Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Iedida, daughter of Edeia, from Basouroth.
And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, in the eighth month, that the king sent Saphphan son of Eselias son of Mesollam, the scribe of the house of the Lord, saying:
Go up to Chelkias the high priest, and seal up the silver that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which those who keep the threshold have gathered from the people.
And let them give it into the hand of those who do the work, of those appointed over the house of the Lord. And he gave it to those who do the work, to those in the house of the Lord, to strengthen the bedek of the house,
And Chelkias the high priest said to Saphphan the scribe: I have found a book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Chelkias gave the book to Saphphan, and he read it.
And he brought it to king Josiah and brought back word to the king and said: Your servants have melted down the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and have given it into the hand of those who do the work, of those appointed over the house of the Lord.
And the king commanded Chelkias the priest, and Achikam son of Saphphan, and Achobor son of Michaias, and Saphphan the scribe, and Asaias the king's servant, saying:
Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for all the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the anger of the Lord that has been kindled against us, because our fathers did not listen to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written against us.
So Chelkias the priest went, with Achikam and Achobor and Saphphan and Asaias, to Oldan the prophetess, the wife of Sellem son of Thekoue son of Araas, the keeper of the wardrobe; and she was living in Jerusalem, in the masena; and they spoke to her.
Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am bringing evils upon this place and upon those who dwell in it—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.
Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, so as to provoke me with the works of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled in this place and shall not be quenched.
And to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord, thus you shall say to him: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: As for the words which you have heard—
because your heart was softened and you were humbled before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against those who dwell in it, that it should become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your garments and wept before me—I also have heard, says the Lord.
Not so. Behold, I am adding you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your tomb in peace; and your eyes shall not see any of the evils which I am bringing upon this place. And they brought back the word to the king.