2 Kings 22:13

“Go ye, inquire of the Lord, etc.] Of some of his prophets, as Jeremiah, who began to prophesy in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign, and had been a prophet five years, (<240101>Jeremiah 1:1,2), for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for he observed that this book threatened and foretold not only the captivity of the ten tribes, but of Judah, and of their king; and Jarchi thinks, he had a particular respect to that passage, the Lord shall bring thee and thy king, etc. (<052836>Deuteronomy 28:36) and therefore was desirous of knowing what he and his people must do to avert those judgments: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is…”

“Enquire of the Lord - As inquiry by Urim and Thummim had ceased - apparently because superseded by prophecy - this order was equivalent to an injunction to seek the presence of a prophet (compare 2 Kings 3:11; 1 Kings 22:5). Because our fathers have not hearkened - Josiah, it will be observed, assumes that preceding generations had had full opportunity of hearing and knowing the Law. He thus regards the loss as comparatively recent (compare 2 Kings 22:8 note). return to 'Top of Page'”

“Enquire - What we shall do to appease his wrath, and whether the curses here threatened must come upon us without remedy, or whether there be hope in Israel concerning the prevention of them. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 22:14”

“inquire: Kg2 3:11; Kg1 22:7, Kg1 22:8; Ch1 10:13, Ch1 10:14; Psa 25:14; Pro 3:6; Jer 21:1, Jer 21:2, Jer 37:17; Eze 14:3, Eze 14:4, Eze 20:1-3; Amo 3:7 great: Exo 20:5; Deu 4:23-27, Deu 29:23-28, Deu 31:17, Deu 31:18; Neh 8:8, Neh 8:9, Neh 9:3; Psa 76:7; Dan 9:5-7; Nah 1:6; Rom 3:20, Rom 4:15, Rom 7:9; Rev 6:17 because our fathers: Ch2 29:6, Ch2 34:21; Psa 106:6; Jer 16:12, Jer 44:17; Lam 5:7; Dan 9:8, Dan 9:10; Jam 1:22-25 4 Kings (2 Kings) 22:14”

“From the commission, "Inquire ye of Jehovah for me and for the people and for all Judah (i.e., the whole kingdom) concerning the words of this book of the law that has been found, for great is the wrath of the Lord which has been kindled against us, because our fathers have not heard ...," we may infer that the curses of the law upon the despisers of the commandments of God in Lev 26; Deu 28:1, and other passages, had been read to the king. את־יי דּרשׁ means to inquire the will of the Lord, what He has determined concerning the king, his people, and the kingdom. על שׁמע signifies here to hearken to anything, to observe it, for which אל is used elsewhere. על כּתב, to prescribe for…”