3And in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, Josiah sent Shaphan, son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the temple of the LORD, saying, 4“Go up to Hilkiah, the high priest, that he may count the amount of the silver (money) which has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people; 5And let them deliver it to those who have the oversight of the temple of the LORD; and let them use it to pay those who are working in the temple of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the temple: 6To carpenters, builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the temple”. 7However, there was no accounting required of them of the money that was delivered to them, because they dealt faithfully.

8And Hilkiah, the high priest, told Shaphan, the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the temple of the LORD”. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9And Shaphan came to the king, and said, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the temple, and have delivered it to those who do the work, who have the oversight of the temple of the LORD.” 10And then Shaphan told the king, “Hilkiah, the priest, has found a book in the temple given to me”. Then Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. 11And when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his robes. 12And Josiah gave these orders to Hilkiah, the priest, Ahikam, son of Shaphan, Achbor, son of Micaiah, Shaphan, the scribe, and Asaiah, the king's servant: 13“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning what is written in this book that has been found; for great must be the wrath of the LORD against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, and acted according to all that is written there concerning us”.

14So these men, Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah, went to Huldah, the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. Huldah lived in Jerusalem, in the new quarter; and they talked with her. 15And she said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me: 16“Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon its inhabitants - all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read, 17Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore, My wrath shall be stirred against this place, and shall not be quenched. 18But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, you shall you tell him: “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘As touching the words which you have heard; 19Because your heart was tender, and you have humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your robes, and wept before Me; I also have heard you’, says the LORD. 20Therefore, your eyes shall not see all the disaster which I will bring upon this place. Instead, I will gather you unto your fathers, and you shall go to your grave in peace.”’”’” And they brought that word back to the king.