¹ Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

² And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

³ For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

⁴ And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

⁵ And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

⁶ And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.

⁷ And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

⁸ Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

⁹ And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.

¹⁰ And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:

¹¹ Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

¹² And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of music.

¹³ Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

¹⁴ And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.

¹⁵ And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.

¹⁶ And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it.

¹⁷ And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.

¹⁸ Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

¹⁹ And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

²⁰ And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying,

²¹ Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.

²² And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.

²³ And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,

²⁴ Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:

²⁵ Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

²⁶ And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;

²⁷ Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.

²⁸ Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.

²⁹ Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

³⁰ And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

³¹ And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

³² And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

³³ And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

---

¹ Josiah ^H2977 was eight ^H8083 years ^H8141 old ^H1121 when he began to reign, ^H4427 and he reigned ^H4427 in Jerusalem ^H3389 one ^H259 and thirty ^H7970 years. ^H8141

² And he did ^H6213 that which was right ^H3477 in the sight ^H5869 of the LORD, ^H3068 and walked ^H3212 in the ways ^H1870 of David ^H1732 his father, ^H1 and declined ^H5493 neither to the right hand, ^H3225 nor to the left. ^H8040

³ For in the eighth ^H8083 year ^H8141 of his reign, ^H4427 while he was yet young, ^H5288 he began ^H2490 to seek ^H1875 after the God ^H430 of David ^H1732 his father: ^H1 and in the twelfth ^{H8147 H6240} year ^H8141 he began ^H2490 to purge ^H2891 Judah ^H3063 and Jerusalem ^H3389 from the high places, ^H1116 and the groves, ^H842 and the carved images, ^H6456 and the molten images. ^H4541

⁴ And they brake down ^H5422 the altars ^H4196 of Baalim ^H1168 in his presence; ^H6440 and the images, ^H2553 that were on high above them, ^H4605 he cut down; ^H1438 and the groves, ^H842 and the carved images, ^H6456 and the molten images, ^H4541 he brake in pieces, ^H7665 and made dust ^H1854 of them, and strowed ^H2236 it upon ^H6440 the graves ^H6913 of them that had sacrificed ^H2076 unto them.

⁵ And he burnt ^H8313 the bones ^H6106 of the priests ^H3548 upon their altars, ^H4196 and cleansed ^H2891 Judah ^H3063 and Jerusalem. ^H3389

⁶ And so did he in the cities ^H5892 of Manasseh, ^H4519 and Ephraim, ^H669 and Simeon, ^H8095 even unto Naphtali, ^H5321 with their mattocks ^H2719 round about. ^H5439

⁷ And when he had broken down ^H5422 the altars ^H4196 and the groves, ^H842 and had beaten ^H3807 the graven images ^H6456 into powder, ^H1854 and cut down ^H1438 all the idols ^H2553 throughout all the land ^H776 of Israel, ^H3478 he returned ^H7725 to Jerusalem. ^H3389

⁸ Now in the eighteenth ^{H8083 H6240} year ^H8141 of his reign, ^H4427 when he had purged ^H2891 the land, ^H776 and the house, ^H1004 he sent ^H7971 Shaphan ^H8227 the son ^H1121 of Azaliah, ^H683 and Maaseiah ^H4641 the governor ^H8269 of the city, ^H5892 and Joah ^H3098 the son ^H1121 of Joahaz ^H3099 the recorder, ^H2142 to repair ^H2388 the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068 his God. ^H430

⁹ And when they came ^H935 to Hilkiah ^H2518 the high ^H1419 priest, ^H3548 they delivered ^H5414 the money ^H3701 that was brought ^H935 into the house ^H1004 of God, ^H430 which the Levites ^H3881 that kept ^H8104 the doors ^H5592 had gathered ^H622 of the hand ^H3027 of Manasseh ^H4519 and Ephraim, ^H669 and of all the remnant ^H7611 of Israel, ^H3478 and of all Judah ^H3063 and Benjamin; ^H1144 and they returned ^{H7725 H3427} to Jerusalem. ^H3389

¹⁰ And they put ^H5414 it in the hand ^H3027 of the workmen ^{H6213 H4399} that had the oversight ^H6485 of the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 and they gave ^H5414 it to the workmen ^{H6213 H4399} that wrought ^H6213 in the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 to repair ^H918 and amend ^H2388 the house: ^H1004

¹¹ Even to the artificers ^H2796 and builders ^H1129 gave ^H5414 they it, to buy ^H7069 hewn ^H4274 stone, ^H68 and timber ^H6086 for couplings, ^H4226 and to floor ^H7136 the houses ^H1004 which the kings ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 had destroyed. ^H7843

¹² And the men ^H582 did ^H6213 the work ^H4399 faithfully: ^H530 and the overseers ^H5329 of them were Jahath ^H3189 and Obadiah, ^H5662 the Levites, ^H3881 of the sons ^H1121 of Merari; ^H4847 and Zechariah ^H2148 and Meshullam, ^H4918 of the sons of the Kohathites, ^H6956 to set it forward; ^H6485 and other of the Levites, ^H3881 all that could skill ^H995 of instruments ^H3627 of musick. ^H7892

¹³ Also they were over the bearers of burdens, ^H5449 and were overseers ^H5329 of all that wrought ^H6213 the work ^H4399 in any manner of service: ^H5656 and of the Levites ^H3881 there were scribes, ^H5608 and officers, ^H7860 and porters. ^H7778

¹⁴ And when they brought out ^H3318 the money ^H3701 that was brought into ^H935 the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 Hilkiah ^H2518 the priest ^H3548 found ^H4672 a book ^H5612 of the law ^H8451 of the LORD ^H3068 given by ^H3027 Moses. ^H4872

¹⁵ And Hilkiah ^H2518 answered ^H6030 and said ^H559 to Shaphan ^H8227 the scribe, ^H5608 I have found ^H4672 the book ^H5612 of the law ^H8451 in the house ^H1004 of the LORD. ^H3068 And Hilkiah ^H2518 delivered ^H5414 the book ^H5612 to Shaphan. ^H8227

¹⁶ And Shaphan ^H8227 carried ^H935 the book ^H5612 to the king, ^H4428 and brought ^H7725 the king ^H4428 word ^H1697 back ^H7725 again, saying, ^H559 All that was committed ^H5414 to ^H3027 thy servants, ^H5650 they do ^H6213 it.

¹⁷ And they have gathered together ^H5413 the money ^H3701 that was found ^H4672 in the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 and have delivered ^H5414 it into the hand ^H3027 of the overseers, ^H6485 and to the hand ^H3027 of the workmen. ^{H6213 H4399}

¹⁸ Then Shaphan ^H8227 the scribe ^H5608 told ^H5046 the king, ^H4428 saying, ^H559 Hilkiah ^H2518 the priest ^H3548 hath given ^H5414 me a book. ^H5612 And Shaphan ^H8227 read ^H7121 it before ^H6440 the king. ^H4428

¹⁹ And it came to pass, when the king ^H4428 had heard ^H8085 the words ^H1697 of the law, ^H8451 that he rent ^H7167 his clothes. ^H899

²⁰ And the king ^H4428 commanded ^H6680 Hilkiah, ^H2518 and Ahikam ^H296 the son ^H1121 of Shaphan, ^H8227 and Abdon ^H5658 the son ^H1121 of Micah, ^H4318 and Shaphan ^H8227 the scribe, ^H5608 and Asaiah ^H6222 a servant ^H5650 of the king's, ^H4428 saying, ^H559

²¹ Go, ^H3212 enquire ^H1875 of the LORD ^H3068 for me, and for them that are left ^H7604 in Israel ^H3478 and in Judah, ^H3063 concerning the words ^H1697 of the book ^H5612 that is found: ^H4672 for great ^H1419 is the wrath ^H2534 of the LORD ^H3068 that is poured out ^H5413 upon us, because our fathers ^H1 have not kept ^H8104 the word ^H1697 of the LORD, ^H3068 to do ^H6213 after all that is written ^H3789 in this book. ^H5612

²² And Hilkiah, ^H2518 and they that the king ^H4428 had appointed, went ^H3212 to Huldah ^H2468 the prophetess, ^H5031 the wife ^H802 of Shallum ^H7967 the son ^H1121 of Tikvath, ^{H8616 H8445} the son ^H1121 of Hasrah, ^H2641 keeper ^H8104 of the wardrobe; ^H899 (now she dwelt ^H3427 in Jerusalem ^H3389 in the college:) ^H4932 and they spake ^H1696 to her to that effect.

²³ And she answered ^H559 them, Thus saith ^H559 the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel, ^H3478 Tell ^H559 ye the man ^H376 that sent ^H7971 you to me,

²⁴ Thus saith ^H559 the LORD, ^H3068 Behold, I will bring ^H935 evil ^H7451 upon this place, ^H4725 and upon the inhabitants ^H3427 thereof, even all the curses ^H423 that are written ^H3789 in the book ^H5612 which they have read ^H7121 before ^H6440 the king ^H4428 of Judah: ^H3063

²⁵ Because they have forsaken ^H5800 me, and have burned incense ^{H6999 H6999} unto other ^H312 gods, ^H430 that they might provoke me to anger ^H3707 with all the works ^H4639 of their hands; ^H3027 therefore my wrath ^H2534 shall be poured out ^H5413 upon this place, ^H4725 and shall not be quenched. ^H3518

²⁶ And as for ^H413 the king ^H4428 of Judah, ^H3063 who sent ^H7971 you to enquire ^H1875 of the LORD, ^H3068 so shall ye say ^H559 unto him, Thus saith ^H559 the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478 concerning the words ^H1697 which thou hast heard; ^H8085

²⁷ Because thine heart ^H3824 was tender, ^H7401 and thou didst humble ^H3665 thyself before ^H6440 God, ^H430 when thou heardest ^H8085 his words ^H1697 against this place, ^H4725 and against the inhabitants ^H3427 thereof, and humbledst ^H3665 thyself before ^H6440 me, and didst rend ^H7167 thy clothes, ^H899 and weep ^H1058 before ^H6440 me; I have even heard ^H8085 thee also, saith ^H5002 the LORD. ^H3068

²⁸ Behold, I will gather ^H622 thee to thy fathers, ^H1 and thou shalt be gathered ^H622 to thy grave ^H6913 in peace, ^H7965 neither shall thine eyes ^H5869 see ^H7200 all the evil ^H7451 that I will bring ^H935 upon this place, ^H4725 and upon the inhabitants ^H3427 of the same. So they brought ^H7725 the king ^H4428 word ^H1697 again. ^H7725

²⁹ Then the king ^H4428 sent ^H7971 and gathered together ^H622 all the elders ^H2205 of Judah ^H3063 and Jerusalem. ^H3389

³⁰ And the king ^H4428 went up ^H5927 into the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 and all the men ^H376 of Judah, ^H3063 and the inhabitants ^H3427 of Jerusalem, ^H3389 and the priests, ^H3548 and the Levites, ^H3881 and all the people, ^H5971 great ^H1419 and small: ^H6996 and he read ^H7121 in their ears ^H241 all the words ^H1697 of the book ^H5612 of the covenant ^H1285 that was found ^H4672 in the house ^H1004 of the LORD. ^H3068

³¹ And the king ^H4428 stood ^H5975 in his place, ^H5977 and made ^H3772 a covenant ^H1285 before ^H6440 the LORD, ^H3068 to walk ^H3212 after ^H310 the LORD, ^H3068 and to keep ^H8104 his commandments, ^H4687 and his testimonies, ^H5715 and his statutes, ^H2706 with all his heart, ^H3824 and with all his soul, ^H5315 to perform ^H6213 the words ^H1697 of the covenant ^H1285 which are written ^H3789 in this book. ^H5612

³² And he caused all that were present ^H4672 in Jerusalem ^H3389 and Benjamin ^H1144 to stand ^H5975 to it. And the inhabitants ^H3427 of Jerusalem ^H3389 did ^H6213 according to the covenant ^H1285 of God, ^H430 the God ^H430 of their fathers. ^H1

³³ And Josiah ^H2977 took away ^H5493 all the abominations ^H8441 out of all the countries ^H776 that pertained to the children ^H1121 of Israel, ^H3478 and made all that were present ^H4672 in Israel ^H3478 to serve, ^H5647 even to serve ^H5647 the LORD ^H3068 their God. ^H430 And all his days ^H3117 they departed ^H5493 not from following ^H310 the LORD, ^H3068 the God ^H430 of their fathers. ^H1

---

¹ Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem.

² And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and walked in the ways of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

³ For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Asherim, and the graven images, and the molten images.

⁴ And they brake down the altars of the Baalim in his presence; and the sun-images that were on high above them he hewed down; and the Asherim, and the graven images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it upon the graves `of them' that had sacrificed unto them.

⁵ And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.

⁶ And `so did he' in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, in their ruins round about.

⁷ And he brake down the altars, and beat the Asherim and the graven images into powder, and hewed down all the sun-images throughout all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.

⁸ Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of Jehovah his God.

⁹ And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

¹⁰ And they delivered it into the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of Jehovah; and the workmen that wrought in the house of Jehovah gave it to mend and repair the house;

¹¹ even to the carpenters and to the builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

¹² And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and `others of' the Levites, all that were skilful with instruments of music.

¹³ Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and set forward all that did the work in every manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

¹⁴ And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of Jehovah, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Jehovah `given' by Moses.

¹⁵ And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.

¹⁶ And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they are doing.

¹⁷ And they have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Jehovah, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen.

¹⁸ And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read therein before the king.

¹⁹ And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

²⁰ And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,

²¹ Go ye, inquire of Jehovah for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of Jehovah that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Jehovah, to do according unto all that is written in this book.

²² So Hilkiah, and they whom the king `had commanded', went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter;) and they spake to her to that effect.

²³ And she said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Tell ye the man that sent you unto me,

²⁴ Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.

²⁵ Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore is my wrath poured out upon this place, and it shall not be quenched.

²⁶ But unto the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: As touching the words which thou hast heard,

²⁷ because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and hast humbled thyself before me, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah.

²⁸ Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof. And they brought back word to the king.

²⁹ Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

³⁰ And the king went up to the house of Jehovah, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, both great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of Jehovah.

³¹ And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

³² And he caused all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand `to it'. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

³³ And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Jehovah their God. All his days they departed not from following Jehovah, the God of their fathers.

---

¹ A son of eight years `is' Josiah in his reigning, and thirty and one years he hath reigned in Jerusalem,

² and he doth that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah, and walketh in the ways of David his father, and hath not turned aside -- right or left.

³ And in the eighth year of his reign (and he yet a youth), he hath begun to seek to the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he hath begun to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the shrines, and the graven images, and the molten images.

⁴ And they break down before him the altars of the Baalim, and the images that `are' on high above them he hath cut down, and the shrines, and the graven images, and the molten images, he hath broken and beaten small, and streweth on the surface of the graves of those sacrificing to them,

⁵ and the bones of the priests he hath burnt on their altars, and cleanseth Judah and Jerusalem,

⁶ and in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their tools, round about.

⁷ And he breaketh down the altars and the shrines, and the graven images he hath beaten down very small, and all the images he hath cut down in all the land of Israel, and turneth back to Jerusalem.

⁸ And in the eighteenth year of his reign, to purify the land and the house he hath sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah head of the city, and Joah son of Johaz the remembrancer, to strengthen the house of Jehovah his God.

⁹ And they come in unto Hilkiah the high priest, and they give the money that is brought in to the house of God, that the Levites, keeping the threshold, have gathered from the hand of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah, and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

¹⁰ and they give `it' into the hand of the workmen, those appointed over the house of Jehovah, and they give it `to' the workmen who are working in the house of Jehovah, to repair and to strengthen the house;

¹¹ and they give `it' to artificers, and to builders, to buy hewn stones, and wood for couplings and for beams to the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed.

¹² And the men are working faithfully in the business, and over them are appointed Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathite, to overlook; and of the Levites, every one understanding about instruments of song,

¹³ and over the burden-bearers, and overseers of every one doing work for service and service; and of the Levites `are' scribes, and officers, and gatekeepers.

¹⁴ And in their bringing out the money that is brought in to the house of Jehovah, hath Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Jehovah by the hand of Moses,

¹⁵ and Hilkiah answereth and saith unto Shaphan the scribe, `A book of the law I have found in the house of Jehovah;' and Hilkiah giveth the book unto Shaphan,

¹⁶ and Shaphan bringeth in the book unto the king, and bringeth the king back word again, saying, `All that hath been given into the hand of thy servants they are doing,

¹⁷ and they pour out the money that is found in the house of Jehovah, and give it into the hand of those appointed, and into the hands of those doing the work.'

¹⁸ And Shaphan the scribe declareth to the king, saying, `A book hath Hilkiah the priest given to me;' and Shaphan readeth in it before the king.

¹⁹ And it cometh to pass, at the king's hearing the words of the law, that he rendeth his garments,

²⁰ and the king commandeth Hilkiah, and Ahikam son of Shaphan, and Abdon son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah, servant of the king, saying,

²¹ `Go, seek Jehovah for me, and for him who is left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found, for great `is' the fury of Jehovah that is poured on us, because that our fathers kept not the word of Jehovah, to do according to all that is written on this book.'

²² And Hilkiah goeth, and they of the king, unto Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tikvath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the garments, and she is dwelling in Jerusalem in the Second, and they speak unto her thus.

²³ And she saith to them, `Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, Say to the man who hath sent you unto me,

²⁴ Thus said Jehovah, Lo, I am bringing in evil on this place, and on its inhabitants, all the execrations that are written on the book that they read before the king of Judah;

²⁵ because that they have forsaken Me, and make perfume to other gods, so as to provoke Me with all the works of their hands, and poured out is My fury upon this place, and it is not quenched.

²⁶ `And unto the king of Judah, who is sending you to inquire of Jehovah, thus do ye say unto him: Thus said Jehovah God of Israel, whose words thou hast heard:

²⁷ Because thy heart `is' tender, and thou art humbled before God in thy hearing His words concerning this place, and concerning its inhabitants, and art humbled before Me, and dost rend thy garments, and weep before Me: even I also have heard -- the affirmation of Jehovah.

²⁸ Lo, I am gathering thee unto thy fathers, and thou hast been gathered unto thy graves in peace, and thine eyes do not look on all the evil that I am bringing upon this place, and upon its inhabitants;' and they bring the king back word.

²⁹ And the king sendeth and gathereth all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem,

³⁰ and the king goeth up to the house of Jehovah, and every man of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, even all the people, from great even unto small, and he readeth in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that is found in the house of Jehovah.

³¹ And the king standeth on his station, and maketh the covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep His commands, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to do the words of the covenant that are written on this book.

³² And he presenteth every one who is found in Jerusalem and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem do according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

³³ And Josiah turneth aside all the abominations out of all the lands that the sons of Israel have, and causeth every one who is found in Israel to serve, to serve Jehovah their God; all his days they turned not aside from after Jehovah, God of their fathers.

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¹ Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

² And he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, and walked in the ways of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand nor to the left.

³ And in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Asherahs, and the graven images, and the molten images.

⁴ And they broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and the sun-pillars that were on high above them he cut down; and the Asherahs and the graven images and the molten images he broke in pieces, and made dust [of them] and strewed it upon the graves of those that had sacrificed to them;

⁵ and he burned the bones of the priests upon their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.

⁶ And [so did he] in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even to Naphtali, in their ruins round about;

⁷ and he broke down the altars, and beat the Asherahs and the graven images into powder, and cut down all the sun-pillars throughout the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.

⁸ And in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the chronicler, to repair the house of Jehovah his God.

⁹ And they came to Hilkijah the high priest, and they delivered [to them] the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

¹⁰ And they gave [it] into the hand of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of Jehovah; and they gave it to the workmen who wrought in the house of Jehovah to reinstate and repair the house:

¹¹ they gave [it] to the carpenters and the builders, to buy hewn stone, and timber for the joists, and to floor the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed.

¹² And the men did the work faithfully. And over them were appointed Jahath and Obadiah, Levites, of the children of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the children of the Kohathites, for the oversight; and all these Levites were skilled in instruments of music.

¹³ They were also over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that worked in any manner of service. And of the Levites were the scribes, and officers, and doorkeepers.

¹⁴ And when they brought out the money that had been brought into the house of Jehovah, Hilkijah the priest found the book of the law of Jehovah by Moses.

¹⁵ Then Hilkijah spoke and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkijah gave the book to Shaphan.

¹⁶ And Shaphan carried the book to the king. And moreover he brought the king word again saying, All that was committed to the hand of thy servants, they do;

¹⁷ and they have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Jehovah, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen.

¹⁸ And Shaphan the scribe informed the king saying, Hilkijah the priest has given me a book. And Shaphan read out of it before the king.

¹⁹ And it came to pass when the king heard the words of the law, that he rent his garments.

²⁰ And the king commanded Hilkijah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying,

²¹ Go, inquire of Jehovah for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which is found; for great is the wrath of Jehovah that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Jehovah, to do according to all that is written in this book.

²² And Hilkijah and they that the king [had appointed] went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokehath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe: now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter [of the town]; and they spoke with her to that effect.

²³ And she said to them, Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel: Tell the man that sent you to me,

²⁴ Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.

²⁵ Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my fury shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

²⁶ But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, thus shall ye say to him: Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel touching the words which thou hast heard:

²⁷ Because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy garments and weep before me, I also have heard [thee], saith Jehovah.

²⁸ Behold, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof. And they brought the king word again.

²⁹ And the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.

³⁰ And the king went up into the house of Jehovah, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the Levites, and all the people, great and small; and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which had been found in the house of Jehovah.

³¹ And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that are written in this book.

³² And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand [to it]. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

³³ And Josiah removed all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Israel, and made to serve all that were found in Israel, -- to serve Jehovah their God: all his days they did not depart from following Jehovah, the God of their fathers.

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¹ Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

² He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

³ For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Asherim, and the engraved images, and the molten images.

⁴ They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and the sun-images that were on high above them he hewed down; and the Asherim, and the engraved images, and the molten images, he broke in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it on the graves [of those] who had sacrificed to them.

⁵ He burnt the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.

⁶ [So did he] in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even to Naphtali, in their ruins round about.

⁷ He broke down the altars, and beat the Asherim and the engraved images into powder, and hewed down all the sun-images throughout all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.

⁸ Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of Yahweh his God.

⁹ They came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

¹⁰ They delivered it into the hand of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and the workmen who labored in the house of Yahweh gave it to mend and repair the house;

¹¹ even to the carpenters and to the builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

¹² The men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and [others of] the Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music.

¹³ Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and set forward all who did the work in every manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

¹⁴ When they brought out the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Yahweh [given] by Moses.

¹⁵ Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh. Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.

¹⁶ Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, All that was committed to your servants, they are doing.

¹⁷ They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen.

¹⁸ Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book. Shaphan read therein before the king.

¹⁹ It happened, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he tore his clothes.

²⁰ The king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,

²¹ Go you, inquire of Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this book.

²² So Hilkiah, and they whom the king [had commanded], went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter;) and they spoke to her to that effect.

²³ She said to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Tell you the man who sent you to me,

²⁴ Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on the inhabitants of it, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.

²⁵ Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore is my wrath poured out on this place, and it shall not be quenched.

²⁶ But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, thus shall you tell him, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: As touching the words which you have heard,

²⁷ because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says Yahweh.

²⁸ Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring on this place, and on the inhabitants of it. They brought back word to the king.

²⁹ Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

³⁰ The king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, both great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of Yahweh.

³¹ The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

³² He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand [to it]. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

³³ Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. All his days they didn't depart from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

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¹ Josiah was eight years old when he became king; he was ruling in Jerusalem for thirty-one years.

² And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, walking in the ways of his father David, without turning to the right hand or to the left.

³ In the eighth year of his rule, while he was still young, his heart was first turned to the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he undertook the clearing away of all the high places and the pillars and the images of wood and metal from Judah and Jerusalem.

⁴ He had the altars of the Baals broken down, while he himself was present; and the sun-images which were placed on high over them he had cut down; and the pillars of wood and the metal images he had broken up and crushed to dust, dropping the dust over the resting-places of the dead who had made offerings to them.

⁵ And he had the bones of the priests burned on their altars, and so he made Judah and Jerusalem clean.

⁶ And in all the towns of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon as far as Naphtali, he made waste their houses round about.

⁷ He had the altars and the pillars of wood pulled down and the images crushed to dust, and all the sun-images cut down, through all the land of Israel, and then he went back to Jerusalem.

⁸ Now in the eighteenth year of his rule, when the land and the house had been made clean, he sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah, the ruler of the town, and Joah, the son of Joahaz, the recorder, to make good what was damaged in the house of the Lord his God.

⁹ And they came to Hilkiah, the chief priest, and gave him all the money which had been taken into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the door, had got from Manasseh and Ephraim and those of Israel who had not been taken away as prisoners, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the people of Jerusalem.

¹⁰ And they gave it to the overseers of the work of the Lord's house, and the overseers gave it to the workmen working in the house, for building it up and making good what was damaged;

¹¹ Even to the woodworkers and builders to get cut stone and wood for joining the structure together and for making boards for the houses which the kings of Judah had given up to destruction.

¹² And the men did the work well; and those who had authority over them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, who were to be responsible for seeing that the work was done; and others of the Levites, who were expert with instruments of music,

¹³ Had authority over the transport workers, giving directions to all who were doing any sort of work; and among the Levites there were scribes and overseers and door-keepers.

¹⁴ Now when they were taking out the money which had come into the Lord's house, Hilkiah the priest came across the book of the law of the Lord, which he had given by the mouth of Moses.

¹⁵ Then Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, I have made discovery of the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

¹⁶ And Shaphan took the book to the king; and he gave him an account of what had been done, saying, Your servants are doing all they have been given to do;

¹⁷ They have taken out all the money which was in the Lord's house and have given it to the overseers and to the workmen.

¹⁸ Then Shaphan the scribe said to the king, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book; and he made a start at reading some of it to the king.

¹⁹ And the king, hearing the words of the law, took his robe in his hands, violently parting it as a sign of his grief.

²⁰ And he gave orders to Hilkiah and to Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Abdon, the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe and Asaiah, the king's servant, saying,

²¹ Go and get directions from the Lord for me and for those who are still in Israel and for Judah, about the words of this book which has come to light; for great is the wrath of the Lord which has been let loose on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord or done what is recorded in this book.

²² So Hilkiah, and those whom the king sent, went to Huldah the woman prophet, the wife of Shallum, the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the robes (now she was living in Jerusalem, in the second part of the town); and they had talk with her about this thing.

²³ And she said to them, The Lord, the God of Israel, has said, Say to the man who sent you to me,

²⁴ These are the words of the Lord: See, I will send evil on this place and on its people, even all the curses in the book which they have been reading before the king of Judah;

²⁵ Because they have given me up, burning offerings to other gods and moving me to wrath by all the works of their hands; so my wrath is let loose on this place and will not be put out.

²⁶ But to the king of Judah who sent you to get directions from the Lord, say, This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has said: Because you have given ear to my words,

²⁷ And your heart was soft, and you made yourself low before God, on hearing his words about this place and its people, and with weeping and signs of grief have made yourself low before me, I have given ear to you, says the Lord God.

²⁸ See, I will let you go to your fathers, and be put in your last resting-place in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will send on this place and on its people. So they took this news back to the king.

²⁹ Then the king sent and got together all the responsible men of Judah and of Jerusalem.

³⁰ And the king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem, and the priests and the Levites and all the people, small and great; and they were present at his reading of the book of the law which had come to light in the house of the Lord.

³¹ Then the king, taking his place by the pillar, made an agreement before the Lord, to go in the way of the Lord, and to keep his orders and his decisions and his rules with all his heart and with all his soul, and to keep the words of the agreement recorded in this book.

³² And he made all the people in Jerusalem and Benjamin give their word to keep it. And the people of Jerusalem kept the agreement of God, the God of their fathers.

³³ Josiah took away all the disgusting things out of all the lands of the children of Israel, and made all who were in Israel servants of the Lord their God. And as long as he was living they were true to the Lord, the God of their fathers.