2 Chronicles 34:15 kjv
And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
2 Chronicles 34:15 nkjv
Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.
2 Chronicles 34:15 niv
Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD." He gave it to Shaphan.
2 Chronicles 34:15 esv
Then Hilkiah answered and 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.
2 Chronicles 34:15 nlt
Hilkiah said to Shaphan the court secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the LORD's Temple!" Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.
2 Chronicles 34 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 22:8-10 | Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law... and Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan..." | Parallel account of the discovery in Kings. |
| Dt 31:24-26 | When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book... put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against you. | Moses' command to place the Law beside the Ark. |
| Dt 17:18-19 | When he is seated on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law... | Kings commanded to have and read a copy of the Law. |
| Jos 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night... | The importance of continual meditation on God's Law. |
| Neh 8:1-8 | Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform... and they read from the Book of the Law of God clearly... | Rediscovery and public reading of the Law in post-exilic times. |
| Ps 19:7 | The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple... | The transformative and perfecting nature of God's Law. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's Word provides guidance and illumination. |
| Ps 1:2 | but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. | The blessings that come from delighting in God's Law. |
| Is 55:11 | So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty... it shall accomplish that which I purpose... | The efficacy and purposefulness of God's Word. |
| Jer 8:8 | How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us'? But behold, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie. | A warning against scribal corruption or misinterpretation of the Law. |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. | The disastrous consequences of neglecting God's knowledge and Law. |
| Pr 29:18 | Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. | The need for divine revelation to prevent spiritual chaos. |
| 2 Chr 34:16-19 | And Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported to the king... And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. | Immediate impact: The book is brought to King Josiah, who expresses deep remorse. |
| 2 Chr 34:29-31 | Then the king sent and gathered all the elders... and the king read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant... and he made a covenant... | Josiah's public covenant renewal based on the rediscovered Book. |
| 2 Chr 35:6 | Slaughter the Passover lamb, and consecrate yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to the word of the Lord by Moses. | Josiah's reforms, like the Passover, were directly based on the rediscovered Law. |
| Rom 15:4 | For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. | Old Testament Scriptures provide instruction for all believers. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness... | The divine inspiration and comprehensive utility of all Scripture. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit... | The penetrating, living, and powerful nature of God's Word. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | The necessity of active obedience to God's Word. |
| Jn 1:1, 14 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... | Jesus Christ is the living embodiment of God's Word. |
| Mt 4:4 | ...but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. | Emphasis on spiritual life depending on God's communicated Word. |
| Dt 28:15-68 | But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes... | Detailed curses outlined for disobedience, echoing Josiah's fear upon hearing. |
2 Chronicles 34 verses
2 Chronicles 34 15 Meaning
This verse records a foundational moment in Judah's spiritual restoration: Hilkiah, the High Priest, announces to Shaphan the scribe that he has discovered the long-lost "Book of the Law" within the Temple of the Lord. Hilkiah promptly hands the scroll over to Shaphan, setting in motion King Josiah's widespread religious reforms. The discovery signifies God's providence and the re-emergence of His revealed will to His people after a period of national apostasy and neglect.
2 Chronicles 34 15 Context
2 Chronicles chapter 34 initiates with King Josiah's reign, emphasizing his youthful devotion to the Lord, standing apart from many of his idolatrous predecessors, Manasseh and Amon. At twenty-six years old (in his eighteenth year of reign), Josiah embarked on an extensive religious reform throughout Judah and Jerusalem, diligently purging the land of idolatrous practices and restoring the proper worship of the Lord. This particular verse takes place during the extensive repair and purification of the Temple of the Lord, which had fallen into disrepair and been defiled over many decades. The "Book of the Law" was providentially discovered in this process, providing the king and the nation with the exact divine blueprint needed for comprehensive spiritual cleansing and renewal, ultimately leading to a renewed covenant with God and widespread religious adherence not seen for generations.
2 Chronicles 34 15 Word analysis
- And Hilkiah (וַיַּעַן חִלְקִיָּהוּ, wayya‘an Ḥilqiyyāhū): Hilkiah, the High Priest, whose name means "my portion is Yahweh," occupied the most senior spiritual position in Judah. His direct involvement in finding and presenting the Book emphasizes the divine authority behind its rediscovery.
- answered and said (וַיֹּאמֶר, wayyō’mer): A standard Hebrew conjunction indicating an immediate and formal declaration or response, highlighting the gravity of what Hilkiah was about to communicate.
- to Shaphan the scribe (אֶל־שָׁפָן הַסּוֹפֵר, ’el-šāpān hassôfēr): Shaphan, a highly esteemed royal official and royal secretary, was responsible for official state records and communications. The designation "scribe" (sōfēr) indicates a person of authority and trust, making him the ideal recipient for a finding of national importance, ensuring its proper transmission to the king.
- "I have found (מָצָאתִי, māṣā’tî): The verb is in the perfect tense, expressing a completed action. This emphatic "I found" suggests an unexpected and authentic discovery rather than a pre-arranged or fabricated event, underscoring the divine providence behind its appearance.
- the Book of the Law (סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה, sēfer hattôrâ): This is the pivotal item. "Torah" signifies God's instruction, teaching, or law. Scholars generally agree this refers primarily to the Book of Deuteronomy, or a substantial portion of the Pentateuch, given Josiah's powerful reaction and the ensuing reforms aligning with Deuteronomic commands concerning worship, covenant, and blessings/curses. Its re-emergence implies a forgotten covenant and neglected divine standards.
- in the house of the Lord (בְּבֵית יְהוָה, bəvēyt Yahweh): Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, the very sanctuary of God. That the Book was "lost" or forgotten within the holy Temple itself speaks volumes about the extent of Judah's spiritual apathy and deep apostasy, where God's very Word lay neglected in His own dwelling.
- And Hilkiah delivered (וַיִּתֵּן חִלְקִיָּהוּ, wayyittēn Ḥilqiyyāhū): An immediate and decisive action. Hilkiah's prompt transfer of the scroll to Shaphan emphasizes his understanding of the urgency and profound significance of the discovery, entrusting it to the proper authority for official presentation to the king.
- the book to Shaphan (אֶת־הַסֵּפֶר אֶל־שָׁפָן, ’et-hassēfer ’el-Šāpān): Reaffirms the transfer of this particular "book." This handover initiated the critical process of verification, reading, and formal presentation to the king, transforming a temple discovery into a national turning point.
Words-group analysis
- "found the Book of the Law": This phrase encapsulates the central miraculous act. It wasn't manufactured, but uncovered by God's providence, revealing lost truth essential for revival. It highlights the neglect of prior generations who allowed the fundamental divine constitution of Israel to disappear.
- "in the house of the Lord": This specific location of discovery adds a layer of irony and profundity. The very heart of Israelite worship, meant to be the repository of God's commands, had become a place where His Word was forgotten and hidden, underscoring the pervasive spiritual decay of the time.
- "delivered the book to Shaphan": This quick, formal action immediately legitimizes the finding and moves it from the realm of personal discovery into the official channels of the kingdom, paving the way for the national implications and Josiah's reforms.
2 Chronicles 34 15 Bonus section
The absence of the "Book of the Law" for so long underscores the profound impact of apostasy and priestly neglect under wicked kings like Manasseh and Amon, suggesting deliberate suppression or careless disregard rather than accidental misplacement. The immediate, personal impact of the Law on King Josiah, leading him to tear his robes (2 Chr 34:19) in immediate repentance, highlights its transformative power when confronted with truth, revealing a sharp contrast to the spiritual apathy that allowed its loss. This event served as God's instrument to reignite the covenant relationship with His people, reminding them of His commands and their obligations, establishing a model for how access to and submission to Scripture initiates genuine revival.
2 Chronicles 34 15 Commentary
The discovery of the "Book of the Law" in 2 Chronicles 34:15 marks a pivotal moment in Judah's history, symbolizing God's enduring faithfulness despite human failing. The fact that the foundational covenant document had become lost or neglected within the very Temple speaks volumes about the profound spiritual degradation that had gripped the nation, particularly under previous idolatrous reigns. Hilkiah's announcement to Shaphan signifies a divine appointment, not an accidental find; it was timed perfectly by God's providence to align with Josiah's sincere and zealous heart for restoring proper worship. This rediscovery provided Judah with the lost standard by which to measure their apostasy and was the direct impetus for Josiah's far-reaching reforms, leading to a period of genuine national repentance and spiritual revival. The act of immediately delivering the scroll to the respected scribe underscores the solemnity and official gravity of the find, recognizing its immense authority and calling for swift action. This narrative is a powerful reminder that spiritual renewal, whether for an individual or a nation, is intrinsically linked to rediscovering, re-engaging with, and faithfully obeying God's revealed Word. When the Word of God is absent or ignored, the people languish; when it is found and embraced, it brings forth transformation and blessing.