2 Kings 22:16-20 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:1-20

A monarch of rare virtue, and a God of retributive justice. "Josiah was eight years old," etc. There are two subjects in this chapter that arrest our attention, and which are fertile with suggestions. I. A MONARCH OF RARE VIRTUE . "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem," etc. In this monarch we discover four distinguished merits. 1. Religiousness of action . "He did that which was right in the sight of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:8-20

The finding of the Law-book. The finding of the book of the Law by Hilkiah in the temple marks a distinct turning-point in Josiah's reformation It is admitted generally that this Law-book included, if it did not exclusively consist of, the Book of Deuteronomy. As it is further allowed that some of the main narrative documents of our present Pentateuch, and the book of the covenant ( Exodus 21:1-36 .-23.), if not also collections of priestly laws, were then in existence, and had long been,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:15-20

The prophecy of Huldah . The word of the Lord comes to Huldah with the arrival of the messengers, or perhaps previous to it, and she is at once ready with her reply. It divides itself into two parts. In 2 Kings 22:15-17 the inquiry made is answered—answered affirmatively, "Yes, the fiat is gone forth; it is too late to avert the sentence; the anger of the Lord is kindled, and shall not be quenched ." After this, in 2 Kings 22:18-20 , a special message is sent to the king, granting... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:16

Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place— i.e. Jerusalem— and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the King of Judah hath read . In the parallel passage of Chronicles ( 2 Chronicles 34:24 ) the expression used is stronger, viz, "Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have road before the King of Judah." The passage which most strongly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:17

Because they have forsaken me. This was the gist of their offence, the thing that was unpardonable. Against this were all the chief warnings in the Law ( Deuteronomy 12:19 ; Deuteronomy 29:25-28 ; Deuteronomy 31:16 , Deuteronomy 31:17 ; Deuteronomy 32:15 , etc.) and the prophets ( 10:13 ; 1 Samuel 8:8 ; 1 Samuel 12:9 ; 1 Kings 9:9 ; 1 Kings 11:33 ; 1 Kings 18:18 ; Isaiah 1:4 ; Isaiah 65:11 ; Jeremiah 1:16 ; Jeremiah 2:13 , etc.). It was not merely that they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:18

But to the King of Judah which sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall ye say to him (see the comment on 2 Kings 22:15 ), Thus saith the Lord God of Israel. As touching the words which thou hast heard; i.e. the words that were read to thee by Shaphan ( 2 Kings 22:10 )—the awful threats which caused thee to rend thy clothes and to make inquiry of me. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:19

Because thine heart was tender —or, faint , timid (comp. Deuteronomy 20:3 ; Isaiah 7:4 )— and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord. Rending the garments ( 2 Kings 22:11 ) was an outward act of humiliation. Josiah had accompanied it by inward repentance and self-abasement. He had even been moved to tears (see the last clause but one of this verse). When thou heartiest what I spake against this place. The book was, therefore, a record of what God had really spoken, not a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:20

Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace. There is a seeming contradiction between these words and the fact of Josiah's violent death in battle against Pharaoh-Nechoh ( 2 Kings 23:29 ). But the contradiction is not a real one. Huldah was commissioned to assure Josiah that, though the destruction of his kingdom and the desolation of Judaea and Jerusalem, threatened in the Law, were at hand, yet they would not come in his day.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 22:16

All the words of the book - The “words” here intended are no doubt the threatenings of the Law, particularly those of Leviticus 26:16-39 and Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Josiah had probably only heard a portion of the Book of the Law; but that portion had contained those awful denunciations of coming woe. Hence, Josiah’s rending of his clothes 2 Kings 22:11, and his hurried message to Huldah. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 22:17

Have burned incense - In the marginal reference the corresponding phrase is: “have served other gods, and worshipped them.” Its alteration to “have bnrned incense” points to the fact that the favorite existing idolatry was burning incense on the housetops to Baal Jeremiah 19:13; Jeremiah 32:29 and to the host of heaven 2 Kings 21:3. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:8-20

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:15-20

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:17

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:18

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:19

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 22:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 22:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 22:17

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