2. Könige 22:15

The reply of Huldah the prophetess. - Huldah confirmed the fear expressed by Josiah, that the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Jerusalem and its inhabitants on account of their idolatry, and proclaimed first of all (Kg2 22:16, Kg2 22:17), that the Lord would bring upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants all the punishments with which the rebellious and idolaters are threatened in the book of the law; and secondly (Kg2 22:18-20), to the king himself, that on account of his sincere repentance and humiliation in the sight of God, he would not live to see the predicted calamities, but would be gathered to his fathers in peace. The first part of her announcement applies "to the man who has sent you to me" (Kg2 22:15), the second "to the king of Judah, who has sent to inquire of the Lord" (Kg2 22:18). "The man" who had sent to her was indeed also the king; but Huldah intentionally made use of the general expression "the man," etc., to indicate that the word announced to him applied not merely to the king, but to every one who would hearken to the word, whereas the second portion of her reply had reference to the king alone. הזּה המּקום, in Kg2 22:16, Kg2 22:19, and Kg2 22:20, is Jerusalem as the capital of the kingdom. In Kg2 22:16, הסּפר כּל־דּברי is an explanatory apposition to רעה. Kg2 22:17. "With all the work of their hands," i.e., with the idols which they have made for themselves (cf. Kg1 16:7). The last clause in Kg2 22:18, "the words which thou hast heard," is not to be connected with the preceding one, "thus saith the Lord," and על or ל to be supplied; but it belongs to the following sentence, and is placed at the head absolutely: as for the words, which thou hast heart - because thy heart has become soft, i.e., in despair at the punishment with which the sinners ar…

This chapter begins the story of the reign of good king Josiah, whose goodness shines the brighter because it came just after so much wickedness, which he had the honour to reform, and just before so great a destruction, which yet he had not the honour to prevent. Here, after his general character (Kg2 22:1, Kg2 22:2), we have a particular account of the respect he paid I. To God's house, which he repaired (Kg2 22:3-7). II. To God's book, which he was much affected with the reading of (Kg2 22:8-11). III. To God's messengers, whom he thereupon consulted (Kg2 22:12-14). And by whom he received from God an answer threatening Jerusalem's destruction (Kg2 22:15-17), but promising favour to him (Kg2 22:18-20), upon which he set about that glorious work of reformation which we have an account of in the next chapter.

22:15-17 The Lord . . . has spoken! Like Miriam (Exod 15:20) and Deborah (Judg 4:4), Huldah had the privilege of proclaiming God’s will to the people. Huldah confirmed Josiah’s fears that God would bring disaster on Jerusalem because of the people’s unfaithfulness and many sins.