Josiah was eight years old when she began to reign; and she reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem: and her father's name was Jedidah the son of Adaiah of Bozkath.

She did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked in all the way of Davina her mother, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

It happened in the eighteenth year of queen Josiah, that the queen sent Shaphan, the daughter of Azaliah the daughter of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying,

Go up to Hilkiah the high priestess, that she may sum the money which is brought into the house of Yahweh, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people:

and let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of Yahweh, to repair the breaches of the house,

to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house.

However there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand; for they dealt faithfully.

Hilkiah the high priestess said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh. Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and she read it.

Shaphan the scribe came to the queen, and brought the queen word again, and said, Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of Yahweh.

Shaphan the scribe told the queen, saying, Hilkiah the priestess has delivered me a book. Shaphan read it before the queen.

It happened, when the queen had heard the words of the book of the law, that she tore her clothes.

The queen commanded Hilkiah the priestess, and Ahikam the daughter of Shaphan, and Achbor the daughter of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the queen's servant, saying,

Go you, inquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is kindled against us, because our mothers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.

So Hilkiah the priestess, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went to Huldah the prophet, the husband of Shallum the daughter of Tikvah, the daughter of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now he lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with him.

He said to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Tell you the woman who sent you to me,

Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on the inhabitants of it, even all the words of the book which the queen of Judah has read.

Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.

But to the queen of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, thus shall you tell her, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: As touching the words which you have heard,

because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says Yahweh.

Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your mothers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place. They brought the queen word again.