2 Kings 22:11

“And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, etc.] From whence it appears that he had never wrote out a copy of it, as the kings of Israel were ordered to do, when they came to the throne, (<051718>Deuteronomy 17:18,19) nor had read it, at least not the whole of it; and yet it seems strange that he should be twenty six years of age, as he now was, and had proceeded far in the reformation of worship, and yet be without the book of the law, and the high priest also; it looks as if it was, as some have thought, that they had till now only some abstracts of the law, and not the whole: and perhaps the reformation hitherto carried on chiefly lay in abolishing…”

“He rent his clothes - Partly grief and horror, like Reuben Genesis 37:29 and Job Job 1:20, partly in repentance, like Ahab 1 Kings 21:27. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The words - The dreadful comminations against them for the sins still reigning among the people. If Josiah had seen and read it before, which seems more probable, yet the great reverence which he justly bare to the original book, and the strange, and remarkable, and seasonable finding of it, had awakened and quickened him to a more serious and diligent consideration of all the passages contained in it. And what a providence was this, that it was still preserved! Yea, what a providence, that the whole book of God is preserved to us. If the holy scriptures had not been of God, they had not been in being at this day. God's care of the bible, is a plain proof of his interest in it. It was a…”

“22:11-13 Like Hezekiah before him (19:1), Josiah tore his clothes in genuine grief for his own spiritual condition and that of the people of Judah. • have not obeyed the words in this scroll: The portion that Shaphan read to Josiah apparently reminded him of God’s claim upon his people, the need for faithfulness to the covenant, and the penalties for infidelity (see Deut 28). Recognizing that Judah had failed to obey the law, Josiah rightly feared the Lord’s great anger.”

“that he rent: Kg2 22:19; Ch2 34:19; Jer 36:24; Joe 2:13; Jon 3:6, Jon 3:7 4 Kings (2 Kings) 22:12”

“In his alarm at the words of the book of the law that had been read to him, Josiah rent his clothes, and sent a deputation to the prophetess Huldah, to make inquiry of Jehovah through her concerning the things which he had heard from the law. The deputation consisted of the high priest Hilkiah, Ahikam the supporter of Jeremiah ( Jer 26:24) and the father of Gedaliah the governor ( Kg2 25:22; Jer 39:14, etc.), Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the state-secretary ( Kg2 22:3), and Asahiah the servant (i.e., an officer) of the king. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 22:13”