2 Chronicles 34

All 33 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Josiah was 8 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 31 years.
2. 2He did what was right in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of David his father, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
3. 3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of David his father. By the twelfth year, he started purging Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the groves, and the carved and molten images.
4. 4In his presence, they tore down the altars of Baalim. He cut down the incense altars that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the molten images into dust, and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
5. 5He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
6. 6He did the same thing in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, extending to Naphtali, with their mattocks in the surrounding areas.
7. 7After he had demolished the altars and the Asherah poles, crushed the carved images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout the entire land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
8. 8In the 18th year of his reign, after he had finished purging the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of the LORD his God.
9. 9They went to Hilkiah the high priest and handed over the money that had been brought into God's house. The Levites who guarded the doors had collected it from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim, the rest of Israel, and all of Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.
10. 10They gave the money to the supervisors overseeing the work on the LORD's house, who then paid the laborers doing the repairs and restoration.
11. 11They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase cut stone and timber for beams and flooring, to repair the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
12. 12The workers carried out their tasks faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites from the family of Merari, along with Zechariah and Meshullam from the family of Kohath, who directed the work. Other Levites, all of them skilled musicians, also helped.
13. 13They supervised the laborers who carried materials and directed everyone involved in any kind of work. Some of the Levites also served as scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.
14. 14While the money stored in the LORD's house was being brought out, Hilkiah the priest discovered the book of the law of the LORD that had been given through Moses.
15. 15Hilkiah told Shaphan the scribe, "I've found the book of the law in the LORD's house!" Then he handed the book to Shaphan.
16. 16Shaphan brought the book to the king and gave him a report: "Your servants are carrying out everything that was assigned to them.
17. 17They've collected all the money that was found in the LORD's house and turned it over to the supervisors and the workers."
18. 18Then Shaphan the scribe added, "Hilkiah the priest gave me a book." And Shaphan read from it aloud to the king.
19. 19When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
20. 20The king gave orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant:
21. 21Go, seek the LORD's guidance for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah about the words of the book that has been found. Great is the wrath of the LORD poured out on us, because our ancestors did not keep the word of the LORD by doing everything written in this book.
22. 22So Hilkiah and the men the king had sent went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, son of Tikvath, son of Hasrah, who was keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District. They spoke to her about this matter.
23. 23She replied, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,
24. 24'The LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people — every curse written in the book that was read to the king of Judah.
25. 25Because they abandoned me and burned incense to other gods, provoking my wrath with everything they've done, my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.
26. 26"But to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek the LORD's word, tell him this: 'The LORD, the God of Israel, says regarding the words you heard:
27. 27Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its people — because you humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes, and wept in my presence — I have heard you,' declares the LORD.
28. 28Look, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evil that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants. So they brought the king word again.
29. 29Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30. 30The king went up to the house of the LORD, along with all the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small. He read aloud to them every word of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
31. 31The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to obey his commands, his testimonies, and his laws with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out everything written in this book.
32. 32He had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin commit to it as well. The people of Jerusalem lived according to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.
33. 33Josiah removed every detestable idol from all the territories belonging to the people of Israel and required everyone in Israel to serve the LORD their God. For the rest of his life, the people did not turn away from following the LORD, the God of their ancestors.