Josiah’s Reforms
1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. 4Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. 6In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, 7he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.
8In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.
9They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the gatekeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. 11They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.
12The workers labored faithfully. Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments— 13had charge of the laborers and supervised all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, scribes and gatekeepers.
The Book of the Law Found
14While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. 15Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan.
16Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. 17They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” 18Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
19When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. 20He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah,34:20 Also called Akbor son of Micaiah Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 21“Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”
22Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him34:22 One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts do not have had sent with him. went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,34:22 Also called Tikvah the son of Hasrah,34:22 Also called Harhas keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.
23She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made,34:25 Or by everything they have done my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ 26Tell 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 heard: 27Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. 28Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’ ”
So they took her answer back to the king.
29Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 31The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.
32Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.
33Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
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.
