A Tender Heart

Josiah began to reign at eight. He did right, walking in the ways of David, turning neither to the right nor the left. In his eighth year, while still young, he began to seek the God of David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places and idols, and he did the same in the north.

In his eighteenth year Josiah sent workers to repair Yahweh's house. As they brought out the money, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law given by Moses. Shaphan the scribe read it before the king. When Josiah heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes and sent men to ask Yahweh about the words.

Huldah the prophetess answered that judgment would come on the land, but because Josiah's heart was tender and he humbled himself, it would not come in his days. The king gathered the elders and all the people, great and small, and read the whole book to them. He stood in his place and made a covenant to walk after Yahweh with all his heart and soul. All his days the people did not turn from following Yahweh.