View 2nd Kings 22 in the note window.
The general character of Josiah, ver. 1, 2.
He repairs the temple, ver. 3 - 7.
The high - priest brings him the original book of the law, ver. 8 - 10.
He sends to consult Huldah the prophetess, ver. 11 - 14.
The destruction of Jerusalem foretold, ver. 15 - 20.
3: The scribe - The secretary of state.
8: The book - That original book of the law of the Lord, given or
written by the hand of Moses, as it is expressed, (2Ch 34:14),
which by God's command was put beside the ark, (De 31:26), and
probably taken from thence and hid, by the care of some godly priest, when
some of the idolatrous kings of Judah persecuted the true religion, and
defaced the temple, and (which the Jewish writers affirm) burnt all the
copies of God's law which they could find. It was now found among the
rubbish, or in some secret place.
11: The words - The dreadful comminations against them for the sins
still reigning among the people. If Josiah had seen and read it before,
which seems more probable, yet the great reverence which he justly bare
to the original book, and the strange, and remarkable, and seasonable
finding of it, had awakened and quickened him to a more serious and
diligent consideration of all the passages contained in it. And what a
providence was this, that it was still preserved! Yea, what a providence,
that the whole book of God is preserved to us. If the holy scriptures had
not been of God, they had not been in being at this day. God's care of the
bible, is a plain proof of his interest in it. It was a great instance of
God's favour, that the book of the law was thus seasonably brought to light,
to direct and quicken that blessed reformation, which Joash had begun.
And it is observable, they were about a good work, repairing the temple,
when it was found. They that do their duty according to their knowledge,
shall have their knowledge increased.
13: Enquire - What we shall do to appease his wrath, and whether the
curses here threatened must come upon us without remedy, or whether there
be hope in Israel concerning the prevention of them.
14: Huldah - The king's earnest affection required great haste; and
she was in Jerusalem, which is therefore noted in the following part of
the verse, when Jeremiah might at this time be at Anathoth, or in
some more remote part of the kingdom; and the like may be said of
Zephaniah, who also might not be a prophet at this time, though he was
afterward, in the days of Josiah. College - Where the sons of the
prophets, or others, who devoted themselves to the study of God's word, used
to meet and discourse of the things of God, and receive the instructions of
their teachers.
15: The man - She uses no compliments. Tell the man that sent
you - Even kings, though gods to us, are men to God, and shall be
so dealt with: for with him there is no respect of persons.
17: The works - Gods made with hands.
19: Tender - He trembled at God's word. He was grieved for the
dishonour done to God by the sins of his people. He was afraid of the
judgments of God, which he saw coming on Jerusalem. This is
tenderness of heart.
20: In peace - That is, in a time of public peace: for otherwise he
died in battle. Besides, he died in peace with God, and was by death
translated to everlasting peace.
