Chapter 22

1 Josiah’s good reign. 3 He taketh care for the repair of the temple. 8 Hilkiah having found a book of the law, Josiah sendeth to Huldah to enquire of the Lord. 15 Huldah prophesieth the destruction of Jerusalem, but respite thereof in Josiah’s time.

1. Eight years old. Since Amon was only 24 years old at his death and Josiah was then already 8, Amon must have been married as early as 15 and had a son at 16. Thus it is extremely unlikely that he had any son older than Josiah.

Thirty and one years. See p. 77.

2. That which was right. The young king was of a deeply religious nature, and in spite of the prevailing apostasy, resisted every temptation set before him to walk in his father’s footsteps. As early as the eighth year of his reign he began to seek after the Lord (2 Chron. 34:3).

To the right hand or to the left. A common phrase in the times of Moses and Joshua (Deut. 5:32; 17:11, 20; 28:14; Joshua 1:7; 23:6), but seldom used in the later Scriptures.

3. The eighteenth year. Josiah began his work of reform in the 12th year of his reign, purging Judah of its high places, groves, and images (2 Chron. 34:3). Jeremiah began his prophetic ministry in Josiah’s 13th year (Jer. 1:2). Five years later Josiah began his work of repair on the Temple.

Shaphan. Shaphan is frequently mentioned in the book of Jeremiah. His son Ahikam was the influential friend of Jeremiah (Jer. 26:24). Another son, Elasah, was sent by Zedekiah as an envoy to Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 29:3). Yet another son, Gemariah, is mentioned as one of the princes who tried to induce Jehoiakim not to burn Jeremiah’s roll (Jer. 36:12, 25). Jaazaniah, yet another son, is mentioned as among the “seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel” (Eze. 8:11). Gedaliah, who was made governor of Judea by Nebuchadnezzar after the destruction of Jerusalem, was his grandson (2 Kings 25:22; Jer. 39:14; 40:5). Michaiah, another grandson, heard Baruch read Jeremiah’s roll and reported its contents to the princes (Jer. 36:10–13).

4. Hilkiah the high priest. Hilkiah was the son of Shallum (1 Chron. 6:13) or Meshullam (1 Chron. 9:11), and his “son,” or grandson (see Neh. 11:11; 1 Chron. 6:13, 14; see on 1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chron. 2:7) was Seraiah, high priest when Jerusalem fell (1 Chron. 6:14, 15; 2 Kings 25:18, 21; Jer. 52:24, 27). Seraiah, in turn was the father of Jehozadak, who was carried into captivity (1 Chron. 6:15). Joshua, the high priest at the time of the return from the captivity in the time of Cyrus, was a son of Jehozadak, or Jozadak (Ezra 3:2, 8; 5:2; 10:18; Neh. 12:26). Ezra was also a descendant of Hilkiah (Ezra 7:1).

Have gathered. Evidently a collection for the repair of the Temple had been in progress for some time. In the time of Joash a similar collection was taken up (2 Kings 12:9, 10). The money was gathered from Ephraim and Manasseh as well as from Judah and Benjamin (2 Chron. 34:9).

7. Dealt faithfully. Compare 2 Kings 12:15. The names of many of these overseers are given in 2 Chron. 34:12.

8. Book of the law. See on 2 Chron. 34:14.

9. Have gathered. Literally, “poured out.” That is, from the chest containing the money (see 2 Kings 12:9–11).

11. Rent his clothes. Josiah was deeply stirred as Shaphan read to him the Lord’s messages from the ancient, sacred volume. He understood clearly that the path of disobedience would bring a terrible curse upon the nation, but that obedience would bring blessing, life, and prosperity.

12. Ahikam. The friend and protector of Jeremiah (Jer. 26:24), the father of Gedaliah, governor of Judea after Nebuchadnezzar’s capture of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:22).

13. Enquire of the Lord. The emissaries consisted of a number of Josiah’s most trusted servants. The king sensed the seriousness of the issues at stake. Knowing how far the people had wandered from the paths of righteousness and to what extent they had forsaken the Lord, he knew the extreme dangers that faced the nation. He determined to do everything in his power to save his people.

14. Huldah the prophetess. A number of prophets were active during the reign of Josiah. Jeremiah was already engaged in his important work (Jer. 1:2). Habakkuk and Zephaniah also prophesied during the reign of Josiah (Zeph. 1:1; PK 384, 385, 389). No reason is given as to why Huldah was selected for the present interview. Among the prophetesses mentioned in the Bible are Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4), Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36), and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8, 9).

Keeper of the wardrobe. Shallum, the husband of Huldah, had charge of either the vestments of the priests in the Temple or the royal wardrobe. Either office would make him a personage of some importance.

College. Heb. mishneh. Literally, “second,” that is, “second part” or “second quarter.” The reference is probably to the new or outer city—the expansion of Jerusalem to the north of the old city, which had been enclosed by the wall of Manasseh (2 Chron. 33:14; cf. Zeph. 1:10, where mishneh is translated “second”). According to Neh. 3:9, 12, there were two “half” parts of Jerusalem. The translation “college” is the rendering of the Targums, which take mishneh in the sense of the later Mishnah, “instruction,” from the idea “to repeat,” hence “to teach” and “to learn.”

16. I will bring evil. The nation was doomed because of its iniquity. The people had so long followed a course of iniquity that they had become hardened in their sins. Their senses were so deadened that wrong appeared right and evil was preferred before good. Under such conditions the ruin of the nation could not be averted by a temporary reform.

All the words. That is, the doom foretold in Lev. 26:16–39 and Deut. 28:15–68.

17. My wrath shall be kindled. See Deut. 29:25–28. As the wrath of God fell upon the chosen people and resulted in the destruction of the nation, so judgments will fall with equal force upon the impenitent at the end of the world (Rev. 14:18, 19; 15:7, 8; 16:1–21; PK 389).

Not be quenched. God’s wrath had been kindled like a fire that was not to be quenched. Once kindled, that fire was to burn until the nation had been consumed (see 2 Kings 23:26, 27; Jer. 4:4; 15:1–9; Eze. 15:2–8). The judgment pronounced on Manasseh (2 Kings 21:12–15) was repeated to Josiah, since, apparently, no effort at reform would now save the guilty nation. This was the awful truth that Huldah revealed, and that soon became the outstanding burden of Jeremiah. The sentence of condemnation had been given.

19. Tender. Humility and tenderness of heart are among the outstanding Christian graces. The tender heart of Josiah caused him to respond to the influences of God’s Holy Spirit and to be deeply moved by the sins of the people that were bringing so much of woe and distress.

20. In peace. There are times when even death is a blessing. In mercy God would allow Josiah to go to his grave before Judah was involved in final ruin. Josiah himself was slain in battle (ch. 23:29), but his death spared him from witnessing the terrible calamity a few years later.

Ellen G. White comments

1–20PK 384–400

1, 2 PK 384

3–8PK 392

8–10PK 393

13, 14  PK 398

15–20PK 399