22:2 And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD,
and a walked in all the way of David his father, and
turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
(a) His zeal was prophesied of, and his name mentioned by
Iddo the prophet, more than 300 years before,
(1Ki 13:2) and being but eight years old, he sought
the God of his father David, (2Ch 34:3).
22:4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the
silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which
the keepers of the b door have gathered of the people:
(b) Certain of the priests were appointed to this office,
as in (2Ki 12:9).
22:5 And let c them deliver it into the hand of the doers of
the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD:
and let them give it to the doers of the work which [is] in
the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,
(c) From the time of Joash for the space of 244 years, the
temple remained without repairs through the negligence
of the priests. This shows that they who have a charge
and do not execute it should have it taken from them.
22:7 Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money
that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt d
faithfully.
(d) So God provided him with faithful servants, seeing he
went about so zealously to set forth the work of God.
22:8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I
have found the e book of the law in the house of the
LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
(e) This was the copy that Moses left them, as it appears
in (2Ch 34:14), which either by the negligence of
the priests had been lost, or else by the wickedness of
idolatrous kings had been abolished.
22:13 Go ye, f enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people,
and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that
is found: for great [is] the wrath of the LORD that is
kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened
unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that
which is written concerning us.
(f) Meaning, to some prophet to whom God reveals the
knowledge of things, as in (Jer 21:8), though at
other times they enquired the Lord by Urim and
Thummim.
22:14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and
Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the
wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas,
keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the
g college;) and they communed with her.
(g) Or the house of doctrine, which was near the temple,
and where the learned assembled to search the
scriptures and the doctrine of the prophets.
22:17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense
unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with
all the h works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall
be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
(h) The works of man's hand here signifies all that man
invents beside the word of God, which are abominable
in God's service.
22:19 Because thine heart was i tender, and thou hast humbled
thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake
against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof,
that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast
rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard
[thee], saith the LORD.
(i) Meaning, that he repented as they that do not repent
are said to harden their heart, (Ps 95:8).
22:20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and
thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in k peace; and
thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring
upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
(k) Upon which we may gather that the anger of God is
ready against the wicked when God takes his servants
out of this world.
