2 Reis 22
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Reis 22
NJB (MT versing) Josiah Succeeds Amon Josiah Reigns in Judah The Beginning of the Reign of Josiah King Josiah of Judah Introduction to the Reign of Josiah (640-609) 22:1-2 22:1-2 22:1-2 22:1-2 22:1-2 Hillkiah Finds the Book of the Law The Repairing of the Temple and Finding the Book of the Law The Book of the Law Is Discovered The Book of the Law Discovered 22:3-7 22:3-7 22:3-7 22:3-7 22:3-7 The Lost Book 22:8-10 22:8-10 22:8-10 22:8-10 22:8-10 Huldah Predicts The Prophetess Huldah Consulted 22:11-13 22:11-13 22:11-13 22:11-13 22:11-13 22:14-20 22:14-20 22:14-20 22:14-20a 22:14-20 22:20b Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS For further information see the parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 34:1-35:19. This was a time of relative freedom for Judah because the major powers of the Fertile Crescent and the Nile Valley were in decline. Josiah's reign was from 640 ‒ 609 B.C., Next to David, Josiah has more positive treatment than any other king of Judah. The prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah were active at this time. Why the delegation went to Huldah the prophetess and not them is unknown. God has always used women leaders! SPECIAL TOPIC: WOMEN IN THE BIBLE
2 Reis 22:1-2
22:1 "Josiah was eight years old" His name (BDB 78) means "YHWH supports." Apparently he was 13 years old when he married (cf. 2 Kgs. 23:36). His father Amon was only 16 years old when Josiah was born. This young, godly king was surely coached and encouraged by godly servants, teachers, and priests. ▣ "Bozkath" This is a coastal city (cf. Josh. 15:39). 22:2 This description of Josiah's walk with God is very similar to that of Hezekiah. ▣ "walked in all the way" Godly living was illustrated by a straight, clear, smooth, unobstructed path/road/trail (cf. Ps. 119:105; Prov. 6:23). God's will was very clear. His faithful followers are warned not to deviate to the right or left (cf. Deut. 5:32; 9:12,16; 17:11,20; 28:14; Josh. 1:7; 23:6; 2 Chr. 34:2; Prov. 4:27). Stay on the path! ▣ "his father David" This shows the wide semantic field of "father." Here, it denotes ancestor. Note the same phrase used of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chr. 17:3.
2 Reis 22:3-7
22:3 "in the eighteenth year" The reform apparently started in the eighth year (cf. 2 Chr. 34:3-8), therefore, it had been ongoing for ten years already. The LXX adds "in the eighth month." ▣ "Shaphan" This was the king's faithful servant and fellow reformer. His sons later helped Jeremiah. Elasah (cf. Jer. 29:3) Ahikan (cf. Jer. 26:24) ▣ "scribe" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SCRIBE. 22:4 "Hilkiah the high priest" He was a progenitor of Ezra (cf. Ezra 7:1; 1 Esdr. 8:1,2; 2 Esdr. 1:1). He was a very godly man from the line of Zadok. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV "count" "report on the amount" NJB, NET "melt down" "weigh" "to pay" "seal" "deliver" The MT has a VERB (BDB 1070, KB 1752, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense). It can mean to complete to finish to add up to make ready However, in v. 9, it is "to pour out" (BDB 677, KB 732, Hiphil PERFECT), which supports an emendation to "melt down" in v. 4 (JPSOA footnote). The UBS Text Project, p. 374, gives "complete" a "B" rating (some doubt). ▣ "the money brought in to the house of the Lord" This refers to the ongoing collection of funds to repair the Temple (cf. 2 Kgs. 12:4-19). 22:7 "Only no accounting shall be made with them" These men were highly trusted and no audit was necessary (cf. 2 Chr. 34:12; and earlier in 2 Kgs, 12:11-16). ▣ "they deal faithfully" This is the important NOUN (BDB 53). Their names are given in 2 Chr. 34:12. SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH, AND FAITHFULNESS (OT)
2 Reis 22:8-13
22:8 "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord" See the parallel in 2 Chr. 34:13 called "The Book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses." I totally reject the presuppositions of Pentateuchial criticism known as the the J, E, D, P theory of source criticism. For a full discussion of the problem see Josh McDowell's Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. II. There has been much discussion as to exactly what "the book of the law" refers. At this point it is uncertain exactly what portion of the Pentateuch was found in the Temple. SPECIAL TOPIC: PENTATEUCH SOURCE CRITICISM SPECIAL TOPIC: MOSAIC AUTHORSHIP OF THE PENTATEUCH 22:10 "a book" This is literally "a scroll" (BDB 706, #3). It is called by several names. the book of the law, 2 Kgs. 22:8,11 "a book," 2 Kgs. 22:10,13; 2 Chr. 34:18 "the book," 2 Kgs. 22:16; 2 Chr. 34:15,16,24 "the book of the law of the Lord given by Moses," 2 Chr. 34:14 "the words of the law," 2 Chr. 34:19,21 See NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 893-899, "Law of God." 22:11 "he tore his clothes" This was a sign of mourning. SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES 22:12 "Ahikam" This is the father of Gedaliah, the later governor of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar II (cf. Jer. 39:14; 40:7). 22:13 "inquire of the Lord for me" Very early in the history of Israel this phrase refers to consulting the priest to know God's will by means of the use of the Urim and Thummim. But after the time of David, this phrase refers to inquiry of the prophets concerning God's will. SPECIAL TOPIC: URIM AND THUMMIM
2 Reis 22:14-20
22:14 "Huldah the prophetess" The Talmud says that Huldah is a descendant of Joshua and Rahab, therefore, related to Jeremiah. The Talmud also asserts that there are seven prophetesses: Sarah. Mariam, Deborah, Hanna, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther. The word "prophetess" is used of several people in the OT. Exodus 15:20, Mariam Judges 4:4, Deborah 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chr. 24:22, Huldah Nehemiah 6:14, Noadiah Isaiah 8:3, Isaiah's wife. It is used in a negative sense in Ezek. 13:17-19. There are also prophetesses listed in the NT. Anna, Luke 2:36; Philip's four daughters, Acts 21:9; and others spoken of in 1 Cor. 11:5-10. SPECIAL TOPIC: WOMEN IN THE BIBLE ▣ "the Second Quarter" This (BDB 1041) refers to the lower, newer part of Jerusalem. ABD, vol. 5, p. 1065, mentions that the term "second" can mean "expansion" (cf. Zeph. 1:10). 22:15 "the Lord God of Israel" This is the full title of Israel's Deity. Lord ‒ YHWH God ‒ Eloah (SINGULAR of Elohim) Israel SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. and D. SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (THE NAME) ▣ "Tell the man" This was Huldah's way of asserting that she knew it was Josiah who sent the delegation to confirm the authenticity of the newly found scrolls. 22:16 "Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants" Jerusalem will fall, the Temple will be destroyed, and Judea will go into exile (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 2 Kings 21:12-15). 22:17 "they have forsaken Me" This is a powerful covenant VERB (BDB 736 II, KB 806, Qal PERFECT). It is used in several covenant phrases (both promise and curse). the covenant people forsake YHWH Deut. 28:20; 31:16 1 Sam. 8:8 2 Kgs. 21:22 2 Chr. 12:5; 21:10; 24:20,24; 28:6; 29:6 they forsook the covenant Deut. 29:25 1 Kgs. 19:10,14 2 Chr. 12:1; 24:18 YHWH will never forsake His covenant people Deut. 31:6,8 Josh. 1:5 1 Kgs. 6:13; 8:57 2 Chr. 24:20 because of their idolatry, YHWH will forsake His covenant people Deut. 31:17 Josh. 24:16,20 Jdgs. 2:12,13; 10:6,10,13 1 Sam. 12:10 1 Kgs. 9:9; 11:33; 18:18 2 Kgs. 17:16,17 2 Chr. 34:25 warning to leaders 1 Chr. 28:9 2 Chr. 7:19,22 2 Chr. 13:10,11; 15:2 The Mosaic Covenant was a conditional covenant (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). ▣ "it shall not be quenched" YHWH will judge Judah but because of repentance, it is delayed. Ahab ‒ 1 Kgs. 21:27-29 Hezekeiah ‒ 2 Kgs. 20:2-6 Josiah ‒ 2 Kgs. 22:19-26 Repentance affects prophecies! SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE 22:20 "you will be gathered to your grave in peace" This seems to contradict 2 Kgs. 23:29, where Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Neco II at Megiddo in a freak accident by one Egyptian archer's random shot. The term "peace" (shalom) refers to the nation and not to Josiah individually. SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE (OT)