Josiah Finds the Book of the Law

Josiah becomes king of Judah at the age of eight and walks in the way of David, turning aside “neither to the right hand nor to the left.” In the eighteenth year of his reign, he has the temple repaired. The high priest Hilkiah then finds “the book of the law” there. When Shaphan the scribe reads it before the king, Josiah tears his clothes: their fathers have not obeyed this word, and God’s anger is great. The prophetess Huldah confirms the coming judgment, but Josiah, who humbled himself and wept, will not see these disasters. The king then gathers all the people, reads the book of the covenant, and commits to follow the LORD with all his heart. He cleanses the land: the vessels of Baal are burned, the Asherah is ground to dust, the altar of Jeroboam at Bethel is torn down. Then he keeps a Passover like none since the days of the judges.