Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 22
Formerly, to inquire of God, a person would go to the chief priest at the temple (God’s house in Jerusalem). The chief priest would put on the sacred objects called the URIM and THUMMIM (Exodus 28:30). These names mean ‘perfect lights’; they were probably precious stones that the chief priest wore over his heart. Then, he would pray for God to give him the answer to the person’s problem.
It seems that even the evil King Ahaz sometimes inquired of God in that way (16:15). However, later in Israel’s history there was no priest with the URIM and THUMMIM (Nehemiah 7:65). It may be that the priests had already lost the URIM and THUMMIM at the time of Josiah.
So, we see that Hilkiah, the chief priest, did not himself inquire of God. Instead, he took the government officials to see a prophetess (female prophet) called Huldah. Hilkiah knew this woman to be a prophet, a holy woman who received messages from God. In the past, God had given messages to her about future events that had now happened (see Deuteronomy 18:21-22). It seems likely that God had used her to guide Josiah in the past.
Huldah lived in Jerusalem, and she belonged to a well-known family. Her husband was an official of the king or perhaps of the temple. His responsibility was to look after either the royal clothes; or the special clothes of the priests. She lived in Jerusalem, in the new part of the city. So, the chief priests and the royal officials were able to go to speak to her at once. They asked her to pray, and urgently to inquire of God for the advice that Josiah needed. Then, they waited for God to speak to her.
Next part: God's message of judgment against Judah (2 Kings 22:15-17)
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