Hilkiah is a significant figure in the Old Testament, known primarily for his role as a high priest during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. His account is pivotal in the religious reforms that took place in Judah, as recorded in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.

Genealogy and Position

Hilkiah was a descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and belonged to the Levitical priesthood. He served as the high priest in the temple of Jerusalem during a time of significant religious and political change. His lineage is noted in 1 Chronicles 6:13, which traces his ancestry back to Levi, establishing his rightful place in the priestly order.

Discovery of the Book of the Law

Hilkiah's most notable contribution to biblical history is his discovery of the Book of the Law during the renovation of the temple. This event is detailed in 2 Kings 22:8-10 : "Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.' And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it. And Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, 'Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the house and have put it into the hands of the supervisors and workers.' Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, 'Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.' And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king."

This discovery was monumental, as it led to a religious revival and reform under King Josiah. The Book of the Law, likely a form of Deuteronomy, had been neglected and forgotten during the reigns of previous kings who had led Judah into idolatry.

Role in Josiah's Reforms

Upon hearing the words of the Book of the Law, King Josiah was deeply moved and initiated a series of reforms to restore the worship of Yahweh and eliminate idolatry from the land. Hilkiah played a crucial role in these reforms, as he was responsible for overseeing the purification of the temple and the reestablishment of proper worship practices. 2 Kings 23:4 states, "Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and carried their ashes to Bethel."

Consultation with Huldah the Prophetess

In response to the discovery of the Book of the Law, King Josiah sent Hilkiah, along with other officials, to consult Huldah the prophetess to seek the LORD's guidance. This consultation is recorded in 2 Kings 22:14-20. Huldah confirmed the impending judgment on Judah due to its past sins but assured Josiah that because of his humility and repentance, the disaster would not occur during his reign.

Legacy

Hilkiah's legacy is one of faithfulness and dedication to the service of God. His actions were instrumental in bringing about a spiritual renewal in Judah, and his discovery of the Book of the Law was a catalyst for one of the most significant religious reforms in the history of Israel. His account serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to God's Word and the impact that faithful leadership can have on a nation.Hilkiah

God is my portion

Hilkiah

(God is my portion)

1. Father of Eliakim. (2 Kings 18:37; Isaiah 22:20; 36:22) [ELIAKIM]
2. High priest in the reign of Josiah. (2 Kings 22:4) seq. 2Chr 34:9 Seq.; 1 Esd. 1:8. (B.C. 623.) His high priesthood was rendered particularly illustrious by the great reformation effected under it by King Josiah, by the solemn Passover kept at Jerusalem in the 18th year of that king's reign, and above all by the discovery which he made of the book of the law of Moses in the temple.
3. A Merarite Levite, son of Amzi (1 Chronicles 6:45) hebr. 30.
4. Another Merarite Levite, second son of Hosah. (1 Chronicles 26:11)
5. One of those who stood on the right hand of Ezra when he read the law to the people; doubtless a Levite, and probably a priest. (Nehemiah 8:4) (B.C 410.)
6. A priest of Anathoth, father of the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 1:1) (B.C. before 628.)
7. Father of Gemariah, who was one of Zedekiah's envoys to Babylon. (Jeremiah 29:3) (B.C. long before 587.)

Hilkiah

A faithful high priest in the reign of Josiah, 2 Kings 22:20.

This was also the name of the fathers of Jeremiah and Eliakim, 2 Kings 18:18; Jeremiah 1:1.

Portion of Jehovah.

(1.) 1 Chronicles 6:54.

(2.) 1 Chronicles 26:11.

(3.) The father of Eliakim (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37).

(4.) The father of Gemariah (Jeremiah 29:3).

(5.) The father of the prophet Jeremiah (1:1).

(6.) The high priest in the reign of Josiah (1 Chronicles 6:13; Ezra 7:1). To him and his deputy (2 Kings 23:5), along with the ordinary priests and the Levites who had charge of the gates, was entrusted the purification of the temple in Jerusalem. While this was in progress, he discovered in some hidden corner of the building a book called the "book of the law" (2 Kings 22:8) and the "book of the covenant" (23:2). Some have supposed that this "book" was nothing else than the original autograph copy of the Pentateuch written by Moses (Deuteronomy 31:9-26). This remarkable discovery occurred in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign (B.C. 624), a discovery which permanently affected the whole subsequent history of Israel. (see JOSIAH; SHAPHAN.)

(7.) Nehemiah 12:7.

(8.) Nehemiah 8:4.

HILKIAH

hil-ki'-a (chilqiyah, "Yah is my portion" or "Yah's portion"): The name of 8 individuals in the Old Testament or 7, if the person mentioned in Nehemiah 12:7, 21 was the same who stood with Ezra at the reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8:4). The latter appears as Ezecias (the King James Version) in 1 Esdras 9:43. Five of this name are clearly associated with the priesthood, and the others are presumably so. The etymology suggests this. Either interpretation of the name expresses the person's claim on Yahweh or the parents' recognition of Yahweh's claim on him.

(1) The person mentioned above (Nehemiah 8:4, etc.).

(2) A Levite of the sons of Merari (1 Chronicles 6:45).

(3) Another Levite of Merari, son of Hosah (1 Chronicles 26:11). Is he the "porter," i.e. "doorkeeper" of 1 Chronicles 16:38 ?

(4) Father of the Gemariah whom Zedekiah of Judah sent to Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 29:3).

(5) The man in 2 Kings 18:18 who is evidently more famous as the father of Eliakim, the majordomo of Hezekiah's palace (Isaiah 22:20; Isaiah 36:3). Probably the father's name is given in this and similar cases to distinguish between two persons of otherwise identical name.

(6) A priest of Anathoth, father of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1).

(7) The son of Shallum, and the best known of the name (1 Chronicles 6:13). He is great-grandfather of Ezra through his son Azariah (1 Esdras 8:1; compare 1 Chronicles 9:11 Nehemiah 11:11). He discovered the lost Book of the Law during the repairing of the Temple (2 Kings 22:4, 8); became chief leader in the ensuing reformation in 621 B.C. (2 Kings 23:4 2 Chronicles 34:9; 2 Chronicles 35:8). He showed the recovered book to Shaphan the scribe, who, in turn, brought it to the notice of the king. At Josiah's request he led a deputation to Huldah the prophetess to "inquire of the Lord" concerning the new situation created by the discovery. The book discovered is usually identified with the Book of Deuteronomy.

See DEUTERONOMY.

Henry Wallace

2518. Chilqiyyahu -- "my portion is Yah," the name of several ...
... "my portion is Yah," the name of several Israelites. Transliteration: Chilqiyyahu
or Chilqiyyah Phonetic Spelling: (khil-kee-yaw') Short Definition: Hilkiah. ...
/hebrew/2518.htm - 6k

The Young Josiah and the Book of the Law
... In the eighteenth year of his rule he sent Shaphan, the scribe, to the temple of
Jehovah with the command, "Go up to Hilkiah, the chief priest, and see that ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the young josiah and the.htm

Josiah and the Newly Found Law
... '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. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/josiah and the newly found.htm

The Rediscovered Law and Its Effects
... 'And Hilkiah the high ... And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the
priest hath delivered me a book: and Shaphan read it before the king.11. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the rediscovered law and its.htm

Was Moses "A Literary Fiction"?
... been lost in the rubbish of the temple during the wicked reign of Manasseh and Ammon,
is evidently referred to in 2 Chronicles 34:14, 15; "Hilkiah the priest ...
/.../iii was moses a literary.htm

Josiah
... 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 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/josiah.htm

The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... Hilkiah, the high priest, who was rummaging among the rubbish of the dilapidated
sanctuary, found there the Book of the Law of the Lord. ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iv the earlier hebrew.htm

The Book of the Law
... The long-lost manuscript was found in the temple by Hilkiah, the high priest, while
the building was undergoing extensive repairs in harmony with King Josiah's ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 33 the book of.htm

Footnotes
... Kings xxiii.31; xxiv.18; (2) Jeremiah, father of Jaazaniah, the Rechabite,
Jeremiah 35:3; (3) Jeremiah the prophet, son of Hilkiah. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/footnotes.htm

What the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven Be, and what their Power.
... As the key of the House of David was given to Hilkiah (Isa.22.22.) who succeeded
Shebna in his office; and his office was lhbyt over the house, v.15. ...
/.../the keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof/chap i what the keyes.htm

Secret Study of the Holy Scriptures.
... is a grave thing to be asked to believe, as many would have us do, that such was
the lack of feeling for veracity in ancient Judah that Hilkiah, Jeremiah, and ...
/.../moule/to my younger brethren/chapter iii secret study of.htm

Shaphan (26 Occurrences)
... secretary of king Josiah (2 Kings 22:3-7). He consulted Huldah concerning the
newly-discovered copy of the law which was delivered to him by Hilkiah the priest ...
/s/shaphan.htm - 18k

Secretary (34 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/s/secretary.htm - 18k

Eliakim (14 Occurrences)
... (2.) The son of Abiud, of the posterity of Zerubbabel (Matthew 1:13). (3.) The son
of Hilkiah, who was sent to receive the message of the invading Assyrians ...
/e/eliakim.htm - 15k

Joah (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/j/joah.htm - 11k

Eli'akim (12 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim
the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and ...
/e/eli'akim.htm - 9k

Discovery (24 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 22:8 Then Hilkiah, the chief priest, said to Shaphan the scribe, I have
made discovery of the book of the law in the house of the Lord. ...
/d/discovery.htm - 14k

Scribe (55 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/s/scribe.htm - 27k

Jo'ah (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/j/jo'ah.htm - 8k

Readeth (19 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 22:8 And Hilkiah the high priest saith unto Shaphan the scribe, 'A book
of the law I have found in the house of Jehovah;' and Hilkiah giveth the book ...
/r/readeth.htm - 12k

Asaiah (8 Occurrences)
... (3) An officer of Josiah sent to Huldah the prophetess for advice regarding the
law book found by Hilkiah (2 Kings 22:12, 14; see ASAHIAH). ...
/a/asaiah.htm - 10k

Who was King Josiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Huldah the prophetess in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Amon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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