Huldah (2 Kings 22:8–13; 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Kings 22:15–17; 2 Kings 22:18–20; 2 Kings 23:1–3; 2 Chronicles 34:22; 2 Chronicles 34:23–25; 2 Chronicles 34:26–28; 2 Chronicles 34:29–32)

The prophetess in Jerusalem, wife of Shallum

The prophetess, wife of Shallum, keeper of the wardrobe, who dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter, to whom Hilkiah the priest and the king's men went when the book of the law was found, and who answered them with the word of the LORD for the place and for the king.

Huldah is named in two places only, and each tells the same single episode. When the book of the law was read before king Josiah, he rent his clothes and commanded his men, “Go ye, inquire of Jehovah for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found” (2 Kings 22:13). “So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they communed with her” (2 Kings 22:14).

She answered in the name of the LORD: “Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Tell ye the man that sent you unto me” (2 Kings 22:15). First came the word for the place: “Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof” (2 Kings 22:16). Then came a separate word for the king, who had humbled himself: “I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah” (2 Kings 22:19), with the promise “thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil which I will bring upon this place” (2 Kings 22:20).

“And they brought the king word again” (2 Kings 22:20). The king then gathered the elders and the people, read in their ears the book of the covenant, and made a covenant before the LORD (2 Kings 23:1-3). Scripture does not name Huldah again.

Themes

• The prophetess
• Inquiring of the LORD
• The book of the law
• Judgment on the place
• A tender heart heard

The king sends to inquire of the LORD (2 Kings 22:8–13; 2 Chronicles 34:14–21)

Hilkiah finds the book of the law in the house of the LORD; Shaphan reads it before the king, who rends his clothes and sends five men to inquire.

The king's men come to Huldah (2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22)

Hilkiah and the king's men go to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, who dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter, and commune with her.

The king's men come to Huldah

The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan and Asaiah, “Go ye, inquire of Jehovah for me, and for the people, and for all Judah” (2 Kings 22:13).

“So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they communed with her” (2 Kings 22:14).

Chronicles gives the same visit in other words: “So Hilkiah, and they whom the king had commanded, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe … and they spake to her to that effect” (2 Chronicles 34:22).

The word of the LORD for this place (2 Kings 22:15–17; 2 Chronicles 34:23–25)

Huldah says in the name of the LORD that evil will come upon the place and its inhabitants because they have forsaken him and burned incense to other gods.

The word of the LORD for this place

“And she said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Tell ye the man that sent you unto me, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read” (2 Kings 22:15-16).

“Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched” (2 Kings 22:17).

In Chronicles the evil is “all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah” (2 Chronicles 34:24).

The word to the king (2 Kings 22:18–20; 2 Chronicles 34:26–28)

For the king who sent them, because his heart was tender and he humbled himself, the LORD says he has heard him and he will be gathered to his grave in peace.

The word to the king

“But unto the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: As touching the words which thou hast heard, because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before Jehovah, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah” (2 Kings 22:18-19).

“Therefore, behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again” (2 Kings 22:20).

The king reads the book of the covenant (2 Kings 23:1–3; 2 Chronicles 34:29–32)

After the men bring word again, the king gathers the elders and the people, reads the book of the covenant in their ears, and makes a covenant before the LORD.

Josiah (2 Kings 22:12–13; 2 Kings 22:18–20; 2 Chronicles 34:26–28)

The king who sent his men to inquire; the word she gave for him was that his heart was tender and he would be gathered to his grave in peace.

Shallum (2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22)

Her husband, the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; Chronicles prints him as the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah.

Hilkiah the priest (2 Kings 22:8; 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22)

Found the book of the law in the house of the LORD and is named first among those the king sent to inquire, who went unto her.

The men the king sent (2 Kings 22:12–14; 2 Kings 22:20; 2 Chronicles 34:20–22)

Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan and Asaiah (Chronicles names Abdon for Achbor) went with Hilkiah, communed with her, and brought the king word again.

The LORD (2 Kings 22:15–20; 2 Chronicles 34:23–28)

She spoke in his name: “Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel” (2 Kings 22:15).

Major sections

• 2 Kings 22–23
• 2 Chronicles 34

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