1Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and followed the ways of David, his ancestor, not turning aside to the right hand or to the left.

3And in the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah sent Shaphan, the scribe, son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, to the Temple of the LORD, saying, 4“Go up to Hilkiah, the high priest, and have him count the amount of the silver (money) which has been brought into the Temple of the LORD, that the doorkeepers have collected from the people; 5And then deliver it to those who have the oversight of the Temple of the LORD; to pay those who are working in the Temple of the LORD, to repair it: 6The carpenters, builders, and masons; and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the Temple.” 7But there is no need to account for the money they received, because they are honest and faithful men.

8And Hilkiah, the high priest, told Shaphan, the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the Temple of the LORD.” And he gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9Then Shaphan came to the king, and said, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the Temple, and have delivered it to those doing the work, and have oversight of the Temple of the LORD.” 10And then Shaphan told the king, “Hilkiah, the priest, found a book in the Temple and has given to me.” Then Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. 11And when Josiah heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his robes. 12Then King Josiah issued these orders to Hilkiah, the priest, Ahikam, son of Shaphan, Achbor, son of Micaiah, Shaphan, the scribe, and Asaiah, the king's servant: 13“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, the people, and for all Judah, about what is written in this book that was found; for the wrath of the LORD must be great against us, because our fathers have failed to obey the words of this book, and to abide by all that is written there concerning us.”

14So these men, Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah, went to Huldah, the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. Huldah lived in Jerusalem, in the new quarter; and they talked with her. 15And she told them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me: 16“Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place, and its inhabitants - all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read, 17Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other gods, to provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore, My wrath shall be stirred against this place, and shall not be quenched. 18But tell the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD: “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘As touching the words which you have heard; 19Because your heart was tender, and you have humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard what I have spoken against this place, and its inhabitants - that they would become a desolation and a curse - and you have torn your robes, and wept before Me; I also have heard you’, says the LORD. 20‘Therefore, your eyes shall not see all the disaster which I will bring upon this place. Instead, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall go to your grave in peace.”’”’” And they brought that word back to the king.