The Book of the Law Found
1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
3In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the Lord. He said: 4“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord— 6the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. 7But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.”
8Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. 9Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” 10Then 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.
11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 13“Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”
14Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.
15She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made,22:17 Or by everything they have done my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ 18Tell 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: 19Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse22:19 That is, their names would be used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, others would see that they are cursed. and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20Therefore 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.’ ”
So they took her answer back to the king.
约西亚做犹大王
1约西亚八岁登基，在耶路撒冷执政三十一年。他母亲叫耶底大，是波斯加人亚大雅的女儿。 2约西亚做耶和华视为正的事，事事效法他祖先大卫，不偏不离。
发现律法书
3约西亚执政第十八年，他派米书兰的孙子、亚萨利雅的儿子沙番书记去耶和华的殿，并吩咐他说： 4“你去见大祭司希勒迦，让他清点奉献到耶和华殿中的银子，那些银子是殿门守卫从民众收集来的。 5然后把银子交给负责修理耶和华殿的督工，由他们付给修理耶和华殿的工人， 6就是木匠、瓦匠、石匠，并购买修理用的木料和凿好的石头。 7不用查核他们的账目，因为他们都是忠诚可靠的人。”
8大祭司希勒迦对书记沙番说：“我在耶和华的殿里发现了律法书。”希勒迦把书卷交给沙番，他就读了此书。 9沙番书记禀告王说：“你的臣仆已经清空殿里的银子，交给殿里的督工和工人。” 10他又告诉王：“希勒迦祭司给了我一卷书。”沙番就在王面前诵读这书。 11王听了律法书上的话，就撕裂衣服， 12吩咐希勒迦祭司、沙番的儿子亚希甘、米该亚的儿子亚革波、书记沙番和王的臣仆亚撒雅： 13“你们去为我及民众和整个犹大求问耶和华有关这书卷上的话。耶和华的烈怒已经临到我们身上，因为我们的祖先没有遵守这书卷上的话，没有遵行这书卷上的吩咐。”
户勒妲的预言
14于是，希勒迦祭司、亚希甘、亚革波、沙番和亚撒雅去见女先知户勒妲。她是负责管理礼服的沙龙之妻，沙龙是哈珥哈斯的孙子、特瓦的儿子。户勒妲住在耶路撒冷第二区。他们向她说明来意。 15她对他们说：“以色列的上帝耶和华要你们回去告诉差你们来见我的人， 16耶和华说，‘我要照犹大王所读的那书上的一切话，降灾难给这地方及这里的居民。 17因为他们背弃我，给其他神明烧香，制造偶像惹我发怒，所以我的怒火要在这地方燃烧，绝不止息。 18你们告诉差你们来求问耶和华的犹大王，至于你所听见的那些话，以色列的上帝耶和华说， 19因为你听到我对这地方及其居民的警告，知道这地方要受咒诅、沦为荒场，便悔改，在我面前谦卑，撕裂衣服，向我哭泣，我才垂听你的祷告。这是我耶和华说的。 20我会让你平安入土到你祖先那里，你不会看到我要降给这地方的一切灾难。’”他们便回去禀告王。
