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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://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 NIV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></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="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NIV</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"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/2_chronicles/34.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="sectionhead">Josiah’s Reforms</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>He did what was right in the eyes of the <span class="name">Lord</span> and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the <span class="name">Lord</span> his God.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the gatekeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>The workers labored faithfully. Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments— <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>had charge of the laborers and supervised all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, scribes and gatekeepers.</p> <p class="sectionhead">The Book of the Law Found</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the <span class="name">Lord</span>, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the <span class="name">Lord</span> that had been given through Moses. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the <span class="name">Lord</span>.” He gave it to Shaphan.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the <span class="name">Lord</span> and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Also called Akbor son of Micaiah">a</a></sup></span> Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>“Go and inquire of the <span class="name">Lord</span> for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the <span class="name">Lord</span>; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts do not have had sent with him.">b</a></sup></span> went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Also called Tikvah">c</a></sup></span> the son of Hasrah, <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Also called Harhas">d</a></sup></span> keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>She said to them, “This is what the <span class="name">Lord</span>, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>‘This is what the <span class="name">Lord</span> says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made, <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or by everything they have done">e</a></sup></span> my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the <span class="name">Lord</span>, ‘This is what the <span class="name">Lord</span>, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the <span class="name">Lord</span>. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’ ”</p><p class="reg">So they took her answer back to the king.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>He went up to the temple of the <span class="name">Lord</span> with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the <span class="name">Lord</span>. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the <span class="name">Lord</span>—to follow the <span class="name">Lord</span> and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/34-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the <span class="name">Lord</span> their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the <span class="name">Lord</span>, the God of their ancestors.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">20</span> <span class="footnotebot">Also called <i>Akbor son of Micaiah</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">22</span> <span class="footnotebot">One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts do not have <i>had sent with him.</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">22</span> <span class="footnotebot">Also called <i>Tikvah</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">22</span> <span class="footnotebot">Also called <i>Harhas</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">e</span> <span class="fnverse">25</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>by everything they have done</i></span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="http://biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. 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