The Divided Kingdom

The men did the work faithfully. Their supervisors were Yachat and 'Ovadyahu, L'vi'im from the descendants of M'rari, also Z'kharyah and Meshulam from the descendants of the K'hatim to give direction; and other L'vi'im, all of whom could accompany singing with musical instruments.

They supervised those carrying the loads and everyone doing any kind of work; and there were also L'vi'im who were secretaries, officials and gatekeepers.

While bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of ADONAI, Hilkiyahu the cohen found the scroll of the Torah of ADONAI given by Moshe.

Hilkiyahu said to Shafan the secretary, "I have found the scroll of the Torah in the house of ADONAI." Hilkiyahu gave the scroll to Shafan.

Shafan the secretary brought the scroll to the king. Turning to the king, he gave him this report: "Your servants are doing everything you ordered them to do.

They have poured out the money found in the house of ADONAI and handed it over to the supervisors and workers."

Then Shafan the secretary told the king, "Hilkiyahu the cohen hagadol gave me a scroll." Shafan read it aloud before the king.

After the king had heard what was written in the Torah, he tore his clothes.

Then the king issued this order to Hilkiyahu, Achikam the son of Shafan, 'Avdon the son of Mikhah, Shafan the secretary and 'Asayah the king's servant:

"Go, and consult ADONAI for me and for the people left in Isra'el and 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 observe the word of ADONAI and do everything written in this scroll."

So Hilkiyahu and those the king had ordered went to Huldah the prophet, the wife of Shalum the son of Tok'hat, the son of Hasrat, keeper of the wardrobe - she lived in the Second Quarter of Yerushalayim - and spoke with her about this.

She told them, "ADONAI the God of Isra'el says to tell the man who sent you to me

that ADONAI says this: 'I am going to bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses written in the scroll they read to the king of Y'hudah;

because they have abandoned me and offered to other gods, in order to provoke me with everything they do. Therefore my anger is poured out on this place and will not be quenched.'

"But you are to tell the king of Y'hudah, who sent you to consult ADONAI, that ADONAI the God of Isra'el also says this: 'In regard to the words you have heard,

because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants - you humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and cried before me - I have also heard you,' says ADONAI.

'Here, I will gather you to your ancestors; you will go to your grave in peace; and your eyes will not see all the calamity I am going to bring on this place and its inhabitants.'" So they brought back word to the king.

Then the king summoned and assembled all the leaders of Y'hudah and Yerushalayim.

The king went up to the house of ADONAI with all the men of Y'hudah, those living in Yerushalayim, the cohanim, the L'vi'im and all the people, both great and small; and he read in their hearing everything written in the scroll of the covenant that had been found in the house of ADONAI.

The king stood in his place and made a covenant in the presence of ADONAI to live following ADONAI, observing his mitzvot, instructions and laws wholeheartedly and with all his being, so as to perform the words of the covenant written in this scroll.

Then, after he had all the people in Yerushalayim and Binyamin stand in affirmation of it, the inhabitants of Yerushalayim acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

Yoshiyahu removed all the abominable idols from all the territories belonging to the people of Isra'el, and he made everyone in Isra'el serve ADONAI their God. Throughout his lifetime, they did not stop following ADONAI, the God of their ancestors.

Yoshiyahu kept Pesach to ADONAI in Yerushalayim. They slaughtered the Pesach lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month.

He assigned the cohanim to their posts and encouraged them to perform the service of the house of ADONAI.

To the L'vi'im who were teaching all Isra'el and were holy for ADONAI he said, "Put the holy ark in the house which Shlomo the son of David, king of Isra'el, built; after this, you will not have to carry it again. Now serve ADONAI your God and his people Isra'el.