TRV
Translation
King James Version
And 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.
KJV (with Strong's)
And Shaphan H8227 the scribe H5608 came H935 to the king H4428, and brought H7725 the king H4428 word H1697 again H7725, and said H559, Thy servants H5650 have gathered H5413 the money H3701 that was found H4672 in the house H1004, and have delivered H5414 it into the hand H3027 of them that do H6213 the work H4399, that have the oversight H6485 of the house H1004 of the LORD H3068.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then Shafan the secretary went back to the king and gave the king this report: "Your servants have poured out the money found in the house and handed it over to the people supervising the work in the house of ADONAI."
Berean Standard Bible
And Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the temple and have put it into the hands of the workers and supervisors of the house of the LORD.”
American Standard Version
And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen that have the oversight of the house of Jehovah.
World English Bible Messianic
Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the LORD’s house.”
Geneva Bible (1599)
So Shaphan the chanceller came to ye King, and brought him word againe, and saide, Thy seruants haue gathered the money, that was found in the house, and haue deliuered it vnto the hands of them that doe the worke, and haue the ouersight of the house of the Lord.
Young's Literal Translation
And Shaphan the scribe cometh in unto the king, and bringeth the king back word, and saith, `Thy servants have poured out the silver that hath been found in the house, and give it into the hand of the doers of the work, the inspectors, in the house of Jehovah.'
Study This Verse
Commentary on 2 Kings 22 verses 1–10
1 ¶ 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 And 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.
3 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,
4 Go 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:
5 And 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,
6 Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.
7 Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
8 And 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.
9 And 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.
10 And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
Concerning Josiah we are here told,
I. That he was very young when he began to reign (Kg2 22:1), only eight years old. Solomon says, Woe unto thee, O land! when thy king is a child; but happy art thou, O land! when thy king is such a child. Our English Israel had once a king that was such a child, Edward VI. Josiah, being young, had not received any bad impressions from the example of his father and grandfather, but soon saw their errors, and God gave his grace to take warning by them. See Eze 18:14, etc.
II. That he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, Kg2 22:2. See the sovereignty of divine grace - the father passed by and left to perish in his sin, the son a chosen vessel. See the triumphs of that grace - Josiah born of a wicked father, no good education nor good example given him, but many about him who no doubt advised him to tread in his father's steps and few that gave him any good counsel, and yet the grace of God made him an eminent saint, cut him off from the wild olive and grafted him into the good olive, Rom 11:24. Nothing is too hard for that grace to do. He walked in a good way, and turned not aside (as some of his predecessors had done who began well) to the right hand nor to the left. There are errors on both hands, but God kept him in the right way; he fell neither into superstition nor profaneness.
III. That he took care for the repair of the temple. This he did in the eighteenth year of his reign, Kg2 22:3. Compare Ch2 34:8. He began much sooner to seek the Lord (as appears, Ch2 34:3), but it is to be feared the work of reformation went slowly on and met with much opposition, so that he could not effect what he desired and designed, till his power was thoroughly confirmed. The consideration of the time we unavoidably lost in our minority should quicken us, when we have come to years, to act with so much the more vigour in the service of God. Having begun late we have need work hard. He sent Shaphan, the secretary of state, to Hilkiah the high priest, to take an account of the money that was collected for this use by the door-keepers (Kg2 22:4); for, it seems, they took much the same way of raising the money that Joash took, Kg2 12:9. When people gave by a little at a time the burden was insensible, and, the contribution being voluntary, it was not complained of. This money, so collected, he ordered him to lay out for the repair of the temple, Kg2 22:5, Kg2 22:6. And now, it seems, the workmen (as in the days of Joash) acquitted themselves so well that there was no reckoning made with them (Kg2 22:7), which is certainly mentioned to the praise of the workmen, that they gained such a reputation for honesty, but whether to the praise of those that employed them I know not; a man should count money (we say) after his own father; it would not have been amiss to have reckoned with the workmen, that others also might be satisfied of their honesty.
IV. That, in repairing the temple, the book of the law was happily found and brought to the king, Kg2 22:8, Kg2 22:10. Some think this book was the autograph, or original manuscript, of the five books of Moses, under his own hand; others think it was only an ancient and authentic copy. Most likely it was that which, by the command of Moses, was laid up in the most holy place, Deu 31:24, etc. 1. It seems, this book of the law was lost or missing. Perhaps it was carelessly mislaid and neglected, thrown by into a corner (as some throw their Bibles), by those that knew not the value of it, and forgotten there; or it was maliciously concealed by some of the idolatrous kings, or their agents, who were restrained by the providence of God or their own consciences from burning and destroying it, but buried it, in hopes it would never see the light again; or, as some think, it was carefully laid up by some of its friends, lest it should fall into the hands of its enemies. Whoever were the instruments of its preservation, we ought to acknowledge the hand of God in it. If this was the only authentic copy of the Pentateuch then in being, which had (as I may say) so narrow a turn for its life and was so near perishing, I wonder the hearts of all good people did not tremble for that sacred treasure, as Eli's for the ark, and I am sure we now have reason to thank God, upon our knees, for that happy providence by which Hilkiah found this book at this time, found it when he sought it not, Isa 65:1. If the holy scriptures had not been of God, they would not have been in being at this day; God's care of the Bible is a plain indication of his interest in it. 2. Whether this was the only authentic copy in being or no, it seems the things contained in it were new both to the king himself and to the high priest; for the king, upon the reading of it, rent his clothes. We have reason to think that neither the command for the king's writing a copy of the law, nor that for the public reading of the law every seventh year (Deu 17:18; Deu 31:10, Deu 31:11), had been observed for a long time; and when the instituted means of keeping up religion are neglected religion itself will soon go to decay. Yet, on the other hand, if the book of the law was lost, it seems difficult to determine what rule Josiah went by in doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and how the priests and people kept up the rites of their religion. I am apt to think that the people generally took up with abstracts of the law, like our abridgements of the statutes, which the priests, to save themselves the trouble of writing and the people of reading the book at large, had furnished them with - a sort of ritual, directing them in the observances of their religion, but leaving out what they thought fit, and particularly the promises and threatenings (Lev. 26 and Deu. 28, etc.), for I observe that these were the portions of the law which Josiah was so much affected with (Kg2 22:13), for these were new to him. No summaries, extracts, or collections, out of the Bible (though they may have their use) can be effectual to convey and preserve the knowledge of God and his will like the Bible itself. It was no marvel that the people were so corrupt when the book of the law was such a scarce thing among them; where that vision is not the people perish. Those that endeavoured to debauch them no doubt used all the arts they could to get that book out of their hands. The church of Rome could not keep up the use of images but by forbidding the use of the scripture. 3. It was a great instance of God's favour, and a token for good to Josiah and his people, that the book of the law was thus seasonably brought to light, to direct and quicken that blessed reformation which Josiah had begun. It is a sign that God has mercy in store for a people when he magnifies his law among them and makes that honourable, and furnishes them with means for the increase of scripture-knowledge. The translating of the scriptures into vulgar tongues was the glory, strength, and joy of the Reformation from Popery. It is observable that they were about a good work, repairing the temple, when they found the book of the law. Those that do their duty according to their knowledge shall have their knowledge increased. To him that hath shall be given. The book of the law was an abundant recompence for all their care and cost about the repair of the temple. 4. Hilkiah the priest was exceedingly well pleased with the discovery. "O," says he to Shaphan, "rejoice with me, for I have found the book of the law, heurēka, heurēka, - I have found, I have found, that jewel of inestimable value. Here, carry it to the king; it is the richest jewel of his crown. Read it before him. He walks in the way of David his father, and, if he be like him, he will love the book of the law and bid that welcome; that will be his delight and his counsellor."
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–10. Public domain.
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Ishodad of MervAD 850
BOOKS OF SESSIONS 2 KINGS 22:8
The book that was discovered was the Deuteronomy that Moses had placed in the ark as a precaution. It was brought out through a divine action, in order to show the people that it cried and argued against them because of their great iniquity and therefore did not want to stay in its place. Hilkiah, who found the book, was the father of the prophet Jeremiah. It is not without a reason that the book was discovered at the time of Josiah because he, more than all the other kings, showed a real fervor against the priests of Baal, especially against those of the ten tribes, that is, those that had survived among them. Indeed, if [the book] had been found at the time of the other kings, they would not have accepted it. They might have even torn it up, as Zedekiah tore the prophecy of Jeremiah and threw it into the fire. [Another reason] is that the time of their captivity had come. For the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity are usually counted from the eighteenth year of Josiah, the year in which the book was discovered: as if the captivity was about to come in those days but was hindered because of Josiah’s virtue.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Second Kings 22:9 records the crucial report from Shaphan, the royal scribe, to King Josiah, confirming the successful collection and proper allocation of funds designated for the repair of the dilapidated Temple in Jerusalem. This verse highlights the administrative integrity and diligent stewardship that characterized Josiah's early reign, setting the stage for the profound religious reforms and spiritual awakening that would soon sweep through Judah.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The narrative in 2 Kings 22:9 employs several effective literary devices. Reporting is central, as Shaphan's direct communication to the king serves to advance the plot and underscore the administrative diligence of Josiah's court. This formal report highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in leadership. The meticulous detailing of the money's collection and transfer functions as Verisimilitude, lending an air of authenticity and realism to the account, emphasizing the practical, tangible nature of the Temple repairs. Furthermore, the verse serves as a subtle Foreshadowing. The diligent, honest handling of the physical Temple's finances and repairs creates an atmosphere of order and righteousness that immediately precedes the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:8), suggesting that practical obedience and integrity often pave the way for profound spiritual revelation and revival.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, while seemingly a simple administrative report, carries significant theological weight, emphasizing the divine expectation of integrity and diligence in matters pertaining to God's work. It portrays a model of faithful stewardship where resources dedicated to the Lord are handled with utmost transparency and accountability. The careful management of funds for the Temple's physical restoration reflects a deeper spiritual commitment to restoring proper worship and order within the community. This act of responsible financial administration is presented as a prerequisite for the spiritual awakening that follows, suggesting that practical obedience and integrity in handling earthly resources are foundational to receiving and responding to divine revelation.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Second Kings 22:9 offers timeless principles for believers today, underscoring the profound importance of integrity, transparency, and diligent stewardship in all aspects of life, particularly concerning resources dedicated to God's work. Just as Shaphan's report demonstrated meticulous accountability in the Temple repairs, so too are we called to manage our personal finances, church resources, and charitable contributions with utmost honesty and care. This verse reminds us that practical obedience—the diligent attention to administrative and financial details—is not separate from our spiritual walk but often lays the groundwork for deeper spiritual encounters and corporate revival. When we faithfully manage what God has entrusted to us, whether it be time, talents, or treasures, we create an environment ripe for His Spirit to move. Our commitment to integrity in the mundane can pave the way for the miraculous, just as the Temple repairs preceded the rediscovery of God's Law and a nationwide spiritual awakening. It challenges us to consider if our current practices reflect the same level of accountability and dedication seen in Josiah's administration.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who was Shaphan, and what was his significance in this narrative?
Answer: Shaphan was "the scribe," a highly influential and trusted official in King Josiah's court. His role was far more than a simple copyist; he served as a royal secretary, administrator, and advisor. In this narrative, his significance lies in his trusted position as the intermediary who delivers crucial reports to the king, first regarding the Temple finances (2 Kings 22:9) and then, even more critically, the newly discovered Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:10). His integrity and proximity to the king made him a key figure in the unfolding events of Josiah's reform, demonstrating the importance of righteous and competent leadership in the king's inner circle.
What was the purpose of "gathering the money that was found in the house"?
Answer: The money was collected specifically for the extensive repairs and restoration of the dilapidated Temple in Jerusalem, as commanded by King Josiah (2 Kings 22:3-6). This "money that was found in the house" refers to the voluntary contributions and offerings brought by the people of Judah and Jerusalem for this sacred purpose. The meticulous gathering and delivery of these funds to the overseers underscore the commitment to financial integrity and proper stewardship in the administration of God's house, ensuring that the resources were directly applied to their intended use.
How does this verse relate to the discovery of the Book of the Law?
Answer: This verse is directly linked to the discovery of the Book of the Law, as it describes the administrative diligence that immediately precedes it. While Shaphan is reporting on the Temple finances, Hilkiah the high priest, who was overseeing the repairs, "found a book of the law in the house of the LORD" (2 Kings 22:8). It was Shaphan himself who then brought this book to King Josiah (2 Kings 22:10). Thus, the diligent work of repairing the physical Temple, including the transparent handling of its finances, inadvertently led to the rediscovery of God's written word, which in turn triggered a profound national spiritual awakening and covenant renewal under Josiah's leadership (2 Kings 23). The practical obedience in restoring the physical structure paved the way for the spiritual restoration of the nation.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Kings 22:9 details the careful stewardship of resources for the physical Temple, it points forward to the ultimate and perfect stewardship of Jesus Christ. The diligence in repairing the "house of the LORD" foreshadows Christ's cleansing of the Temple, not merely its physical structure but its spiritual integrity, declaring it a "house of prayer" (as seen in Matthew 21:12-13). More profoundly, Jesus Himself is revealed as the true and ultimate Temple, the dwelling place of God among humanity, as He proclaimed, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," speaking of His body (as recorded in John 2:19-21). The "money found in the house" for repairs can be seen as a type of the spiritual resources and divine provision given for the building up of God's true spiritual Temple—the Church, which is the body of Christ (as described in Ephesians 2:19-22). Just as Shaphan reported on the faithful management of funds, Christ, our faithful High Priest and ultimate steward, perfectly manages all things for the glory of God and the redemption of His people, providing all that is needed for the building of His kingdom and the sanctification of believers, who are now themselves "temples of the Holy Spirit" (as taught in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).