Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did what was pleasing to the Lord and walked in the way of David. In the eighteenth year of Josiah he, the king, sent the scribe Shaphan into the house of the Lord, saying, “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which is brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered from the people. Let them give it to the foremen and the workmen who are in the Lord’s house to repair it, and also to the carpenters and builders and masons to handle in good faith.” Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” Hilkiah gave it to the scribe. He came to the king and read him the book. When Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes. He commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micah, Shaphan and Asaiah the king’s servant, “Go and inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, about the words of this book, for great is the wrath of the Lord which is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book.

They all went to the prophetess Huldah, the wife of Shallum, who lived in the second district of the city and talked with her. But she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Say to him who sent you, I will bring evil, and not stop. But tell the king of Judah, concerning the words that you have read and heard, because your heart was tender and you have humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and its inhabitants, that they should be a curse and a desolation, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, therefore I will gather you to your fathers and you will go to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil I will bring on this place.’