kwa sababu baba zetu hawakuyatii maneno ya kitabu hiki. Hawajatenda kulingana na yale yote yaliyoandikwa humo kutuhusu sisi.”
1422:14 Kut 15:20Hilkia kuhani, Ahikamu, Akbori, Shafani na Asaya wakaenda kuongea na nabii mke Hulda, ambaye alikuwa mke wa Shalumu mwana wa Tikwa, mwana wa Harhasi mtunzaji wa chumba cha mavazi. Hulda aliishi Yerusalemu katika Mtaa wa Pili.
15Akawaambia, “Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli: Mwambieni yule mtu aliyewatuma ninyi kwangu, 1622:16 Yos 23:15; Dan 9:11‘Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana: Nitaleta maafa juu ya mahali hapa na watu wake, kulingana na kila kitu kilichoandikwa katika kitabu hicho mfalme wa Yuda alichosoma. 1722:17 1Fal 9:9Kwa sababu wameniacha mimi na kufukiza uvumba kwa miungu mingine, na kunighadhibisha kwa sanamu zote zilizotengenezwa kwa mikono yao, hasira yangu itawaka dhidi ya mahali hapa, wala haitatulizwa.’ 1822:18 Yer 21:2Mwambieni mfalme wa Yuda, ambaye amewatuma kumuuliza Bwana, ‘Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, kuhusu maneno uliyoyasikia: 1922:19 Isa 37:15; Yer 26:6; Law 26:31Kwa kuwa moyo wako ulikuwa msikivu na ulijinyenyekeza mbele za Bwana uliposikia kile nilichosema dhidi ya mahali hapa na watu wake, kwamba wangelaaniwa na kuachwa ukiwa, basi kwa sababu uliyararua mavazi yako na kulia mbele zangu, nimekusikia, asema Bwana. 2022:20 Isa 47:11; 1Fal 21:29Kwa hiyo nitakukusanya kwa baba zako, nawe utazikwa kwa amani. Macho yako hayataona maafa yote nitakayoleta juu ya mahali hapa.’ ”
Basi wakapeleka jibu lake kwa mfalme.
