22
So Hilkiah and the other men went to the New Quarter 1 of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, 2 the keeper of the Temple wardrobe.
23
She said to them, “The Lord , the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you,
24
‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city 3 and its people. All the curses written in the scroll that was read to the king of Judah will come true.
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For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’
26
“But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: ‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard:
27
You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord .
28
So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You yourself will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city and its people.’” So they took her message back to the king.
29
Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30
And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the Levites - all the people from the greatest to the least. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord ’s Temple.
31
The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord ’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll.
32
And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge. The people of Jerusalem did so, renewing their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors.
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So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the Lord their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the Lord , the God of their ancestors.