⁸In the 18th year of Josiah’s rule, he decided to make the land and temple pure and clean. So he sent Shaphan, Maaseiah and Joah to repair the temple of the Lord his God. Shaphan was the son of Azaliah. Maaseiah was ruler of the city. And Joah, the son of Joahaz, kept the records.

⁹They went to the high priest Hilkiah. They gave him the money that had been brought into God’s temple. The Levites who guarded the doors had collected it. They had received some of the money from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the others who remained in Israel. They had received the rest of it from the people of Judah and Benjamin and those who lived in Jerusalem.

¹⁰They put all of the money in the care of the men who had been appointed to direct the work on the Lord’s temple. Those men paid the workers who repaired the temple and made it look like new again. ¹¹They also gave money to the builders and those who worked with wood. The workers used it to buy lumber and blocks of stone. The lumber was used for the supports and beams for the buildings. The kings of Judah had let the buildings fall down.

¹²The men were faithful in doing the work. Jahath and Obadiah directed them. They were Levites from the family line of Merari. Zechariah and Meshullam also directed them. They were from the family line of Kohath. The Levites were skilled in playing musical instruments. ¹³They were in charge of the laborers. They directed all of the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries and writers. Others guarded the doors.

Hilkiah Finds the Scroll of the Law

¹⁴The money that had been taken into the Lord’s temple was being brought out. At that time the priest Hilkiah found the Scroll of the Law of the Lord. It had been given through Moses. ¹⁵Hilkiah spoke to the secretary Shaphan. He said, “I’ve found the Scroll of the Law in the Lord’s temple.” He gave it to Shaphan.

¹⁶Then Shaphan took the scroll to King Josiah. He told him, “Your officials are doing everything they’ve been asked to do. ¹⁷They have paid out the money that was in the Lord’s temple. They’ve put it in the care of the directors and workers.” ¹⁸Shaphan continued, “The priest Hilkiah has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read some of it to the king.

¹⁹The king heard the words of the Law. When he did, he tore his royal robes. ²⁰He gave orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam, Abdon, the secretary Shaphan and Asaiah. Ahikam was the son of Shaphan. Abdon was the son of Micah. And Asaiah was the king’s attendant. Josiah commanded them,

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