2 Kings 22:13

KJV

Go 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Go {H3212} ye, enquire {H1875} of the LORD {H3068} for me, and for the people {H5971}, and for all Judah {H3063}, concerning the words {H1697} of this book {H5612} that is found {H4672}: for great {H1419} is the wrath {H2534} of the LORD {H3068} that is kindled {H3341} against us, because our fathers {H1} have not hearkened {H8085} unto the words {H1697} of this book {H5612}, to do {H6213} according unto all that which is written {H3789} concerning us.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Go; and consult ADONAI for me, for the people and for all Y'hudah in regard to what is written in this scroll which has been found. For ADONAI must be furious at us, since our ancestors did not listen to the words written in this scroll and didn't do everything written there that concerns us."

Berean Standard Bible

“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”

American Standard Version

Go ye, inquire of Jehovah 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 Jehovah 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
King Josiah, upon hearing the recently discovered "Book of the Law," is profoundly convicted by Judah's generations of persistent disobedience to God's covenant commands. Recognizing the severe spiritual negligence of his ancestors and the imminent divine judgment it portends, he urgently dispatches his trusted officials to seek the Lord's counsel on behalf of himself, the people, and all Judah. This pivotal moment underscores the transformative power of God's revealed Word to expose sin, ignite national repentance, and prompt a desperate search for divine mercy in the face of impending wrath.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the narrative of King Josiah's reign, specifically in [2 Kings 22](/2_kings/22 "2 Kings 22 - Josiah's Reforms and the Book of the Law"). It immediately follows the momentous discovery of the "Book of the Law" (likely a significant portion of Deuteronomy) by Hilkiah the high priest during Temple repairs ([2 Kings 22:8](/2_kings/22-8 "2 Kings 22:8 - Discovery of the Book of the Law")). When Shaphan the scribe reads its contents to Josiah, the king's reaction is one of profound grief and alarm—he tears his clothes ([2 Kings 22:11](/2_kings/22-11 "2 Kings 22:11 - Josiah's Reaction to the Book")). This verse, [2 Kings 22:13](/2_kings/22-13 "2 Kings 22:13 - Josiah's Inquiry to the Lord"), is Josiah's immediate and decisive command to his trusted officials, including Hilkiah and Shaphan, to "enquire of the LORD" on behalf of himself, the people, and all Judah. It sets the stage for the prophetic inquiry that follows with the prophetess Huldah in [2 Kings 22:14-20](/2_kings/22-14-20 "2 Kings 22:14-20 - Huldah's Prophecy"). The urgency of Josiah's command highlights the immediate and overwhelming impact of the rediscovered divine revelation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Josiah reigned over Judah from 640-609 BC, a period of significant geopolitical flux as the Assyrian Empire declined and the Babylonian Empire rose. Unlike many of his predecessors, Josiah was a righteous king who sought to reverse generations of idolatry and apostasy, particularly under his grandfather Manasseh. The discovery of the Book of the Law around 622 BC (Josiah's 18th year) was not merely an archaeological find but a theological earthquake. It brought to light the forgotten covenant stipulations and the severe curses promised for disobedience, as outlined in texts like [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). The act of tearing clothes was a customary, visceral expression of deep distress, grief, or repentance in ancient Near Eastern culture. Josiah's immediate call to "enquire of the LORD" through a prophet or priest reflects the common practice of seeking divine guidance in times of national crisis or spiritual uncertainty, indicating a profound reliance on divine revelation for national direction.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within [2 Kings](/2_kings "2 Kings - The History of the Kings of Israel and Judah") and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it highlights the **Authority and Power of God's Word**, demonstrating how divine revelation, even when long neglected, can convict, transform, and provoke a national reckoning. The rediscovered "Book of the Law" serves as the catalyst for Josiah's profound spiritual awakening and subsequent reforms, underscoring the enduring relevance and convicting power of Scripture. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Wrath** against covenant unfaithfulness, as Josiah explicitly acknowledges the "great wrath of the LORD" kindled against them due to their fathers' disobedience. This wrath is portrayed as a righteous and just response to generations of idolatry and social injustice, a recurring motif throughout [the prophetic books](/isaiah "Isaiah - The Prophet of Salvation") and [historical narratives](/jeremiah "Jeremiah - The Weeping Prophet"). Thirdly, the verse exemplifies **Humility and Repentance**, as Josiah's personal distress immediately translates into a corporate call for seeking God's face, demonstrating true leadership in the face of national sin. Finally, it touches upon **Intergenerational Sin and its Consequences**, recognizing that the cumulative disobedience of previous generations has brought the current generation to the brink of divine judgment, emphasizing the lasting impact of faithfulness or unfaithfulness, a concept explored in passages like [Lamentations 5:7](/lamentations/5-7 "Lamentations 5:7 - Our Fathers Sinned").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Enquire (Hebrew, _dârash'_):** This verb signifies an earnest, diligent, and often urgent seeking, searching, or inquiring. According to the provided Strong's data (H1875), it means "properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship." When used in a religious context, as here, it denotes seeking God's will, guidance, or revelation, often through a prophet, priest, or the Urim and Thummim. It implies a deep desire to understand God's perspective and to act in accordance with His desires, often in a context of crisis or a need for direction. Josiah's command is not a casual request but a desperate, sincere pursuit of divine counsel, highlighting his commitment to aligning the nation with God's revealed standards.
* **Wrath (Hebrew, _chêmâh'_):** This noun, often paired with YHWH (the LORD), describes a burning, intense anger or indignation. Based on Strong's H2534, it denotes "heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever); anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful)." It is a strong term, denoting a fierce, hot displeasure, often leading to destructive consequences. In the Old Testament, God's "wrath" is consistently portrayed as a righteous and just response to human sin, rebellion, and covenant unfaithfulness, rather than an arbitrary outburst. Here, Josiah recognizes the severity and justness of God's indignation against Judah's persistent idolatry and disobedience, understanding it as a righteous heat of divine displeasure.
* **Hearkened (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** While seemingly simple, this verb carries significant theological weight. Strong's H8085 defines it as "to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)." It means "to hear," but more profoundly, "to listen attentively," "to obey," or "to heed." In the context of the covenant, "to hearken to the words" of God implies not just intellectual understanding but active, obedient compliance. The failure of "our fathers" was not merely a lack of hearing, but a profound failure to obey the clear commands of God's revealed Word, leading to the "wrath" Josiah now perceives. This emphasizes that true hearing involves responsive action.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found:"** Josiah's immediate and urgent command to his trusted officials (Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, Asaiah) demonstrates his personal humility and recognition of the corporate nature of their sin. He seeks divine counsel not just for himself as king, but for the entire nation—the "people" (common citizens) and "all Judah" (the entire kingdom), emphasizing a collective responsibility. The object of their inquiry is the "words of this book that is found," highlighting the profound impact of the rediscovered Law and the desperate need to understand its implications for their present situation and the future of the nation.
* **"for great [is] the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us,"** Josiah articulates the profound and urgent reason for his inquiry: a deep awareness of God's righteous indignation. The phrase "kindled against us" uses a vivid metaphor of fire, indicating a consuming, active, and severe divine anger that has been ignited. This is not a speculative fear but a conviction rooted in the covenant curses outlined in the very book they have found, recognizing that their cumulative sin has provoked a just and terrible response from the holy God. The adjective "great" (H1419, _gâdôwl'_) underscores the immense magnitude and severity of this divine displeasure.
* **"because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us."** This clause identifies the direct and historical root cause of God's wrath: the sustained disobedience of previous generations. The phrase "our fathers" acknowledges a long history of national apostasy, emphasizing that the current generation is inheriting the consequences of cumulative unfaithfulness. Their failure was not merely in passively hearing the words but in actively "doing according unto all that which is written," underscoring the covenantal demand for active, obedient compliance. The concluding phrase "concerning us" reiterates that the Law's commands and consequences were directly applicable to them as God's covenant people, making the judgment intensely personal and inescapable.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey its urgent message and Josiah's profound conviction. The most prominent is **Covenant Language**, as the entire premise revolves around the rediscovered "Book of the Law" and the nation's failure to "hearken unto the words" and "do according unto all that which is written," directly referencing the stipulations and curses of the Mosaic covenant. The phrase "wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us" utilizes a vivid **Metaphor** of fire, portraying God's anger as a consuming, active force, emphasizing its intensity and destructive potential. There is also an element of **Hyperbole** in "great is the wrath," which, while perhaps literally true in its theological context, serves to underscore the profound and overwhelming nature of the divine judgment, amplifying Josiah's distress. The **Repetition** of "words of this book" emphasizes the centrality and ultimate authority of the rediscovered Law as the catalyst for Josiah's distress and decisive action. The structure of the verse, moving from a command to a justification ("for great is the wrath... because our fathers have not hearkened"), demonstrates a clear **Cause and Effect** relationship, highlighting the direct and inevitable link between disobedience and divine judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's justice, the authority of His Word, and the corporate responsibility of a nation under covenant. Josiah's response exemplifies true repentance, recognizing that God's wrath is not arbitrary but a just consequence of generations of unfaithfulness to His revealed will. It underscores that God's Word is not merely informative but transformative and convicting, exposing sin and demanding a response. The acknowledgment of "our fathers'" sin highlights the concept of intergenerational consequences, where the cumulative disobedience of a people can lead to national judgment, even impacting subsequent generations. Yet, Josiah's immediate action to "enquire of the LORD" also points to the possibility of divine mercy and a path to reconciliation, even in the face of deserved judgment, demonstrating that even when judgment is certain, seeking God's face is the appropriate and hopeful response.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Leviticus 26:14-39](/leviticus/26-14-39 "Leviticus 26:14-39 - Consequences of Disobedience")
* [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's Promise for Repentance")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound impact of the rediscovered "Book of the Law" on King Josiah serves as a powerful reminder of the living and active nature of God's Word in our lives today. Like Josiah, we are called to allow the Scriptures to deeply penetrate our hearts, exposing our own sin and the areas where we, individually and corporately, have strayed from God's commands. This verse challenges us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to the Bible's truths and to embrace a humble, repentant posture when confronted by its convicting power. It teaches us that genuine spiritual revival often begins with a sober recognition of our unfaithfulness and a desperate, earnest seeking of God's face. In a world that often dismisses sin or divine judgment, Josiah's immediate and unreserved acknowledgment of "great... the wrath of the LORD" calls us to a realistic understanding of God's holy character and the serious consequences of disobedience. Our response to God's Word should always be one of reverent submission, leading us to "enquire of the LORD" for guidance, mercy, and the strength to obey all that is written concerning us, trusting in His ultimate faithfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How readily do I allow the "words of this book" (the Bible) to convict me of sin and reveal areas of disobedience in my life?**
* **What is my immediate response when confronted with my own spiritual shortcomings or the unfaithfulness of my community/nation? Do I "enquire of the LORD" with urgency and humility?**
* **In what ways might the "fathers" (previous generations, cultural norms, or personal habits) have set a precedent for disobedience that impacts me or my community today?**
* **How does understanding God's righteous "wrath" against sin deepen my appreciation for His mercy and grace?**

### FAQ
**What was the "Book of the Law" discovered by Hilkiah?**

Answer: While the text simply calls it "the Book of the Law," scholarly consensus largely identifies it as a significant portion, if not the entirety, of the book of [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy "Deuteronomy - The Second Giving of the Law"). This conclusion is supported by the emphasis on covenant stipulations, blessings, and curses found in [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy "Deuteronomy - The Covenant Book"), which align perfectly with Josiah's distressed reaction and the subsequent reforms he initiated. The book's rediscovery after generations of neglect was a pivotal moment, re-establishing the foundational covenant document for Judah and serving as the catalyst for a national spiritual awakening.

**Why was Josiah so distressed by the book's contents?**

Answer: Josiah's distress, evidenced by tearing his clothes ([2 Kings 22:11](/2_kings/22-11 "2 Kings 22:11 - Josiah's Reaction")), stemmed from the immediate realization that the nation of Judah, including his own ancestors, had profoundly failed to "hearken unto the words of this book" and live according to its commands. The Book of the Law, particularly [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"), details severe curses and judgments for covenant disobedience. Josiah understood that generations of idolatry, injustice, and spiritual neglect had accumulated a massive spiritual debt, leading to the "great... wrath of the LORD" that was now "kindled against" them, threatening imminent national catastrophe. His reaction was one of profound conviction, humility, and a righteous fear of the Lord, recognizing the gravity of their collective sin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Kings 22:13 reveals the severity of God's righteous wrath against sin and the desperate need for humanity to "enquire of the LORD," it ultimately points forward to the ultimate and perfect fulfillment found in Jesus Christ. The "wrath of the LORD" that Josiah feared, a just consequence for the accumulated sin of generations, was fully and completely poured out upon Christ on the cross. He became the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bearing the curse of the Law that humanity could not fulfill ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law")). Where Judah's "fathers" failed to "hearken unto the words of this book" and "do according unto all that which is written," Jesus perfectly embodied and fulfilled the Law, not one jot or tittle passing away until all was accomplished ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). Furthermore, the desperate need to "enquire of the LORD" for guidance and mercy finds its ultimate answer in Christ, who is the [Way, the Truth, and the Life](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life"), the very [wisdom of God](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God"), and our [great High Priest](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14 - Jesus Our Great High Priest") through whom we can boldly approach the throne of grace, finding mercy and grace to help in time of need ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach God's Throne of Grace")). Thus, the fear of wrath and the search for mercy in 2 Kings 22:13 are resolved in the person and redemptive work of Jesus, who offers full atonement and access to God for all who believe.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 29:23

[And that] the whole land thereof [is] brimstone, and salt, [and] burning, [that] it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

Deuteronomy 29:28

And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as [it is] this day.

Deuteronomy 31:17

Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God [is] not among us?

Deuteronomy 31:18

And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.

Daniel 9:5

We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Daniel 9:8

O Lord, to us [belongeth] confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

Deuteronomy 4:23

Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, [or] the likeness of any [thing], which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.