What is the meaning of 2 Kings 22:10? Shaphan the scribe told the king “Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king…” (2 Kings 22:10a) • Shaphan, the royal secretary, is acting as the trusted conduit between temple affairs and King Josiah. • His verbal report shows a kingdom where the written word of God still flows through personal testimony (cf. 2 Kings 22:3–4; Jeremiah 36:10–12). • The verse reminds us that God often uses faithful messengers to bring His word to leaders, just as Nathan confronted David (2 Samuel 12:1-7). Hilkiah the priest has given me a book “…‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’” (2 Kings 22:10b) • The “book” is the long-neglected Book of the Law, likely the Torah that Moses commanded to be kept beside the ark (Deuteronomy 31:24-26). • Hilkiah’s discovery fulfills God’s promise that His word would never be lost, even in dark times of idolatry (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8). • Passing the book to Shaphan stresses proper stewardship: priest to scribe to king, mirroring Deuteronomy 17:18-19 where the king must write and read the Law for himself. Shaphan read it in the presence of the king “…And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.” (2 Kings 22:10c) • The scribe does not merely summarize; he reads the text verbatim. God’s word is powerful when heard directly (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12). • Public reading before authority anticipates the communal readings under Ezra (Nehemiah 8:1-3) and the later reforms of Josiah himself (2 Kings 23:2). • The stage is set for conviction and repentance: Josiah will tear his robes in grief (2 Kings 22:11), proving the Law can pierce even a king’s heart. summary 2 Kings 22:10 captures a critical hand-off: from priest to scribe to monarch, the rediscovered Law moves swiftly to the seat of power. Shaphan’s faithful reporting, Hilkiah’s faithful discovery, and Josiah’s forthcoming faithful response illustrate how God preserves and propels His word to spark reform. The verse teaches that when Scripture is recovered and read plainly, it confronts sin, guides leaders, and lays the foundation for national renewal. |
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