2 Kings 22

Josia his pius government, v1. he tooketh care for the repairing of the Temple, 3. the book of the law is found by Hilkia in the templ, and delivered into the king’s hand by Saphan, 8. the king having understood, what God therein threateneth to back-sliders, asketh counsel of the Lord by Hulda the prophetess, 11. the prophetess returneth an answer, 15.

1. Josia was eight years old, when he became king and reigned one and thirty years at Jerusalem: his mother’s name was jedida, a daughter of Adaia, of Bozkath. [the name of a city lying in the tribe of Juda, Jos.15.39.]

2. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, [see 1 Kings 11 on v.33] and he walked in all the way of David his father, [see 1 Kings 15 on verse 32.] and turned not to the right hand, nor to the left [see Deut. 5 on v. 32.]

3. Now it came to pass in the eighteeneth year of his reign, nor of his age, 2 chronicles 34.8. as for his age he was now 26 years old: Now what being King did in the former years of his life see. Chron. 34.3,4] that the king sent Saphan the son of Azalia, the son of Messullam the scribe [i.e. the king’s secretary or Clerk. See above chapter 12 n v. 10.] into the house of the LORD saying;

4. group to Hilkia the priest, [Heb. The great priest so also below v. 8.] that he may sum the mony which is brought intothe house of the LORD: [Heb. That he may sinith the the money. Oth. May take up the sum of the money, or the gathering of the money, or lay it out to the full. The meaning is, that he should take up the full sum of the money gathered by the collector’s and lay it out towards the repairing and building of the Temple again. Compare above chapter 12v.5,9,10,11.] watch the keepers [these were Levites. See above chap.12.v.9.10. 2 Chron.8.14 and 34.9.] of the threshold [to wit, of the house of the Lord, or the Lord, or of the Temple. Oth. Of the vessels] have gathered of the people.

5. And let them deliver it unto the hand of the overseers the work, [These were the Levites as appeareth, 2 Chron.34.12.] who are the appointed over the house of the Lord; that they may give it to those that do the work, [indeed in the Hebrew there is the same word, which immediately before in this verse was translated overseers; and had the oversight of the whole work of reparation; but here it signifieth those that did the work itself, or labored in it, as appeareth by the following verse, where these workmen or laborers are distinctly expressed] which is in which is in the house of the Lord] to repair the breaches of the house.

6. To the carpenters and the builders and to the masons; [see above chap.12.on v.12.] and to buy wood, and hewed stones, [i.e. which were hewed and squared by the masons and stone-cutters, for the work of building. Compare 2 Chron.34.11.] to repair the house.

7. how heit there was no account kept of the mony that was delivered into their hands, [to wit, of the bestowing and laying out of the mony] for they dealt faithfully. [heb. In truth or faithfulness. So above chap.12.15. see the annotate.]

8. Then Hilkia the high Priest said unto Saphan the Scribe; I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD; meaning the original book of the law, which Moseh himself had written,a nd was laid on the side of the Ark of the covenant. See Deuteronomy 31:24, 26] and hilkia gave the book to Saphan, who read it.

9. Then came Saphan the scribe unto the king and brought the king word again and he said, thy servants [namely, Hilkia and I] have gathered [Heb. Cast] the money that was found in the house, [namely, of the Lord, that is, in the temple] and have delivered it in to the hand of the overseers of the work, who were appointed over the house of the Lord.

10. Also Saphan the scribe told the king saying; hilkia the priest hath given me a book: [viz, the book of the law: whereof mention is made above v.8 and below v.11.] an Saphan read that before the face of the king.

11. Now it came to pass when the king heard the word of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes [as an evidence and witness, both of his grief and sorrow for the sins of the whole land, committed against the law of god and of the fear of the judgments, that were threatened in the book of the law. See of the renting garments in sad and sorrowful cases, Gen.37 in the annotate. On v.29.]

12. And the king commanded Hilkia the priest and Ahikam the son of Saphan and Achbor [otherwise called Abdon, 2 Chron.34.v.20.] the son of Michala, and Saphan the scribe, and Asala the king’s servant, [who above and before all others waited upon him and was ever read at hand in all weighty matters and such aw were of special concernment. So Matth.8.9.] saying;

13. go, enquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Juda concerning the words of this book, that is found; for the wrath of the Lord is great, which is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written for us. [i.e for our instruction and abomination.]

14. Then went Hilkia the priest and Ahikam and Achbor and Saphan and Asaia unto hulda the prophetess, the wife of Sallum, the son of Tikva, the son harhus [otherwise, thokath, the son of Hasra, 2 Chron.34.22] keeper of the wardrobe; [understand the keeper of the holy garments, which were used in the service of god] (now she dwelt at Jerusalem in the second part) [to wit, of the city. See above chapter 20 on v.4.some understand this place of a college, or house of teaching, in which the prophets and their disciples or scholars did meet, to discourse of god’s word] and thy spake unto her.

15. And she said unto them; thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Tell the man that sent you to me.

16. Thus saith the Lord, behold, I will bring evil [to wit, evil of punishment. See Gen.19oon v.19.] over this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof; (namely,) all the words of the book, which the king of Juda hath read.

17. Because they have forsaken me, and burnt incense to other Gods, [see gen.35on v.2.] to provoke me to anger, with all the work of their hands, [meaning the idols and images, that are so called by way of contempt, Deut.31.29. Psal.115.4 and 135.15. Isa.28. Jerem.1.16. mich5.13.] therefore shall my wrath be kindled against this place, and not be quenched.

18. but to the king of Juda, that hath sent to enquire of the Lord, thus shall ye say unto him: thus saith the Lord the God of Israel; as toucjing the words which thou hast heard: [to wit, which he had heard read out of the book of the law by Saphan the scribe, above v.10. containing most grievous threatening, which God therein had denounced against the transgressors of the law, and breakers of his convenant.]

19. Because thine heart waxed weak,a nd thou didst hamble thy self before the face of the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and the inhabitants thereof: that they shall become a desolation, and (a) curse, and thou hast rent thy clothes and wept before my face; therefore I have also heard thee; saith the Lord.

20. Therefore behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, [see gen.25on v.8.] and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave [Heb. Graves. So 2 Chron.16.14 and 35.24. that is, in one of thy graves. So it is left uncertain, which of his graves this grave was. Compare Judges 12:6.] in peace, [understand this in respect of the general calamities, that should come upon the whole kingdome by the Chaldeans, which Josia lived not to see] and thine eyes shall all the evil which I will bring upon this place; and they [to wit, the men sent out by Josia, and named above verse 14.] brought the king answer again.