Josiah Finds the Book of the Law

Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. In the eighteenth year of his reign, he sent Shaphan the secretary to the temple of the Lord. Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord." He gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.

Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported, "Your officials have done everything that has been entrusted to them. They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord." Then Shaphan said, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He said, "Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people of Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord's anger that burns against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book."

The king went up to the temple of the Lord with all the people. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple. He renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord and made everyone stand firm in it. He removed all the pagan articles from the temple. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord.