Josiah’s reforms
1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 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 laboured 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 labourers 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 enquire 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 enquire 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 made 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 made 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.
Enkyukakyuka Yosiya ze yaleeta
134:1 a 1By 3:14 b Zef 1:1Yosiya yali wa myaka munaana bwe yalya obwakabaka, era n’afugira emyaka amakumi asatu mu gumu mu Yerusaalemi. 234:2 2By 29:2N’akola ebirungi mu maaso ga Mukama, n’atambulira mu makubo ga Dawudi jjajjaawe, n’akwata ekkubo lya Mukama eggolokofu.
334:3 1Bk 13:2; 1By 16:11; 2By 15:2; 33:17, 22Mu mwaka ogw’omunaana ogw’okufuga kwe, ng’akyali muto, n’atandika okunoonya Katonda wa Dawudi jjajjaawe, era mu mwaka ogw’ekkumi n’ebiri n’atandika okuggya ebifo ebigulumivu, ne Baasera, n’ebifaananyi ebyole, n’ebifaananyi ebisaanuuse mu Yuda ne mu Yerusaalemi. 434:4 a Kuv 34:13 b Kuv 32:20; Lv 26:30; 2Bk 23:11; Mi 1:5N’alagira bamenyeemenye ebyoto bya Baali, n’atemaatema ebyoto kwe baayoterezanga obubaane ebyali waggulu waabyo, n’amenyaamenya ne Baasera, n’ebifaananyi ebyole, n’ebifaananyi ebisaanuuse; n’abisesebbula, enfuufu yaabyo n’agimansula ku malaalo g’abo abaaweerangayo ssaddaaka. 534:5 1Bk 13:2N’ayokera amagumba ga bakabona abaakolanga eby’ebivve ebyo ku byoto ebyo, n’atukuza Yuda ne Yerusaalemi. 6Ne mu bibuga bya Manase, ne Efulayimu, ne Simyoni, okutuukira ddala mu Nafutaali, ne mu matongo gaabyo okubyetooloola, 734:7 Kuv 32:20; 2By 31:1n’amenyaamenya ebyoto ne Baasera, n’asesebbula n’ebifaananyi ebyole, n’atemaatema ebyoto byonna kwe baayokeranga obubaane mu Isirayiri yonna, n’oluvannyuma n’addayo e Yerusaalemi.
8Awo mu mwaka ogw’ekkumi n’omunaana ogw’okufuga kwe ng’amaze okulongoosa ensi ne yeekaalu, n’alonda Safani mutabani wa Azaliya, ne Maaseya omwami w’ekibuga, ne Yowa mutabani wa Yowakazi omujjukiza, okuddaabiriza yeekaalu ya Mukama Katonda we. 934:9 1By 6:13; 2By 35:8Ne bagenda eri Kirukiya kabona asinga obukulu ne bawaayo ensimbi ezaaleetebwa mu yeekaalu ya Katonda, Abaleevi abaggazi ze baali basoloozezza mu bantu b’e Manase, ne Efulayimu, n’ekitundu kyonna ekyasigalawo, ne Yuda yonna, ne Benyamini, n’okuva eri abantu b’e Yerusaalemi. 10Ne bazikwasa abakozi abaalondebwa okulabirira omulimu gwa yeekaalu ya Mukama. Abo be basajja abaasasulanga abakozi abaddaabirizanga n’okulongoosa yeekaalu. 1134:11 a 2By 24:12 b 2By 33:4-7Ababazzi n’abazimbi nabo ne baweebwa ensimbi okugula amayinja amawoole, n’embaawo ez’ebizimbe bakabaka ba Yuda bye baalagajjalira okuddaabiriza.
1234:12 a 2Bk 12:15 b 1By 25:1Abasajja ne bakola omulimu n’obwesigwa. Abaabalabiriranga baali: Yakasi ne Obadiya Abaleevi ab’omu kika kya Merali, ne Zekkaliya ne Mesullamu ab’omu kika ky’Abakokasi. Abaleevi bonna abaakubanga ebivuga 1334:13 1By 23:4be baavunaanyizibwanga abapakasi, n’okulabirira abakozi bonna mu kuweereza okw’engeri zonna. Abamu ku Baleevi baali bawandiisi, n’abalala ng’abaami, n’abalala nga baggazi.
Ekitabo ky’Amateeka Kirabibwa
14Awo bwe baali bakuŋŋaanya ensimbi ze baggya mu yeekaalu ya Mukama, Kirukiya kabona, n’azuula ekitabo eky’amateeka ga Mukama agaaweebwa Musa. 1534:15 2Bk 22:8; Ezr 7:6; Nek 8:1Awo Kirukiya kabona n’agamba Safani omuwandiisi nti, “Nzudde ekitabo eky’amateeka mu yeekaalu ya Mukama.” N’akiwa Safani.
16Safani n’akitwalira kabaka, n’amutegeeza ne ku by’omulimu ng’agamba nti, “Byonna abaddu bo bye baalagirwa babikola. 17Ensimbi ezaali mu yeekaalu ya Mukama ziweereddwa abalabirira n’abakozi.” 18Safani omuwandiisi n’ategeeza kabaka nti, “Kirukiya kabona ampadde ekitabo.” Awo Safani n’akisomera kabaka. 1934:19 a Ma 28:3-68 b Yos 7:6; Is 36:22; 37:1Kabaka bwe yawulira ebigambo by’amateeka, n’ayuza ebyambalo bye. 2034:20 2Bk 22:3N’alagira Kirukiya ne Akikamu mutabani wa Safani, ne Abudoni mutabani wa Mikka, ne Safani omuwandiisi, ne Asaya omuddu wa kabaka, ng’ayogera nti, 2134:21 2By 29:8; Kgb 2:4; 4:11; Ez 36:18“Mugende mumbulize ku Mukama, nze n’abasigadde mu Isirayiri ne mu Yuda, ku bikwata ku bigambo eby’omu kitabo ekizuuliddwa, kubanga obusungu bwa Mukama bungi nnyo nnyini era butubuubuukirako olwa bajjajjaffe abataagoberera kigambo kya Mukama okukikola nga bwe kyawandiikibwa mu kitabo kino.”
2234:22 Kuv 15:20; Nek 6:14Awo Kirukiya n’abo kabaka be yali atumye ne bagenda eri Kuluda nnabbi omukazi, muka Sallumu mutabani wa Tokasi muzzukulu wa Kasula omuwanika w’ebyambalo. Yabeeranga mu Yerusaalemi mu kitundu ekyokubiri. 23N’abagamba nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama, Katonda wa Isirayiri nti, ‘Mutegeeze omusajja abatumye nti, 2434:24 a Nge 16:4; Is 3:9; Yer 40:2; 42:10; 44:2, 11 b 2By 36:14-20 c Ma 28:15-68bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, “Laba ndireeta ku kifo kino ne ku bantu baamu akabi, n’ebikolimo byonna ebyawandiikibwa mu kitabo, ekyasomeddwa mu maaso ga kabaka wa Yuda. 2534:25 2By 33:3-6; Yer 22:9Kubanga banvuddeko ne bookera bakatonda abalala obubaane, era bansunguwazizza n’emirimu gyonna egy’emikono gyabwe. Kyennaava mbasunguwalira ne wataba n’omu akkakkanya busungu bwange.” ’ 26Naye mugambe kabaka wa Yuda eyabatumye okujja okwebuuza ku Mukama nti, ‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri nti, 2734:27 a 2By 12:7; 32:26 b Kuv 10:3; 2By 6:37“Kubanga omutima gwo gubadde mumenyefu ne weetoowaza mu maaso ga Katonda, bwe wawulidde ebigambo bye, ebikwata ku kifo kino n’abo abakibeeramu, ne weetoowaza mu maaso gange, n’oyuza ebyambalo byo, n’okaabira mu maaso gange, nkuwulidde. 2834:28 a 2By 35:20-25 b 2By 32:26Laba, ndikukuŋŋaanyiza eri bajjajjaabo, n’ofa mirembe, era amaaso go tegalirega ku kabi ke ndireeta ku kifo kino ne ku bantu baamu.” ’ ”
Ne bazaayo obubaka eri kabaka.
29Awo kabaka n’akuŋŋaanya abakadde bonna aba Yuda n’ab’omu Yerusaalemi. 3034:30 2Bk 23:2; Nek 8:1-3N’ayambuka mu yeekaalu ya Mukama, n’abantu bonna aba Yuda, n’abantu b’e Yerusaalemi, ne bakabona, n’abaleevi, n’abantu bonna ab’ekitiibwa n’abatali ba kitiibwa. N’asoma ebigambo byonna eby’omu kitabo eky’endagaano, ekyazuulibwa mu yeekaalu ya Mukama. 3134:31 a 1Bk 7:15; 2Bk 11:14 b 2Bk 11:17; 2By 23:16; 29:10 c Ma 13:4Kabaka n’ayimirira mu kifo kye, ne yeeyama mu maaso ga Mukama, okutambuliranga mu mpya za Mukama n’okukwatanga amateeka ge, n’ebyo bye yategeeza, n’ebiragiro bye, n’omutima gwe gwonna n’omwoyo gwe gwonna, okutuukirizanga ebigambo ebyawandiikibwa mu kitabo.
32Oluvannyuma n’alagira bonna abaali mu Yerusaalemi ne mu Benyamini okweyama. Abatuuze b’omu Yerusaalemi ne bakola ng’endagaano ya Katonda, Katonda wa bajjajjaabwe bw’egamba.
3334:33 nny 3-7; Ma 18:9Yosiya n’aggya eby’emizizo byonna ku butaka bwonna obw’Abayisirayiri, n’alagira bonna abaali mu Isirayiri okuweerezanga Mukama Katonda waabwe. Mu kufuga kwe kwonna, tebaava ku Mukama Katonda wa bajjajjaabwe.
