JOSIAH AND THE BOOK OF THE LAW.-- 2 Kings 22:1-13. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord._ -- 2 Kings 22:2. TIME. --B. C. 622. PLACE. --Jerusalem. HELPFUL READINGS. -- 2 Chronicles 34:1-21; 2 Kings 12:1-16; Deuteronomy 29:22-29; Deuteronomy 31:24-27. LESSON ANALYSIS.... [ Continue Reading ]
WALKED IN THE WAYS OF DAVID HIS FATHER. He was. descendant of David, and hence David was called his father. The seed of David continued to reign in Jerusalem until the Captivity. Unlike Ahaz, Manasseh and Amon, his predecessors, Josiah served the Lord zealously, like his great ancestor. It is report... [ Continue Reading ]
IT CAME TO PASS IN THE EIGHTEENTH YEAR. This was when king Josiah was twenty-six years old. It is probable that all these events did not occur in. single year, but the year in which they began, or culminated, is named. The pious training of the young king now began to show fruit. Surrounded by grea... [ Continue Reading ]
GO UP TO HILKIAH THE HIGH PRIEST. He is principally known for his part in the noteworthy event that our lesson records. His grandson, Seraiah, was high priest at the time of the Captivity. THAT HE MAY SUM UP THE SILVER. The temple, neglected and desecrated in the times of Manasseh and Amon, was s... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER IT TO THE DOERS OF THE WORK. To the overseers who would have general charge of the work and who would provide the workmen and materials needed for the repairs. 7. THEY DEALT FAITHFULLY. The integrity, zeal and wise management of these overseers seemed to make. deep impression. The names o... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE FOUND THE BOOK OF THE LAW. We are told that Hilkiah made this discovery when they brought the money out of the Lord's house. Tradition has sought to explain this remarkable event, but it is probable that the copy had been hidden at the time of the desecration of the temple by Manasseh, and was... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SERVANTS HAVE GATHERED THE MONEY. This is Shaphan's official report of the way the king's orders had been obeyed.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHAPHAN READ IT BEFORE THE KING. He further reports the great discovery. When Shaphan read it he was doing his duty as scribe. It is likely that Josiah was unable to read. This was an uncommon accomplishment in that age when books were so rare. It should be kept in mind that the "book" was. manuscr... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RENT HIS CLOTHES. This act indicated grief, horror and repentance. The king now heard for the first time the solemn denunciations of the sins of Israel found in Deut. chap. 28. He was alarmed at the terrible penalties which were denounced against the sins of which the people had been guilty. For... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMANDED HILKIAH THE PRIEST, AND AHIKAM THE SON OF SHAPHAN. The persons named were appointed. formal deputation to seek the will of the Lord. Ahikam is named (Jeremiah 26:24) as Jeremiah's protector.... [ Continue Reading ]
GO YE, AND INQUIRE OF THE LORD FOR ME. This order is equivalent to. command to seek the presence of. prophet. There were two of this order in Judea at this time of whom we know, Jeremiah who had begun to prophesy five years before (Jeremiah 1:2), and Huldah, the wife of Shallum.. For some reason un... [ Continue Reading ]