International Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem.

1בֶּן־ שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה שָׁנִ֖ים יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ בְמָלְכ֑וֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וְאַחַת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

2He practiced what the LORD considered to be right, following the example of his ancestor David, turning neither to the right nor to the left.

2וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ בְּדַרְכֵי֙ דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֔יו וְלֹא־ סָ֖ר יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃

3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In the twelfth year of his reign, he began to remove the high places, Asherim, carved images, and cast images from Judah and Jerusalem.

3וּבִשְׁמוֹנֶ֨ה שָׁנִ֜ים לְמָלְכ֗וֹ וְהוּא֙ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ נַ֔עַר הֵחֵ֕ל לִדְר֕וֹשׁ לֵאלֹהֵ֖י דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֑יו וּבִשְׁתֵּ֧ים עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֗ה הֵחֵל֙ לְטַהֵ֔ר אֶת־ יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם מִן־ הַבָּמוֹת֙ וְהָ֣אֲשֵׁרִ֔ים וְהַפְּסִלִ֖ים וְהַמַּסֵּכֽוֹת׃

4They tore down the altars of Baals in his presence. He chopped down the incense altars that stood high above them. He broke into pieces the Asherim, the carved images, and the cast images, ground them to dust, and scattered the residue on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

4וַיְנַתְּצ֣וּ לְפָנָ֗יו אֵ֚ת מִזְבְּח֣וֹת הַבְּעָלִ֔ים וְהַֽחַמָּנִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־ לְמַ֥עְלָה מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם גִּדֵּ֑עַ וְ֠הָאֲשֵׁרִים וְהַפְּסִלִ֤ים וְהַמַּסֵּכוֹת֙ שִׁבַּ֣ר וְהֵדַ֔ק וַיִּזְרֹק֙ עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י הַקְּבָרִ֔ים הַזֹּבְחִ֖ים לָהֶֽם׃

5He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, thus purging Judah and Jerusalem.

5וְעַצְמוֹת֙ כֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים שָׂרַ֖ף עַל־ [מזבחותים] (מִזְבְּחוֹתָ֑ם) וַיְטַהֵ֥ר אֶת־ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְאֶת־ יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

6In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and as far as Naphtali and their surrounding ruins,

6וּבְעָרֵ֨י מְנַשֶּׁ֧ה וְאֶפְרַ֛יִם וְשִׁמְע֖וֹן וְעַד־ נַפְתָּלִ֑י [בהר] [בתיהם] (בְּחַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם) סָבִֽיב׃

7he also tore down altars, destroyed the Asherim and the carved images, grinding them into dust, and chopped down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

7וַיְנַתֵּ֣ץ אֶת־ הַֽמִּזְבְּח֗וֹת וְאֶת־ הָאֲשֵׁרִ֤ים וְהַפְּסִלִים֙ כִּתַּ֣ת לְהֵדַ֔ק וְכָל־ הַֽחַמָּנִ֥ים גִּדַּ֖ע בְּכָל־ אֶ֣רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּ֖שָׁב לִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ ס

8In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purged the land and the Temple, he sent Azaliah's son Shaphan, Maaseiah, mayor of Jerusalem, and Joahaz's son Joah, the recorder, to repair the Temple of the LORD his God.

8וּבִשְׁנַ֨ת שְׁמוֹנֶ֤ה עֶשְׂרֵה֙ לְמָלְכ֔וֹ לְטַהֵ֥ר הָאָ֖רֶץ וְהַבָּ֑יִת שָׁ֠לַח אֶת־ שָׁפָ֨ן בֶּן־ אֲצַלְיָ֜הוּ וְאֶת־ מַעֲשֵׂיָ֣הוּ שַׂר־ הָעִ֗יר וְ֠אֵת יוֹאָ֤ח בֶּן־ יֽוֹאָחָז֙ הַמַּזְכִּ֔יר לְחַזֵּ֕ק אֶת־ בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽיו׃

9They approached Hilkiah the high priest and delivered to him the money that had been brought into God's Temple that the descendants of Levi and gatekeepers had collected from Manasseh, Ephraim, the surviving Israelis, Judah, Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

9וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ אֶל־ חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ ׀ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֗וֹל וַֽיִּתְּנוּ֮ אֶת־ הַכֶּסֶף֮ הַמּוּבָ֣א בֵית־ אֱלֹהִים֒ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָסְפֽוּ־ הַלְוִיִּם֩ שֹׁמְרֵ֨י הַסַּ֜ף מִיַּ֧ד מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה וְאֶפְרַ֗יִם וּמִכֹּל֙ שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִכָּל־ יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן [וישבי] (וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ) יְרֽוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

10They paid it to the workmen who supervised the LORD's Temple, and the workmen who were employed in the LORD's Temple to supervise restoration and repair of the Temple.

10וַֽיִּתְּנ֗וּ עַל־ יַד֙ עֹשֵׂ֣ה הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה הַמֻּפְקָדִ֖ים בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ אֹת֜וֹ עוֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר עֹשִׂים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה לִבְדּ֥וֹק וּלְחַזֵּ֖ק הַבָּֽיִת׃

11They, in turn, paid the carpenters and builders to purchase quarried stone and timber for binders and beams for the buildings that previous kings of Judah had let deteriorate.

11וַֽיִּתְּנ֗וּ לֶחָֽרָשִׁים֙ וְלַבֹּנִ֔ים לִקְנוֹת֙ אַבְנֵ֣י מַחְצֵ֔ב וְעֵצִ֖ים לַֽמְחַבְּר֑וֹת וּלְקָרוֹת֙ אֶת־ הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁחִ֖יתוּ מַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃

12The workmen did their duties faithfully with these foremen supervising them: Jahath and Obadiah, descendants of Levi who were Merari's sons, Zechariah and Meshullam, descendants of Kohath, and various descendants of Levi, who were skilled musicians.

12וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩ עֹשִׂ֨ים בֶּאֱמוּנָ֜ה בַּמְּלָאכָ֗ה וַעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם ׀ מֻ֠פְקָדִים יַ֣חַת וְעֹבַדְיָ֤הוּ הַלְוִיִּם֙ מִן־ בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י וּזְכַרְיָ֧ה וּמְשֻׁלָּ֛ם מִן־ בְּנֵ֥י הַקְּהָתִ֖ים לְנַצֵּ֑חַ וְהַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם כָּל־ מֵבִ֖ין בִּכְלֵי־ שִֽׁיר׃

13These men also supervised the heavy lift workers and supervised all the workmen from job to job, while some of the descendants of Levi served as scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.

13וְעַ֣ל הַסַּבָּלִ֗ים וּֽמְנַצְּחִים֙ לְכֹל֙ עֹשֵׂ֣ה מְלָאכָ֔ה לַעֲבוֹדָ֖ה וַעֲבוֹדָ֑ה וּמֵֽהַלְוִיִּ֔ם סוֹפְרִ֥ים וְשֹׁטְרִ֖ים וְשׁוֹעֲרִֽים׃

14While they were bringing out the money that had come in as gifts to the LORD's Temple, Hilkiah the priest discovered the Book of the Law of the LORD that had been handed down by Moses.

14וּבְהוֹצִיאָ֣ם אֶת־ הַכֶּ֔סֶף הַמּוּבָ֖א בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה מָצָא֙ חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֶת־ סֵ֥פֶר תּֽוֹרַת־ יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד־ מֹשֶֽׁה׃

15Hilkiah reported his finding to Shaphan the scribe, telling him, "I found the Book of the Law in the LORD's Temple. Then he gave the book to Shaphan.

15וַיַּ֣עַן חִלְקִיָּ֗הוּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ שָׁפָ֣ן הַסּוֹפֵ֔ר סֵ֧פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֛ה מָצָ֖אתִי בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֧ן חִלְקִיָּ֛הוּ אֶת־ הַסֵּ֖פֶר אֶל־ שָׁפָֽן׃

16Shaphan took the book to the king and gave an additional report to the king, telling him "Everything that you've entrusted to your servants is being carried out.

16וַיָּבֵ֨א שָׁפָ֤ן אֶת־ הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֨שֶׁב ע֧וֹד אֶת־ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ דָּבָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ נִתַּ֥ן בְּיַד־ עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ הֵ֥ם עֹשִֽׂים׃

17They've removed the money that was found in the LORD's Temple and have passed it on to the supervisors and the workmen."

17וַיַּתִּ֕יכוּ אֶת־ הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּמְצָ֣א בְּבֵית־ יְהוָ֑ה וַֽיִּתְּנ֗וּהוּ עַל־ יַד֙ הַמֻּפְקָדִ֔ים וְעַל־ יַ֖ד עוֹשֵׂ֥י הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃

18Shaphan the scribe also informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest gave me a book." Shaphan read from its contents to the king.

18וַיַּגֵּ֞ד שָׁפָ֤ן הַסּוֹפֵר֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֔ר סֵ֚פֶר נָ֣תַן לִ֔י חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיִּקְרָא־ ב֥וֹ שָׁפָ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

19As soon as he heard what the Law said, he tore his clothes.

19וַיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֣י הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־ בְּגָדָֽיו׃

20He issued these orders to Hilkiah, Shaphan's son Ahikam, Micah's son Abdon, Shaphan the scribe, and the king's personal assistant Asaiah:

20וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־ חִלְקִיָּ֡הוּ וְאֶת־ אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־ שָׁ֠פָן וְאֶת־ עַבְדּ֨וֹן בֶּן־ מִיכָ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שָׁפָ֣ן הַסּוֹפֵ֗ר וְאֵ֛ת עֲשָׂיָ֥ה עֶֽבֶד־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹֽר׃

21"Go ask the LORD for me and for those who survive in Israel and in Judah about the words that we've read in this book that we found, because the wrath of the LORD that we deserve to have poured out on us is very great, since our ancestors haven't obeyed the command from the LORD that required us to do everything that is written in this book."

21לְכוּ֩ דִרְשׁ֨וּ אֶת־ יְהוָ֜ה בַּעֲדִ֗י וּבְעַד֙ הַנִּשְׁאָר֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל וּבִֽיהוּדָ֔ה עַל־ דִּבְרֵ֥י הַסֵּ֖פֶר אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִמְצָ֑א כִּֽי־ גְדוֹלָ֤ה חֲמַת־ יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִתְּכָ֣ה בָ֔נוּ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־ שָׁמְר֤וּ אֲבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־ דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת כְּכָל־ הַכָּת֖וּב עַל־ הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַזֶּֽה׃ פ

22So Hilkiah and the others who had received orders from the king went to visit Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Tokhath's son Shallum, grandson of Hasrah. She was the king's wardrobe supervisor, and she lived in Jerusalem's Second Quarter. They asked her about what had happened.

22וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ חִלְקִיָּ֜הוּ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶל־ חֻלְדָּ֨ה הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה אֵ֣שֶׁת ׀ שַׁלֻּ֣ם בֶּן־ [תוקהת] (תָּקְהַ֗ת) בֶּן־ חַסְרָה֙ שׁוֹמֵ֣ר הַבְּגָדִ֔ים וְהִ֛יא יוֹשֶׁ֥בֶת בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בַּמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יהָ כָּזֹֽאת׃ ס

23In response, she replied: "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'Tell the man who sent you to me,

23וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם כֹּה־ אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִמְר֣וּ לָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ שָׁלַ֥ח אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃ ס

24"This is what the LORD says: 'Pay attention! I'm bringing evil to visit this place and its inhabitants—every single curse written in the book that they've been reading to the King of Judah.

24כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֨י מֵבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה עַל־ הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וְעַל־ יוֹשְׁבָ֑יו אֵ֤ת כָּל־ הָאָלוֹת֙ הַכְּתוּב֣וֹת עַל־ הַסֵּ֔פֶר אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָֽרְא֔וּ לִפְנֵ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃

25Because they abandoned me and have burned incense to other gods, provoking me to become angry at everything they're doing, therefore my wrath is about to be poured out on this place, and it won't be quenched.'"'

25תַּ֣חַת ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲזָב֗וּנִי [ויקטירו] (וַֽיְקַטְּרוּ֙‪‬) לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים לְמַ֙עַן֙ הַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי בְּכֹ֖ל מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְדֵיהֶ֑ם וְתִתַּ֧ךְ חֲמָתִ֛י בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה׃

26"Now tell the king of Judah who sent you to ask the LORD about this: 'This is what the LORD God of Israel says about what you've heard:

26וְאֶל־ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה הַשֹּׁלֵ֤חַ אֶתְכֶם֙ לִדְר֣וֹשׁ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה כֹּ֥ה תֹאמְר֖וּ אֵלָ֑יו ס כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמָֽעְתָּ׃

27"Because your heart was sensitive, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he had to say about this place and its inhabitants—indeed, because you humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes, and cried out to me, I have heard you," declares the LORD.

27יַ֠עַן רַךְ־ לְבָ֨בְךָ֜ וַתִּכָּנַ֣ע ׀ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֗ים בְּשָׁמְעֲךָ֤ אֶת־ דְּבָרָיו֙ עַל־ הַמָּק֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ וְעַל־ יֹ֣שְׁבָ֔יו וַתִּכָּנַ֣ע לְפָנַ֔י וַתִּקְרַ֥ע אֶת־ בְּגָדֶ֖יךָ וַתֵּ֣בְךְּ לְפָנָ֑י וְגַם־ אֲנִ֥י שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי נְאֻם־ יְהוָֽה׃

28"Look! I'm going to take you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in your grave in peace so that you won't have to see all the evil that I'm going to bring to this place and to its inhabitants."'" So they all brought back this message to the king.

28הִנְנִ֨י אֹֽסִפְךָ֜ אֶל־ אֲבֹתֶ֗יךָ וְנֶאֱסַפְתָּ֣ אֶל־ קִבְרֹתֶיךָ֮ בְּשָׁלוֹם֒ וְלֹא־ תִרְאֶ֣ינָה עֵינֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹל֙ הָֽרָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנִ֥י מֵבִ֛יא עַל־ הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וְעַל־ יֹשְׁבָ֑יו וַיָּשִׁ֥יבוּ אֶת־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ דָּבָֽר׃ פ

29The king sent word to gather all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

29וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֕ף אֶת־ כָּל־ זִקְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

30Then the king went up to the LORD's Temple, accompanied by the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and descendants of Levi, and everyone else from the most important to the least important, and he read out loud all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the LORD's Temple.

30וַיַּ֣עַל הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ בֵּית־ יְ֠הוָה וְכָל־ אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדָ֜ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְכָל־ הָעָ֖ם מִגָּד֣וֹל וְעַד־ קָטָ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֣א בְאָזְנֵיהֶ֗ם אֶת־ כָּל־ דִּבְרֵי֙ סֵ֣פֶר הַבְּרִ֔ית הַנִּמְצָ֖א בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

31While standing in his appointed place, the king made a public covenant with the LORD to follow the LORD, to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes, and to do so with all of his heart and soul, and to carry out what was written in the covenant contained in the book.

31וַיַּעֲמֹ֨ד הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ עַל־ עָמְד֗וֹ וַיִּכְרֹ֣ת אֶֽת־ הַבְּרִית֮ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָה֒ לָלֶ֜כֶת אַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה וְלִשְׁמ֤וֹר אֶת־ מִצְוֺתָיו֙ וְעֵֽדְוֺתָ֣יו וְחֻקָּ֔יו בְּכָל־ לְבָב֖וֹ וּבְכָל־ נַפְשׁ֑וֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־ דִּבְרֵ֣י הַבְּרִ֔ית הַכְּתוּבִ֖ים עַל־ הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַזֶּֽה׃

32He also made everyone who was present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand in agreement with him. As a result, the inhabitants of Jerusalem reconfirmed the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

32וַיַּעֲמֵ֕ד אֵ֛ת כָּל־ הַנִּמְצָ֥א בִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם כִּבְרִ֥ית אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

33Josiah also removed all the detestable things from the territories that belonged to the people of Israel, and made everyone who lived in Israel to serve the LORD their God. For the rest of his life, they didn't abandon their quest to follow the LORD God of their ancestors.

33וַיָּ֨סַר יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֜הוּ אֶת־ כָּל־ הַתּוֹעֵב֗וֹת מִֽכָּל־ הָאֲרָצוֹת֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַֽיַּעֲבֵ֗ד אֵ֤ת כָּל־ הַנִּמְצָא֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַעֲב֖וֹד אֶת־ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם כָּל־ יָמָ֕יו לֹ֣א סָ֔רוּ מֵֽאַחֲרֵ֕י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ פ

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.