Josiah was eightyearsoldwhen he began to reign, and he reignedin Jerusalemoneand thirtyyears. And he did that which was rightin the sightof the LORD, and walkedin the waysof Davidhis father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. For in the eighthyearof his reign, while hewas yetyoung, he beganto seekafter the Godof Davidhis father: and in the twelfthyearhe beganto purgeJudahand Jerusalemfromthe high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. And they broke downthe altarsof Baalimin his presence; and the images, that were on highabovethem, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he broke in pieces, and made dust of them , and strewed it uponthe gravesof them that had sacrificedunto them. And he burntthe bonesof the priestsupontheir altars, and cleansedJudahand Jerusalem. And so did he in the citiesof Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even untoNaphtali, with their mattocksround about. And when he had broken downthe altarsand the groves, and had beatenthe graven imagesinto powder, and cut downallthe idolsthroughout allthe landof Israel, he returnedto Jerusalem. Now in the eighteenthyearof his reign, when he had purgedthe land, and the house, he sentShaphanthe sonof Azaliah, and Maaseiahthe governorof the city, and Joahthe sonof Joahazthe recorder, to repairthe houseof the LORDhis God. And when they cametoHilkiahthe highpriest, they deliveredthe moneythat was brought intothe houseof God, whichthe Levitesthat keptthe doorshad gatheredof the handof Manassehand Ephraim, and of allthe remnantof Israel, and of allJudahand Benjamin; and they returnedto Jerusalem. And they put it inthe handof the workmenthat had the oversightof the houseof the LORD, and they gaveit to the workmenthatwroughtin the houseof the LORD, to repairand amendthe house: Even to the artificersand buildersgavethey it , to buyhewnstone, and timberfor couplings, and to floorthe houseswhichthe kingsof Judahhad destroyed. And the mendidthe workfaithfully: and the overseersofthem were Jahathand Obadiah, the Levites, ofthe sonsof Merari; and Zechariahand Meshullam, ofthe sonsof the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, allthat could skillof instrumentsof music. Also they were overthe bearers of burdens, and were overseersof allthat wroughtthe workin any manner of service: and ofthe Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters. And when they brought outthe moneythat was brought intothe houseof the LORD, Hilkiahthe priestfounda bookof the lawof the LORD given byMoses. And Hilkiahansweredand saidtoShaphanthe scribe, I have foundthe bookof the lawin the houseof the LORD. And Hilkiahdeliveredthe booktoShaphan. And Shaphancarriedthe booktothe king, and broughtthe kingwordback again, saying, Allthatwas committedto thy servants, theydo it . And they have gathered togetherthe moneythat was foundin the houseof the LORD, and have deliveredit intothe handof the overseers, and tothe handof the workmen. Then Shaphanthe scribetoldthe king, saying, Hilkiahthe priesthath givenme a book. And Shaphanreadit beforethe king. And it came to pass, when the kinghad heardthe wordsof the law, that he renthis clothes. And the kingcommandedHilkiah, and Ahikamthe sonof Shaphan, and Abdonthe sonof Micah, and Shaphanthe scribe, and Asaiaha servantof the king's, saying, Go, inquire ofthe LORDforme, and forthem that are leftin Israeland in Judah, concerningthe wordsof the bookthatis found: forgreat is the wrathof the LORDthatis poured outupon us, becauseour fathershave notkeptthe wordof the LORD, to doafter allthat is writteninthisbook. And Hilkiah, and they thatthe king had appointed , wenttoHuldahthe prophetess, the wifeof Shallumthe sonof Tikvath, the sonof Hasrah, keeperof the wardrobe; (now shedweltin Jerusalemin the college:) and they spoketoher to that effect . And she answeredthem, Thussaiththe LORDGodof Israel, Tellye the manthatsentyou tome, Thussaiththe LORD, Behold, I will bringeviluponthisplace, and uponthe inhabitantsthereof, even allthe cursesthat are writteninthe bookwhichthey have readbeforethe kingof Judah: Becausethey have forsakenme, and have burned incenseunto othergods, thatthey might provoke me to angerwith allthe worksof their hands; therefore my wrathshall be poured outupon thisplace, and shall notbe quenched. And as forthe kingof Judah, who sentyou to inquireof the LORD, soshall ye sayuntohim, Thussaiththe LORDGodof Israel concerning the wordswhichthou hast heard; Becausethine heartwas tender, and thou didst humble thyselfbeforeGod, when thou heardesthis wordsagainstthisplace, and againstthe inhabitantsthereof, and humbledst thyselfbeforeme, and didst rendthy clothes, and weepbeforeme; Ihave even heard thee also, saiththe LORD. Behold, I will gatherthee tothy fathers, and thou shalt be gatheredtothy gravein peace, neithershall thine eyesseeallthe evilthatIwill bringuponthisplace, and uponthe inhabitantsof the same. So they broughtthe kingwordagain. Then the kingsentand gathered togetherallthe eldersof Judahand Jerusalem. And the kingwent upinto the houseof the LORD, and allthe menof Judah, and the inhabitantsof Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and allthe people, greatand small: and he readin their earsallthe wordsof the bookof the covenantthat was foundin the houseof the LORD. And the kingstoodinhis place, and madea covenantbeforethe LORD, to walkafterthe LORD, and to keephis commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with allhis heart, and with allhis soul, to performthe wordsof the covenantwhich are writteninthisbook. And he caused allthat were presentin Jerusalemand Benjaminto stand to it . And the inhabitantsof Jerusalemdidaccording to the covenantof God, the Godof their fathers. And Josiahtook awayallthe abominationsout ofallthe countriesthat pertained to the childrenof Israel, and made allthat were presentin Israelto serve, even to servethe LORDtheir God. And allhis daysthey departednotfrom followingthe LORD, the Godof their fathers.