Josiah and the Rediscovered Book

Josiah became king when he was eight years old, and he ruled in Jerusalem for thirty-one years. He did what was right in the Lord's eyes. In the eighteenth year of his reign, he sent officials to the Lord's house so the collected money could be used to repair the damage. The workers were trusted because they dealt faithfully.

During this work, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law in the Lord's house. He gave it to Shaphan the scribe. Shaphan reported on the repair money and then read the book before the king. When Josiah heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes in grief.

Josiah knew the matter was serious. He sent Hilkiah, Shaphan, and others to inquire of the Lord, because their fathers had not obeyed the words of the book. They went to Huldah the prophetess in Jerusalem. She said disaster would come on that place because the people had forsaken the Lord and burned incense to other gods.

Huldah also had a message for Josiah. Because his heart was tender, because he humbled himself, tore his clothes, and wept before the Lord, the Lord had heard him. Josiah would be gathered to his grave in peace and would not see the disaster coming on that place. The messengers brought this answer back to the king.

Then Josiah gathered the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the Lord's house with the priests, the prophets, and the people, both small and great, and read the book in their hearing. Standing in his place, he made a covenant before the Lord to walk in his ways and keep his commands with all his heart and soul. The people joined in the covenant.

After that, Josiah carried out wide reforms. He removed objects made for Baal, the Asherah, and the host of heaven, broke down high places and altars, and removed false worship from Judah, Jerusalem, Bethel, and the cities of Samaria. He defiled Topheth so no one could make a son or daughter pass through the fire to Molech. The passage also says he killed the priests of the high places there. All his days, the people did not turn away from following the Lord.