Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, walking in the ways of David his father without deviation to either side.

For in his eighth year of reign, while still young, he began to seek after the God of David his father. In his twelfth year, he started to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images. They broke down the altars of Baal in his presence, cutting down the idolatrous images above them and shattering the sacred trees, carved idols, and molten statues. The dust from these idols was scattered on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

He burned the bones of the priests on their altars and purified Judah and Jerusalem. This cleansing extended even to the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, with their people using mattocks to clear away the rubble around the idols.

When Josiah had torn down the altars and sacred poles, pulverized the carved idols, and cut down all the idolatrous shrines throughout the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had cleansed the land and the temple, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city governor, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder to restore the house of the Lord his God.

When they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that had been gathered by the Levites who kept the doors from Manasseh and Ephraim, as well as from all the remaining Israelites, Judah, and Benjamin, and brought it back to Jerusalem. They put it in the hands of the workmen who oversaw the house of the Lord, and those workers gave it to their colleagues who labored on the Lord's house to repair and restore it.

The men worked faithfully, with Jahath and Obadiah, Levites from the sons of Merari, overseeing them, along with Zechariah and Meshullam, Kohathite Levites, to expedite the work. Other skilled Levites who were proficient in musical instruments were also involved in the labor, as well as Levites who served as scribes, officers, and gatekeepers.

As they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law given by Moses. He handed the book over to Shaphan the scribe, who then read it before the king. The king had heard the words of the law and tore his robes in grief.

The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, "Go, inquire of Yahweh for me and for those left in Israel and Judah concerning the words of this book. Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and Judah concerning the words of the book that has been found; for great is the Lord's wrath that is poured out upon us because our fathers have not kept the Lord's word to do according to all that is written in this book."

Hilkiah and those whom the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess who lived in Jerusalem. They spoke to her about the king's inquiry, asking for the Lord's response.

Thus says the Lord God of Israel: "Tell the man who sent you to me, 'Behold, I will bring evil upon this place and its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods, provoking my anger with all their works, my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.'

And as for the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord: 'Thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which you have heard. Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before me by rending your clothes and weeping, I have even heard you, says the Lord.

Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, without witnessing all the evil that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.'"

Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. The king went up into the house of the Lord, accompanied by all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests, Levites, and everyone else, great and small.

The king stood in his place, making a covenant before the Lord to walk after him, keep his commandments and testimonies, and fulfill the written terms of the covenant with all his heart and soul. He caused all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand by it, along with the inhabitants of Jerusalem fulfilling their covenant obligations to God, the God of their fathers.

Josiah removed all detestable idols from the lands of Israel and required everyone in Israel to serve the Lord their God. Throughout his reign, they did not waver from following the Lord, the God of their ancestors.