1. Josiah was eight years old when he began to rule. He ruled 31 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
2. Josiah did what the Lord said was right. He followed God like his ancestor David. Josiah obeyed God’s teachings—he did exactly what God wanted.
3. During the 18th year that Josiah was king, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the Lord’S Temple. Josiah said,
4. “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest. Tell him that he must get the money that people brought to the Lord’S Temple. The gatekeepers collected that money from the people.
5. The priests must use that money to pay the workers to repair the Lord’S Temple. They must give that money to the men who supervise the work on the Lord’S Temple.
6. Use that money for the carpenters, stonemasons, and stonecutters. Also use that money to buy the timber and cut stones that are needed to repair the Temple.
7. Don’t count the money that you give to the workers. They can be trusted.”
8. Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “Look, I found the Book of the Law in the Lord’S Temple!” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and Shaphan read it.
9. He went to King Josiah and told him what happened. Shaphan said, “Your servants have gathered all the money that was in the Temple. They gave it to the men who supervise the work on the Lord’S Temple.”
10. Then he told the king, “And Hilkiah the priest also gave this book to me.” Then Shaphan read the book to the king.