Josiah Finds the Law
Young King Josiah repairs the temple, and the Book of the Law is discovered. When he hears its words, he tears his clothes and leads a national revival.
2 Kings 22:1-20, 2 Kings 23:1-25
Take the 2 Kings 22 Quiz
Test your knowledge of this chapter
Explore 2 Kings Chapters
Study all chapters of 2 Kings
The Story
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent his secretary Shaphan to the temple of the Lord. 'Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple. Have them pay the workers who repair the temple.'
While the money was being brought out, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. He gave it to Shaphan the secretary, who brought it to the king and read from it in his presence.
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He commanded, 'Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people concerning the words of 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.'
They went to the prophetess Huldah, who lived in Jerusalem. She said, 'This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that was read in the presence of the king. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods, my anger will be poured out on this place. But as for the king of Judah, tell him this: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you. You will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.'
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple with all the people of Judah, from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands with all his heart and soul. And all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
Josiah then led the most thorough reform in Judah's history. He destroyed the pagan altars, removed the idols, and celebrated Passover as it had not been observed since the days of the judges. Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
Josiah Finds God's Book
Kids Version
Josiah was only EIGHT years old when he became king. That's like a third grader! But even as a kid, Josiah loved God and wanted to do right.
When Josiah grew up, he decided to fix God's temple. It had been ignored for years and years. He sent workers to repair it.
While they were working, the high priest found something amazing hidden in the temple. It was a scroll—the Book of the Law that God gave to Moses! No one had read it in a very long time. The people had forgotten what God said!
A servant brought the scroll to King Josiah and read it out loud. As Josiah listened, he was shocked! The book told what God expected from His people—but they hadn't been obeying ANY of it! They had been worshiping fake gods and doing terrible things.
Josiah was so upset that he tore his royal robes. 'We are in BIG trouble!' he said. 'Our parents and grandparents didn't follow God's rules! Go ask God what we should do!'
A prophetess named Huldah gave them God's message. 'Yes, punishment is coming because of all the bad things that happened. But because Josiah was humble and cried when he heard My words, he will be protected.'
King Josiah gathered EVERYONE—from the most important people to the regular folks. He read the whole Book of the Law out loud to them. Then he made a promise before God to follow ALL of it with his whole heart.
The people promised too!
Josiah cleaned up the whole country. He got rid of all the idols and fake god stuff. He celebrated Passover the right way—something that hadn't happened in hundreds of years!
The Bible says there was never a king like Josiah who loved God with ALL his heart, ALL his soul, and ALL his strength. And it started with reading God's Word!
Ready to test your knowledge?
See how well you know this story from 2 Kings.
Characters in This Story
Settings & Locations
Scripture — 2 Kings 22:1-20 (KJV)
1Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
2And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
3And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,
4Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people: door: Heb. threshold
5And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,
6Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.
7Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
8And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD. gathered: Heb. melted
10And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
11And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
12And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,
13Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
14So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. wardrobe: Heb. garments in the: or, in the second part
15And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
16Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
17Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
18But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;
19Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.
20Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
Memory Verse
“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.”
— 2 Kings 22:1 (KJV)
Test Your Knowledge
How well do you know the story of “Josiah Finds the Law”? Take the quiz to find out.
More from Kings & Kingdom
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Josiah Finds the Law” in the Bible?
Young King Josiah repairs the temple, and the Book of the Law is discovered. When he hears its words, he tears his clothes and leads a national revival. This story is found in 2 Kings 22:1-20, 2 Kings 23:1-25.
Where is “Josiah Finds the Law” found in the Bible?
“Josiah Finds the Law” is found in 2 Kings 22:1-20, 2 Kings 23:1-25, in the book of 2 Kings.
What can children learn from “Josiah Finds the Law”?
This story teaches children about Revival, God's Word, Repentance, Reformation. Josiah became king when he was only 8 years old! When workers found the lost Book of the Law in the temple, Josiah read it and changed the whole country to follow God again.