Topical Bible: Law: Book of, Found by Hilkiah in the Temple

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Topical Encyclopedia

The discovery of the Book of the Law by Hilkiah the high priest is a pivotal event in the history of Judah, as recorded in 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34. This event occurred during the reign of King Josiah, a monarch noted for his commitment to religious reform and the restoration of true worship in the kingdom.

Historical Context

King Josiah ascended to the throne of Judah at the tender age of eight, following the assassination of his father, King Amon. Josiah's reign is marked by a significant religious revival, as he sought to purge the land of idolatry and restore the worship of Yahweh. The spiritual decline of Judah had been profound, with the practices of idolatry and syncretism deeply entrenched in the society, largely due to the influence of previous kings like Manasseh and Amon.

Discovery of the Book of the Law

In the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign, he initiated a project to repair the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. During this restoration process, Hilkiah the high priest made a momentous discovery. As recorded in 2 Kings 22:8 , "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."

The identity of this "Book of the Law" is traditionally understood to be a form of the Deuteronomic code, possibly the entire Book of Deuteronomy or a significant portion of it. This discovery was significant because it indicated that the written law had been neglected or lost during the previous reigns, contributing to the nation's spiritual decline.

Reaction and Reforms

Upon hearing the words of the Book of the Law, King Josiah was deeply moved. 2 Kings 22:11 states, "When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes." This act of tearing his garments was a traditional expression of grief and repentance, signifying Josiah's recognition of the nation's failure to adhere to the covenantal laws of God.

Josiah's response was immediate and decisive. He sent a delegation to inquire of the Lord through the prophetess Huldah, who confirmed the impending judgment on Judah due to its disobedience but also conveyed a message of grace for Josiah because of his humility and repentance (2 Kings 22:14-20).

Following this, Josiah embarked on a comprehensive reform program. He gathered all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, read the Book of the Law to them, and renewed the covenant with the Lord (2 Kings 23:1-3). Josiah's reforms included the removal of idolatrous practices, the destruction of high places, and the reinstitution of the Passover celebration, as detailed in 2 Kings 23:4-25.

Theological Significance

The discovery of the Book of the Law underscores the importance of Scripture in guiding the spiritual and moral life of God's people. It highlights the necessity of returning to the foundational truths of God's Word, especially in times of spiritual decline. Josiah's response to the Book of the Law exemplifies the proper attitude of reverence, repentance, and obedience that believers are called to exhibit.

Moreover, this event serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness in preserving His Word, even when it seems forgotten or neglected. The rediscovery of the Law catalyzed a national revival, demonstrating the transformative power of Scripture when it is read, understood, and applied.

In summary, the finding of the Book of the Law by Hilkiah in the Temple was a divine intervention that led to significant religious reforms under King Josiah, emphasizing the centrality of God's Word in the life of His people.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 22:8
And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
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2 Chronicles 34:14
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.
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Library

The Young Josiah and the Book of the Law
... of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might carry out the words of the law which were
written in the book that Hilkiah, the priest, found in the temple of Jehovah ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the young josiah and the.htm

Josiah and the Newly Found Law
... not been busy in setting wrong things right, he would not have found the book in
its ... the attempt to keep God's law has led to larger knowledge of the law. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/josiah and the newly found.htm

The Book of the Law
... statutes; and during his reign the temple copy of the book of the law, through careless ...
The long-lost manuscript was found in the temple by Hilkiah, the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 33 the book of.htm

The Rediscovered Law and Its Effects
... in course of the repairs of the Temple, the book should be found,"probably in ... It
alone transmitted the law to later days, like some slender thread of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the rediscovered law and its.htm

The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... were written out and made part of the code; the Pentateuch, after the Exile, was
a more elaborate law book than that which Hilkiah found in the old temple. ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iv the earlier hebrew.htm

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

Deuteronomy
... the book then discovered by the priest Hilkiah, and read ... that the book must have
been a law book; no other ... Some of these enactments are found in other parts of ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/deuteronomy.htm

Authorship of the Pentateuch.
... as all do, that in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah the law of Moses ... to show why it
was not, in all essential respects, the book which Hilkiah found in the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter ix authorship of the.htm

Prayer and the House of God
... Such neglect of the Word of the Law was too serious a matter to be ... left in Israel
and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/xiv prayer and the house.htm

The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
... most of them, in revised form, are also found in Deuteronomy. ... of Deuteronomy, and
that this was the law-book discovered in the temple by Hilkiah the priest ...
/.../viii the development of the.htm