King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And 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,
Complete Jewish Bible:
In the eighteenth year of King Yoshiyahu, the king sent Shafan the son of Atzalyahu, the son of Meshulam, the secretary, to the house of ADONAI after instructing him,
Berean Standard Bible:
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the scribe, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying,
American Standard Version:
And 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 Jehovah, saying,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it came to pass in the eighteenth{H8083}{H6240} year{H8141} of king{H4428} Josiah{H2977}, that the king{H4428} sent{H7971} Shaphan{H8227} the son{H1121} of Azaliah{H683}, the son{H1121} of Meshullam{H4918}, the scribe{H5608}, to the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}, saying{H559},
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Chronicles 34:3
- For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
2 Chronicles 34:33
- And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that [pertained] to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, [even] to serve the LORD their God. [And] all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.
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Commentary for 2 Kings 22:3
2 Kings 22:3 is a pivotal verse in the historical narrative of the Hebrew Bible, specifically within the books of Kings, which chronicle the history of the Israelite monarchy. This verse is set during the reign of King Josiah, who ruled over the Southern Kingdom of Judah from approximately 640 to 609 BCE. Josiah is notable for his efforts to reform the religious practices of Judah and to centralize worship in the Temple in Jerusalem, which was dedicated to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
In the eighteenth year of his reign, as mentioned in this verse, Josiah dispatches a high-ranking official named Shaphan to the Temple. Shaphan is identified as the son of Azaliah and the grandson of Meshullam, and he holds the important role of a scribe, which likely involved administrative and literacy skills essential for managing the kingdom's affairs. The king's directive to Shaphan is to go to the Temple, which is referred to as the "house of the LORD," indicating its significance as the central place of worship for the Israelites.
The broader context of this verse is significant because it sets the stage for a major religious discovery. During the renovation of the Temple, the high priest Hilkiah finds a "book of the law," which is believed to be a version of the book of Deuteronomy or a similar foundational text. When this text is read to Josiah, it leads to a profound religious renewal, as the king realizes that the worship practices of Judah have strayed from the laws and commandments outlined in the text. This discovery prompts Josiah to initiate a series of religious reforms aimed at purifying the worship of Yahweh and eliminating idolatry and syncretistic practices that had crept into Judahite religion.
The themes of 2 Kings 22:3 include the importance of religious texts, the role of the monarchy in upholding the worship of Yahweh, and the process of religious reform. The verse highlights the relationship between the king and the Temple, as well as the significance of scribal officials in the transmission and interpretation of religious law. It also reflects the broader historical context of the period, during which the Kingdom of Judah faced significant political and religious challenges, both from within and from the surrounding empires of the ancient Near East. Josiah's reforms, sparked by the events following this verse, were an attempt to secure the favor of Yahweh and ensure the survival of his kingdom in a turbulent time.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8083
There are 105 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁמֹנֶה
Transliteration: shᵉmôneh
Pronunciation: shem-o-neh'
Description: or שְׁמוֹנֶה; feminine שְׁמֹנָה; or שְׁמוֹנָה; apparently from שָׁמֵן through the idea of plumpness; a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth; eight(-een, -eenth), eighth. - Strong's Number: H6240
There are 292 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂר
Transliteration: ʻâsâr
Pronunciation: aw-sawr'
Description: for עֶשֶׂר; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth; (eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-, six-, thir-) teen(-th), [phrase] eleven(-th), [phrase] sixscore thousand, [phrase] twelve(-th). - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H2977
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יֹאשִׁיָּה
Transliteration: Yôʼshîyâh
Pronunciation: yo-shee-yaw'
Description: or יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ; from the same root as אֲשׁוּיָה and יָהּ; founded of Jah; Joshijah, the name of two Israelites; Josiah. - Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H8227
There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁפָן
Transliteration: shâphân
Pronunciation: shaw-fawn'
Description: from שָׂפַן; a species of rockrabbit (from its hiding), i.e. probably the hyrax; coney. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H683
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲצַלְיָהוּ
Transliteration: ʼĂtsalyâhûw
Pronunciation: ats-al-yaw'-hoo
Description: from אָצַל and יָהּ prolonged; Jah has reserved; Atsaljah, an Israelite; Azaliah. - Strong's Number: H4918
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְשֻׁלָּם
Transliteration: Mᵉshullâm
Pronunciation: mesh-ool-lawm'
Description: from שָׁלַם; allied; Meshullam, the name of seventeen Israelites; Meshullam. - Strong's Number: H5608
There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָפַר
Transliteration: çâphar
Pronunciation: saw-far'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate; commune, (ac-) count; declare, number, [phrase] penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer. - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.