2 Kings22
English Standard Version
Tap any underlined word for the original Hebrew or Greek.
1 was when he began to , and he in . His was the of of .
2 And he what was in the of the Lord and in the of his , and he did to the or to the .
3 In the of , the the of , of , the , to the of the Lord, ,
4 Go to the , that he may the that has been the of the Lord, the of the have from the .
5 And let it be into the of the who have the of the of the Lord, and let them it to the are at the of the Lord,
6 (that is, to the , and to the , and to the ), and let them use it for and to the .
7 shall be asked from them for the that is into their , for they .
8 And the to the , I have the of the in the of the Lord. And the to , and he it.
9 And the to the , and to the , Your have the that was in the and have it into the of the who have the of the of the Lord.
10 Then the the , the has me a . And it the .
11 When the the of the of the , he his .
12 And the the , and the of , and the of , and the , and the , ,
13 , of the Lord for me, and for the , and for , the of that has been . For is the of the Lord that is against us, our have the of , to that is us.
14 So the , and , and , and , and to the , the of the of , of , of the (now she in in the ), and they with her.
15 And she to them, the Lord, the of : the who you to me,
16 the Lord, , I will upon and upon its , the of the that the of has .
17 they have me and have to , that they might provoke me to with the of their , therefore my will be against , and it will be .
18 But to the of , who you to of the Lord, shall you to him, the Lord, the of : Regarding the that you have ,
19 your was , and you the Lord, when you I and its , that they should become a and a , and you have your and me, I also have you, the Lord.
20 , , I will you to your , and you shall be to your in , and your shall the I will upon . And they to the .
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2 Kings 22Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 22. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Josiah's good reign, His care for repairing the temple, The book of the law found. (1–10). Josiah consults Huldah the prophetess. (11–20).
vv1-10
The different event of Josiah's early succession from that of Manasseh, must be ascribed to the distinguishing grace of God; yet probably the persons that trained him up were instruments in producing this difference. His character was most excellent. Had the people joined in the reformation as heartily as he persevered in it, blessed effects would have followed. But they were wicked, and had become fools in idolatry. We do not obtain full knowledge of the state of Judah from the historical records, unless we refer to the writings of the prophets who lived at the time. In repairing the temple, the book of the law was found, and brought to the king. It seems, this book of the law was lost and missing; carelessly mislaid and neglected, as some throw their Bibles into corners, or maliciously concealed by some of the idolaters. God's care of the Bible plainly shows his interest in it. Whether this was the only copy in being or not, the things contained in it were new, both to the king and to the high priest. No summaries, extracts, or collections out of the Bible, can convey and preserve the knowledge of God and his will, like the Bible itself. It was no marvel that the people were so corrupt, when the book of the law was so scarce; they that corrupted them, no doubt, used arts to get that book out of their hands. The abundance of Bibles we possess aggravates our national sins; for what greater contempt of God can we show, than to refuse to read his word when put into our hands, or, reading it, not to believe and obey it? By the holy law is the knowledge of sin, and by the blessed gospel is the knowledge of salvation. When the former is understood in its strictness and excellence, the sinner begins to inquire, What must I do to be saved? And the ministers of the gospel point out to him Jesus Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
vv11-20
The book of the law is read before the king. Those best honour their Bibles, who study them; daily feed on that bread, and walk by that light. Convictions of sin and wrath should put us upon this inquiry, What shall we do to be saved? Also, what we may expect, and must provide for. Those who are truly apprehensive of the weight of God's wrath, cannot but be very anxious how they may be saved. Huldah let Josiah know what judgments God had in store for Judah and Jerusalem. The generality of the people were hardened, and their hearts unhumbled, but Josiah's heart was tender. This is tenderness of heart, and thus he humbled himself before the Lord. Those who most fear God's wrath, are least likely to feel it. Though Josiah was mortally wounded in battle, yet he died in peace with God, and went to glory. Whatever such persons suffer or witness, they are gathered to the grave in peace, and shall enter into the rest which remaineth for the people of God.
Key Words
יֹאשִׁיָּה: Joshijah, the name of two Israelites
שְׁמֹנֶה: a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
אֵם: a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father))
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
יְדִידָה: Jedidah, an Israelitess
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
Cross References
2 Kings 22Parallel account highlighting that the discovered book of the Law was written by Moses.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The command to place the Book of the Law beside the Ark, where it was later found.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The parallel account detailing the finding of the book and the subsequent royal inquiry.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Precedent under Jehoash where temple repair money was delivered without reckoning due to faithfulness.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of Huldah's specific message of peace and comfort to King Josiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel details of the levitical collection and temple repairs under Hilkiah and Shaphan.
Supported by JFB
Ahikam the son of Shaphan later protects the prophet Jeremiah, demonstrating his family's piety.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Achbor (or Abdon) as an influential court official in Jeremiah's time.
Supported by JFB
The specific covenant curses read to Josiah that caused him to rend his clothes.
Supported by JFB
Josiah's reformations and birth were explicitly prophesied by name centuries earlier.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The law requiring the king to write and read a personal copy of the Law.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shaphan the scribe reports to the king, initiating the reading of the book.
Supported by JFB
Parallel verification of the priestly/royal lineage of Harhas and Huldah's husband.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes the levitical gatekeepers/door keepers according to the command of David.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The righteous are mercifully taken away to rest in peace before overwhelming calamity arrives.
Supported by Matthew Henry