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1. Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he ruled thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
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1. Josiah H2977 was eight H8083 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign H4427 , and he reigned H4427 in Jerusalem H3389 one H259 and thirty H7970 years H8141 .
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2. He did what the Lord said was right. He lived as his ancestor David had lived, and he did not stop doing what was right.
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2. And he did H6213 that which was right H3477 in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068 , and walked H1980 in the ways H1870 of David H1732 his father H1 , and declined H5493 neither to the right hand H3225 , nor to the left H8040 .
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3. In his eighth year as king while he was still young, Josiah began to obey the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year as king, Josiah began to remove from Judah and Jerusalem the gods, the places for worshiping gods, the Asherah idols, and the wooden and metal idols.
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3. For in the eighth H8083 year H8141 of his reign H4427 , while he H1931 was yet H5750 young H5288 , he began H2490 to seek H1875 after the God H430 of David H1732 his father H1 : and in the twelfth H8147 H6240 year H8141 he began H2490 to purge H2891 H853 Judah H3063 and Jerusalem H3389 from H4480 the high places H1116 , and the groves H842 , and the carved images H6456 , and the molten images H4541 .
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4. The people tore down the altars for the Baal gods as Josiah directed. Then Josiah cut down the incense altars that were above them. He broke up the Asherah idols and the wooden and metal idols and beat them into powder. Then he sprinkled the powder on the graves of the people who had offered sacrifices to these gods.
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4. And they broke down H5422 H853 the altars H4196 of Baalim H1168 in his presence H6440 ; and the images H2553 , that H834 were on high H4605 above H4480 H5921 them , he cut down H1438 ; and the groves H842 , and the carved images H6456 , and the molten images H4541 , he broke in pieces H7665 , and made dust H1854 of them , and strewed H2236 it upon H5921 H6440 the graves H6913 of them that had sacrificed H2076 unto them.
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5. He burned the bones of their priests on their own altars. So Josiah removed idol worship from Judah and Jerusalem,
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5. And he burnt H8313 the bones H6106 of the priests H3548 upon H5921 their altars H4196 , and cleansed H2891 H853 Judah H3063 and Jerusalem H3389 .
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6. and from the towns in the areas of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon all the way to Naphtali, and in the ruins near these towns.
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6. And so did he in the cities H5892 of Manasseh H4519 , and Ephraim H669 , and Simeon H8095 , even unto H5704 Naphtali H5321 , with their mattocks H2719 round about H5439 .
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7. Josiah broke down the altars and Asherah idols and beat the idols into powder. He cut down all the incense altars in all of Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.
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7. And when he had broken down H5422 H853 the altars H4196 and the groves H842 , and had beaten H3807 the graven images H6456 into powder H1854 , and cut down H1438 all H3605 the idols H2553 throughout all H3605 the land H776 of Israel H3478 , he returned H7725 to Jerusalem H3389 .
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8. In Josiah's eighteenth year as king, he made Judah and the Temple pure again. He sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city leader, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the Temple of the Lord, the God of Josiah.
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8. Now in the eighteenth H8083 H6240 year H8141 of his reign H4427 , when he had purged H2891 the land H776 , and the house H1004 , he sent H7971 H853 Shaphan H8227 the son H1121 of Azaliah H683 , and Maaseiah H4641 the governor H8269 of the city H5892 , and Joah H3098 the son H1121 of Joahaz H3099 the recorder H2142 , to repair H2388 H853 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 his God H430 .
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9. These men went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money the Levite gatekeepers had gathered from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim, and all the Israelites who were left alive, and also from all the people of Judah, Benjamin, and Jerusalem. This is the money they had brought into the Temple of God.
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9. And when they came H935 to H413 Hilkiah H2518 the high H1419 priest H3548 , they delivered H5414 H853 the money H3701 that was brought into H935 the house H1004 of God H430 , which H834 the Levites H3881 that kept H8104 the doors H5592 had gathered H622 of the hand H4480 H3027 of Manasseh H4519 and Ephraim H669 , and of all H4480 H3605 the remnant H7611 of Israel H3478 , and of all H4480 H3605 Judah H3063 and Benjamin H1144 ; and they returned H7725 to Jerusalem H3389 .
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10. Then the Levites gave it to the supervisors of the work on the Temple of the Lord, and they paid the workers who rebuilt and repaired the Temple.
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10. And they put H5414 it in H5921 the hand H3027 of the workmen H6213 H4399 that had the oversight H6485 of the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , and they gave H5414 it to the workmen H6213 H4399 that H834 wrought H6213 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , to repair H918 and amend H2388 the house H1004 :
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11. They gave money to carpenters and builders to buy cut stone and wood. The wood was used to rebuild the buildings and to make beams for them, because the kings of Judah had let the buildings fall into ruin.
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11. Even to the artificers H2796 and builders H1129 gave H5414 they it , to buy H7069 hewn H4274 stone H68 , and timber H6086 for couplings H4226 , and to floor H7136 H853 the houses H1004 which H834 the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 had destroyed H7843 .
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12. The men did their work well. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah, who were Levites from the family of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, who were from the family of Kohath. These Levites were all skilled musicians.
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12. And the men H376 did H6213 the work H4399 faithfully H530 : and the overseers H5329 of H5921 them were Jahath H3189 and Obadiah H5662 , the Levites H3881 , of H4480 the sons H1121 of Merari H4847 ; and Zechariah H2148 and Meshullam H4918 , of H4480 the sons H1121 of the Kohathites H6956 , to set it forward H6485 ; and other of the Levites H3881 , all H3605 that could skill H995 of instruments H3627 of music H7892 .
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13. They were also in charge of the workers who carried loads and all the other workers. Some Levites worked as secretaries, officers, and gatekeepers.
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13. Also they were over H5921 the bearers of burdens H5449 , and were overseers H5329 of all H3605 that wrought H6213 the work H4399 in any manner of service H5656 H5656 : and of H4480 the Levites H3881 there were scribes H5608 , and officers H7860 , and porters H7778 .
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14. The Levites brought out the money that was in the Temple of the Lord. As they were doing this, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Lord's Teachings that had been given through Moses.
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14. And when they brought out H3318 H853 the money H3701 that was brought into H935 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , Hilkiah H2518 the priest H3548 found H4672 H853 a book H5612 of the law H8451 of the LORD H3068 given by H3027 Moses H4872 .
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15. Hilkiah said to Shaphan the royal secretary, "I've found the Book of the Teachings in the Temple of the Lord!" Then he gave it to Shaphan.
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15. And Hilkiah H2518 answered H6030 and said H559 to H413 Shaphan H8227 the scribe H5608 , I have found H4672 the book H5612 of the law H8451 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 . And Hilkiah H2518 delivered H5414 H853 the book H5612 to H413 Shaphan H8227 .
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16. Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to Josiah, "Your officers are doing everything you told them to do.
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16. And Shaphan H8227 carried H935 H853 the book H5612 to H413 the king H4428 , and brought H7725 H853 the king H4428 word H1697 back again H5750 , saying H559 , All H3605 that H834 was committed H5414 to thy servants H3027 H5650 , they H1992 do H6213 it .
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17. They have paid out the money that was in the Temple of the Lord and have given it to the supervisors and the workers."
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17. And they have gathered together H5413 H853 the money H3701 that was found H4672 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , and have delivered H5414 it into H5921 the hand H3027 of the overseers H6485 , and to H5921 the hand H3027 of the workmen H6213 H4399 .
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18. Then Shaphan the royal secretary told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from the book to the king.
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18. Then Shaphan H8227 the scribe H5608 told H5046 the king H4428 , saying H559 , Hilkiah H2518 the priest H3548 hath given H5414 me a book H5612 . And Shaphan H8227 read H7121 it before H6440 the king H4428 .
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19. When the king heard the words of the Teachings, he tore his clothes to show how upset he was.
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19. And it came to pass H1961 , when the king H4428 had heard H8085 H853 the words H1697 of the law H8451 , that he rent H7167 H853 his clothes H899 .
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20. He gave orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the royal secretary, and Asaiah, the king's servant. These were the orders:
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20. And the king H4428 commanded H6680 H853 Hilkiah H2518 , and Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 , and Abdon H5658 the son H1121 of Micah H4318 , and Shaphan H8227 the scribe H5608 , and Asaiah H6222 a servant H5650 of the king H4428 's, saying H559 ,
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21. "Go and ask the Lord about the words in the book that was found. Ask for me and for the people who are left alive in Israel and Judah. The Lord is very angry with us, because our ancestors did not obey the Lord's word; they did not do everything this book says to do."
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21. Go H1980 , inquire of H1875 H853 the LORD H3068 for H1157 me , and for H1157 them that are left H7604 in Israel H3478 and in Judah H3063 , concerning H5921 the words H1697 of the book H5612 that H834 is found H4672 : for H3588 great H1419 is the wrath H2534 of the LORD H3068 that H834 is poured out H5413 upon us, because H5921 H834 our fathers H1 have not H3808 kept H8104 H853 the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 , to do H6213 after all H3605 that is written H3789 in H5921 this H2088 book H5612 .
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22. So Hilkiah and those the king sent with him went to talk to Huldah the prophetess. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, who took care of the king's clothes. Huldah lived in Jerusalem, in the new area of the city.
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22. And Hilkiah H2518 , and they that H834 the king H4428 had appointed , went H1980 to H413 Huldah H2468 the prophetess H5031 , the wife H802 of Shallum H7967 the son H1121 of Tikvath H8616 , the son H1121 of Hasrah H2641 , keeper H8104 of the wardrobe H899 ; (now she H1931 dwelt H3427 in Jerusalem H3389 in the college H4932 :) and they spoke H1696 to H413 her to that H2063 effect .
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23. She said to them, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,
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23. And she answered H559 them, Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 , Tell H559 ye the man H376 that H834 sent H7971 you to H413 me,
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24. 'This is what the Lord says: I will bring trouble to this place and to the people living here. I will bring all the curses that are written in the book that was read to the king of Judah.
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24. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , Behold H2009 , I will bring H935 evil H7451 upon H5921 this H2088 place H4725 , and upon H5921 the inhabitants H3427 thereof, even H853 all H3605 the curses H423 that are written H3789 in H5921 the book H5612 which H834 they have read H7121 before H6440 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 :
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25. The people of Judah have left me and have burned incense to other gods. They have made me angry by all the evil things they have made. So I will punish them in my anger, which will not be put out.'
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25. Because H8478 H834 they have forsaken H5800 me , and have burned incense H6999 unto other H312 gods H430 , that H4616 they might provoke me to anger H3707 with all H3605 the works H4639 of their hands H3027 ; therefore my wrath H2534 shall be poured out H5413 upon this H2088 place H4725 , and shall not H3808 be quenched H3518 .
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26. Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to ask the Lord, 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the words you heard:
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26. And as for H413 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 , who sent H7971 you to inquire H1875 of the LORD H3068 , so H3541 shall ye say H559 unto H413 him, Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 concerning the words H1697 which H834 thou hast heard H8085 ;
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27. When you heard my words against this place and its people, you became sorry for what you had done and you humbled yourself before me. You tore your clothes to show how upset you were, and you cried in my presence. This is why I have heard you, says the Lord.
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27. Because H3282 thine heart H3824 was tender H7401 , and thou didst humble thyself H3665 before H4480 H6440 God H430 , when thou heardest H8085 H853 his words H1697 against H5921 this H2088 place H4725 , and against H5921 the inhabitants H3427 thereof , and humbledst thyself H3665 before H6440 me , and didst rend H7167 H853 thy clothes H899 , and weep H1058 before H6440 me; I H589 have even heard H8085 thee also H1571 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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28. So I will let you die and be buried in peace. You won't see all the trouble I will bring to this place and the people living here.'" So they took her message back to the king.
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28. Behold H2009 , I will gather H622 thee to H413 thy fathers H1 , and thou shalt be gathered H622 to H413 thy grave H6913 in peace H7965 , neither H3808 shall thine eyes H5869 see H7200 all H3605 the evil H7451 that H834 I H589 will bring H935 upon H5921 this H2088 place H4725 , and upon H5921 the inhabitants H3427 of the same . So they brought H7725 H853 the king H4428 word H1697 again.
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29. Then the king gathered all the older leaders of Judah and Jerusalem together.
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29. Then the king H4428 sent H7971 and gathered together H622 H853 all H3605 the elders H2205 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem H3389 .
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30. He went up to the Temple of the Lord, and all the people from Judah and from Jerusalem went with him. The priests, the Levites, and all the people -- from the most important to the least important -- went with him. He read to them all the words in the Book of the Agreement that was found in the Temple of the Lord.
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30. And the king H4428 went up H5927 into the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , and all H3605 the men H376 of Judah H3063 , and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 , and the priests H3548 , and the Levites H3881 , and all H3605 the people H5971 , great H4480 H1419 and small H6996 : and he read H7121 in their ears H241 H853 all H3605 the words H1697 of the book H5612 of the covenant H1285 that was found H4672 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 .
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31. The king stood by his pillar and made an agreement in the presence of the Lord to follow the Lord and obey his commands, rules, and laws with his whole being and to obey the words of the agreement written in this book.
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31. And the king H4428 stood H5975 in H5921 his place H5977 , and made H3772 H853 a covenant H1285 before H6440 the LORD H3068 , to walk H1980 after H310 the LORD H3068 , and to keep H8104 H853 his commandments H4687 , and his testimonies H5715 , and his statutes H2706 , with all H3605 his heart H3824 , and with all H3605 his soul H5315 , to perform H6213 H853 the words H1697 of the covenant H1285 which are written H3789 in H5921 this H2088 book H5612 .
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32. Then Josiah made all the people in Jerusalem and Benjamin promise to accept the agreement. So the people of Jerusalem obeyed the agreement of God, the God of their ancestors.
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32. And he caused H853 all H3605 that were present H4672 in Jerusalem H3389 and Benjamin H1144 to stand H5975 to it . And the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 did H6213 according to the covenant H1285 of God H430 , the God H430 of their fathers H1 .
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33. And Josiah threw out the hateful idols from all the land that belonged to the Israelites. He led everyone in Israel to serve the Lord their God. While Josiah lived, the people obeyed the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
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33. And Josiah H2977 took away H5493 H853 all H3605 the abominations H8441 out of H4480 all H3605 the countries H776 that H834 pertained to the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , and made H853 all H3605 that were present H4672 in Israel H3478 to serve H5647 , even to serve H5647 H853 the LORD H3068 their God H430 . And all H3605 his days H3117 they departed H5493 not H3808 from following H4480 H310 the LORD H3068 , the God H430 of their fathers H1 .
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