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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>2 Chronicles 34 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_chronicles/34.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_chronicles/34-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > 2 Chronicles 34</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_chronicles/33.htm" title="2 Chronicles 33">◄</a> 2 Chronicles 34 <a href="../2_chronicles/35.htm" title="2 Chronicles 35">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">King Josiah of Judah</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="2KI 22:1">2 Kings 22.1</ref>,<ref loc="2KI 22:2">2</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_1"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.1" class="v14_34_1">1</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.1!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Josiah was 8 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled 31 years from Jerusalem. </span><span class="v14_34_2"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.2" class="v14_34_2">2</span>He followed the example of his ancestor David and always obeyed the <span class="nd">Lord</span>.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Josiah Stops the Worship of Foreign Gods</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="2KI 23:4-20">2 Kings 23.4-20</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_3"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.3" class="v14_34_3">3</span>When Josiah was only 16 years old he began worshiping God, just as his ancestor David had done. Then, 4 years later, he decided to destroy the local shrines<a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.3!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> in Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the sacred poles<a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.3!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> for worshiping the goddess Asherah and the idols of foreign gods. </span><span class="v14_34_4"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.4" class="v14_34_4">4</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> He watched as the altars for the worship of the god Baal were torn down, and as the nearby incense altars were smashed. The Asherah poles, the idols, and the stone images were also smashed, and the pieces were scattered over the graves of their worshipers. </span><span class="v14_34_5"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.5" class="v14_34_5">5</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.5!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Josiah then had the bones of the pagan priests burned on the altars.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.5!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_5">And so Josiah got rid of the worship of foreign gods in Judah and Jerusalem. </span><span class="v14_34_6"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.6" class="v14_34_6">6</span>He did the same things in the towns and ruined villages<a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.6!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> in the territories of West Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as the border of Naphtali. </span><span class="v14_34_7"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.7" class="v14_34_7">7</span>Everywhere in the northern kingdom of Israel, Josiah tore down pagan altars and Asherah poles; he crushed idols to dust and smashed incense altars.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_7">Then Josiah went back to Jerusalem.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Hilkiah Finds <span class="bk">The Book of God's Law</span></h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="2KI 22:3-20">2 Kings 22.3-20</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_8"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.8" class="v14_34_8">8</span>In the eighteenth year of Josiah's rule in Judah, after he had removed all the sinful things from the land and from the <span class="nd">Lord</span>'s temple, he sent three of his officials to repair the temple. They were Shaphan son of Azaliah, Governor Maaseiah of Jerusalem, and Joah son of Joahaz, who kept the government records.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_9"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.9" class="v14_34_9">9</span>These three men went to Hilkiah the high priest. They gave him the money that the Levite guards had collected from the people of West Manasseh, Ephraim, and the rest of Israel, as well as those living in Judah, Benjamin, and Jerusalem. </span><span class="v14_34_10"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.10" class="v14_34_10">10</span>Then the money was turned over to the men who supervised the repairs to the temple. They used some of it to pay the workers, </span><span class="v14_34_11"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.11" class="v14_34_11">11</span>and they gave the rest of it to the carpenters and builders, who used it to buy the stone and wood they needed to repair the other buildings that Judah's kings had not taken care of.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_12"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.12" class="v14_34_12">12</span>The workers were honest, and their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah from the Levite clan of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam from the Levite clan of Kohath. Other Levites, who were all skilled musicians, </span><span class="v14_34_13"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.13" class="v14_34_13">13</span>were in charge of carrying supplies and supervising the workers. Other Levites were appointed to stand guard around the temple.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_14"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.14" class="v14_34_14">14</span>While the money was being given to these supervisors, Hilkiah found the book that contained the laws that the <span class="nd">Lord</span> had given to Moses. </span><span class="v14_34_15"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.15" class="v14_34_15">15</span>Hilkiah handed the book to Shaphan the official and said, “Look what I found here in the temple—<span class="bk">The Book of God's Law</span>.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_16"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.16" class="v14_34_16">16</span>Shaphan took the book to Josiah and reported, “Your officials are doing everything you wanted. </span><span class="v14_34_17"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.17" class="v14_34_17">17</span>They have collected the money from the temple and have given it to the men supervising the repairs. </span><span class="v14_34_18"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.18" class="v14_34_18">18</span>But there's something else, Your Majesty. The priest Hilkiah gave me this book.” Then Shaphan read it aloud.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_19"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.19" class="v14_34_19">19</span>When Josiah heard what was in <span class="bk">The Book of God's Law</span>, he tore his clothes in sorrow. </span><span class="v14_34_20"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.20" class="v14_34_20">20</span>At once he called together Hilkiah, Shaphan, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.20!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and his own servant Asaiah. He said, </span><span class="v14_34_21"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.21" class="v14_34_21">21</span>“The <span class="nd">Lord</span> must be furious with me and everyone else in Israel and Judah, because our ancestors did not obey the laws written in this book. Go find out what the <span class="nd">Lord</span> wants us to do.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_22"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.22" class="v14_34_22">22</span>Hilkiah and the four other men left at once and went to talk with Huldah the prophet. Her husband was Shallum,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.22!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> who was in charge of the king's clothes. Huldah lived in the northern part of Jerusalem, and when they met in her home, </span><span class="v14_34_23"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.23" class="v14_34_23">23</span>she said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v14_34_23">You were sent here by King Josiah, and this is what the <span class="nd">Lord</span> God of Israel says to him: </span><span class="v14_34_24"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.24" class="v14_34_24">24</span>“Josiah, I am the <span class="nd">Lord</span>! And I intend to punish this country and everyone in it, just as this book says. </span><span class="v14_34_25"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.25" class="v14_34_25">25</span>The people of Judah and Israel have rejected me. They have offered sacrifices to foreign gods and have worshiped their own idols. I can't stand it any longer. I am furious.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v14_34_26"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.26-2Chr.34.27" class="v14_34_26">26-27</span>“Josiah, listen to what I am going to do. I noticed how sad you were when you heard that this country and its people would be completely wiped out. You even tore your clothes in sorrow, and I heard you cry. </span><span class="v14_34_28"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.28" class="v14_34_28">28</span>So before I destroy this place, I will let you die in peace.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_28">The men left and reported to Josiah what Huldah had said.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Josiah Reads <span class="bk">The Book of God's Law</span></h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="2KI 23:1-3">2 Kings 23.1-3</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_29"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.29" class="v14_34_29">29</span>King Josiah called together the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. </span><span class="v14_34_30"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.30" class="v14_34_30">30</span>Then he went to the <span class="nd">Lord</span>'s temple, together with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, the priests, and the Levites.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_30">Finally, when everybody was there, he read aloud <span class="bk">The Book of God's Law</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Chr.34.30!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> that had been found in the temple.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_31"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.31" class="v14_34_31">31</span>After Josiah had finished reading, he stood in the place reserved for the king. He promised in the <span class="nd">Lord</span>'s name to faithfully obey the <span class="nd">Lord</span> and to follow his laws and teachings that were written in the book. </span><span class="v14_34_32"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.32" class="v14_34_32">32</span>Then he asked the people of Jerusalem and Benjamin to make that same promise and to obey the God their ancestors had worshiped.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v14_34_33"><span class="reftext" id="2Chr.34.33" class="v14_34_33">33</span>Josiah destroyed all the idols in the territories of Israel, and he commanded everyone in Israel to worship only the <span class="nd">Lord</span> God. The people did not turn away from the <span class="nd">Lord</span> God of their ancestors for the rest of Josiah's rule as king.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">34.3 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">local shrines: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 11.15.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">34.3 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">sacred poles: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 14.3.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">34.5 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the bones of the pagan priests burned on the altars: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This made the altars unclean, so that they could not be used in worshiping any god.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">34.6 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">ruined villages: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">34.20 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Abdon son of Micah: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Also called “Achbor son of Micaiah” (see 2 Kings 22.12).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">34.22 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Shallum: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">34.30 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">The Book of God's Law: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Hebrew text has “The Book of God's Agreement,” which is the same as “The Book of God's Law” in verses 15 and 19. In traditional translations this is called “The Book of the Covenant.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (<a href="http://www.americanbible.org">www.americanbible.org</a>). Learn more at <a href="http://www.cev.bible">www.cev.bible</a>. 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