2 Kings 22:8-20--Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

2 Kings 22:8-20
English Standard Version

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
8 And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

​14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her. 15 And she said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD. 20 Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’” And they brought back word to the king.

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When the renovations of the Temple are underway, the high priest finds The Book of the Law (Deuteronomy) that any King of Israel (or Judah) was required to read and make his own copy of to keep by his throne so that he could reference it often.  The high priest gave the book to the secretary who read it and then the secretary immediately went to the king and reported their progress and findings:

9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

When the king heard the words of The Book of the Law, his heart was rent, even though he was a good king, for he was convicted of sin.  He tore his (very expensive, royal) clothes--remember that clothing was one of the commodities that people traded in back then, accepted in most transactions as a form of legal tender.  This was an outward sign of something happening inwardly in the heart of the king.  The king then sent his closest advisors to go inquire before the LORD on behalf of the king, the people, and all of Judah about the words in the book--specifically about what they could do to avoid the curses in the book, because it was obvious to the king that the people had not been obeying the Law of the LORD.

This is the judgment that the high priest brought back against the people of Judah (remember that the high priest was mediator between God and man and from time to time served as a prophet, calling for repentance and warning of coming judgment):
‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. 

Yet the LORD was merciful on Josiah because his heart was broken and torn for his sin and the sin of his people and he had repented:
8 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD. 20 Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’” 

That is to say that the LORD will let Josiah escape the coming judgment by allowing him to die before it takes place.  He will not be caught up in the judgment against the wicked, but instead will be gathered to his fathers--presumably to Paradise or Abraham's Bosom (the place of peace and rest for those who were waiting for Jesus' death on the cross to pay for all their sins so that they can be with the Lord forever and ever).