Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 23
Josiah was the last king of Judah who loyally served the true God. He had ordered the priests to repair the temple, the great house of God in Jerusalem. During that work, they re-discovered the Book of the Law, which contained the five books from Genesis to Deuteronomy. One of the king’s officials read to Josiah from that book.
It was a terrible shock for Josiah to hear, from that book, how badly Judah’s people had turned from God’s law. The book also declared severe judgments against them when they did not obey God’s law.
So, Josiah sent his most important officials to Huldah, a prophetess (holy woman). They asked her to inquire of God on the king’s behalf.
The message that God gave by Huldah was strict. God told Josiah in that message that his (God’s) judgment was against Judah’s people because of all their evil deeds. They must suffer the punishments that God’s law declares. However, God had seen Josiah’s humble and sincere attitudes. So, God told Josiah that he (Josiah) himself would not suffer in those troubles.
In these circumstances, Josiah decided that he would make every effort to encourage his people to turn back to God. For many of them, this would be their last opportunity before those troubles happened. Josiah now knew that he could not save his nation from those troubles. However, as the king, he could teach those people who were willing to learn, how to serve God properly. So, he ordered the leaders of the people to gather together all the people in Judah. They too must hear what God had declared in his (God’s) book.
Next part: Josiah's covenant (2 Kings 23:3)
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