Hulda
There is only one mention of Huldah, the prophetess, in the Bible, but that mention is highly honourable. Huldah lived in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah, who was one of only a few good, God-fearing kings of Judah.
2 Chronicles 34:1-3 (NKJV)1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images.
There are not many details about Huldah other than where she lived and the fact that she was “the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe”
2 Chronicles 34:22 (NKJV)22 So Hilkiah and those the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke to her to that effect.
Huldah’s prophecy and the things that happened afterward are quite amazing. During a routine task being done for Josiah, the king of Judah, Hilkiah, the high priest, found a copy of the Book of the Law, which had been lost, and brought it to the king to be read.
2 Chronicles 34:14-18 (NKJV)14 Now when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses.15 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.16 So Shaphan carried the book to the king, bringing the king word, saying, "All that was committed to your servants they are doing.17 And they have gathered the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen."18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.
There is only one mention of Huldah, the prophetess, in the Bible, but that mention is highly honourable. Huldah lived in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah, who was one of only a few good, God-fearing kings of Judah.
2 Chronicles 34:1-3 (NKJV)1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images.
There are not many details about Huldah other than where she lived and the fact that she was “the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe”
2 Chronicles 34:22 (NKJV)22 So Hilkiah and those the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke to her to that effect.
Huldah’s prophecy and the things that happened afterward are quite amazing. During a routine task being done for Josiah, the king of Judah, Hilkiah, the high priest, found a copy of the Book of the Law, which had been lost, and brought it to the king to be read.
2 Chronicles 34:14-18 (NKJV)14 Now when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses.15 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.16 So Shaphan carried the book to the king, bringing the king word, saying, "All that was committed to your servants they are doing.17 And they have gathered the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen."18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.
The details of this story make it clear that the Book of the Law had not been seen in many years, perhaps generations. The Book of the Law, given to the people by God through Moses, was the foundation of Israel’s entire religious and political system and is probably why there was such a falling away from the worship of God during the reigns of the kings before Josiah.
When the scroll was read, King Josiah was so upset because of the nation’s disobedience, that he tore his clothes, which was a demonstration of mourning and grief.
2 Chronicles 34:19 (NKJV)9 Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes.
After hearing about how badly the nation had broken the covenant with God and their disobedience Josiah King Josiah needed guidance on what to do, so he sent his advisors to Huldah the prophetess, asking for a word from the Lord.
2 Chronicles 34:21-22 (NKJV)21 "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book."
22 So Hilkiah and those the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke to her to that effect.
Huldah’s message from God was for disaster for the nation.
2 Chronicles 34:23-25 (NKJV)23 Then she answered them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to Me,24 "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah,25 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be quenched.' " '
But because Josiah had honored God by getting rid of idol worship in Judah and Jerusalem, the destruction of Judah wouldn’t happen in his lifetime.
2 Chronicles 34:26-28 (NKJV)26 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Concerning the words which you have heard--27 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD.28 Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants." ' " So they brought back word to the king.
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