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1. Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He was king for 31 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 lived in a way that pleased the Lord, always doing what was right, as his ancestor David had done. Josiah never changed this way of life.
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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. When Josiah was in his eighth year as king, he began to follow the God that David his ancestor followed. He was still young when he began to obey God. When he was in his twelfth year as king he began to destroy the high places, the Asherah poles, and idols that were carved and idols that were made from molds from Judah and Jerusalem.
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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 broke down the altars for the Baal gods. They did this in front of Josiah. Then he cut down the incense altars that stood high above the people. He broke the idols that were carved and the idols that were made from molds. He beat the idols into powder and sprinkled the powder on the graves of the people who had offered sacrifices to the Baal 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. Josiah even burned the bones of the priests who had served the Baal gods on their own altars. This is how he destroyed idols and 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. Josiah did the same for the towns in the areas of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and all the way to Naphtali. He did the same for the ruins near all 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 the Asherah poles. He beat the idols into powder. He cut down all the incense altars used for Baal worship in all the country 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. When Josiah was in his 18 year as king of Judah he sent Shaphan, Maaseiah, and Joah to rebuild and repair the Temple of the Lord his God. Shaphan's father's name was Azaliah. Maaseiah was the city leader, and Joah's father's name was Joahaz. Joah was the man who wrote about what happened. So Josiah commanded the Temple to be repaired so that he could make Judah and the Temple clean.
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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 came to Hilkiah the high priest. They gave him the money that people gave for God's Temple. The Levite doorkeepers had collected this money from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim, and from all the Israelites who were left. They also collected this money from all Judah, Benjamin, and all the people living in Jerusalem.
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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 paid the men who supervised the work on the Lord's Temple. And the supervisors paid the workers who repaired the Lord's 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 the money to carpenters and builders to buy large rocks that were already cut, and to buy wood. The wood was used to rebuild the buildings and to make beams for the buildings. In the past, the kings of Judah did not take care of the Temple buildings. The buildings had become old and ruined.
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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 worked faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah. Jahath and Obadiah were Levites, and they were descendants of Merari. Other supervisors were Zechariah and Meshullam. They were descendants of Kohath. The Levites who were skilled in playing instruments of music also supervised the laborers and all the other workers. Some Levites worked as secretaries, officials, and doorkeepers.
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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. 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 Lord's Temple. At that time Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that was 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 secretary, "I found the Book of the Law in the Lord's house. " Hilkiah gave the book 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 brought the book to King Josiah. Shaphan reported to the king, "Your servants 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 got the money that was in the Lord's Temple and are paying 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 said to King Josiah, "Hilkiah the priest gave a book to me." Then Shaphan read from the book in front of 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 King Josiah heard the words of the law being read, he tore his clothes.
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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. Then the king gave a command to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the servant.
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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. The king said, "Go, ask the Lord for me, and for the people who are left in Israel and in Judah. Ask about the words in the book that was found. 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. Hilkiah and the king's servants went to Huldah the prophetess. Huldah was Shallum's wife. Shallum was Tokhath's son. Tokhath was Hasrah's son. Shallum took care of the king's clothes. Huldah lived in the newer part of Jerusalem. Hilkiah and the king's servants told Huldah what had happened.
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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. Huldah said to them, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell King Josiah:
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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 terrible things that are written in the book that was read in front of 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. I will do this because the people left me and burned incense to other gods. They made me angry because of all the bad things they have done. So I will pour out my anger on this place. Like a hot burning fire, my anger 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. "But tell this to King Josiah of Judah. He sent you to ask the Lord: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the words you just 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. 'Josiah, you repented and humbled yourself. You tore your clothes, and you cried before me. So because your heart was tender,
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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. I will take you to be with your ancestors. You will go to your grave in peace. You will not have to see any of the trouble that I will bring on this place and on the people living here.'" Hilkiah and the king's servants brought back this message to King Josiah.
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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 King Josiah called for all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to come and meet with him.
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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. The king went up to the Lord's Temple. All the people from Judah, the people living in Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both important and not important, were with Josiah. Josiah read to them all the words in the Book of the Agreement. That book was found in the Lord's Temple.
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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. Then the king stood up in his place. He made an agreement with the Lord. He agreed to follow the Lord and to obey the Lord's commands, laws, and rules. He agreed to obey with all his heart and soul. He agreed 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. The people of Jerusalem obeyed the agreement of God, the God their ancestors obeyed.
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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. The Israelites had idols from many different countries, but Josiah destroyed all of the disgusting idols. He made all the people in Israel serve the Lord their God. And as long as Josiah was alive, the people continued to serve 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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