Today, we’re going to look in the book of 2 Kings at the prophetess Huldah. Her story can be found in 2 Kings 22, from verse 14 and in 2 Chronicles chapter 34 from verse 22. In this story, we are told that King Josiah began his reign when he was only 8 years old. He was a king that did what was right in the eyes of the Lord after so many hadn’t, including his father, Amon. King Josiah dedicated himself to rebuild and renovate the temple. One day, a book of the law was found on the temple floor by the priest, Hilkiah, who was in charge of part of the temple renovation. Hilkiah told the king’s secretary, Shaphan, that he had found this book, and gave it to him. Shaphan read the book and proceeded to tell the king about what happened.

“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Phaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asiah the king’s attendant: ‘Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.’ Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter” (2 Kings:11-14).

We see that Huldah was a well-known woman in the kingdom of Judah, because it says that the king sent her five of his personal messengers to where she was located with the book of the law. Huldah was well-known for her spiritual perspective, it says she was a prophetess, but also for her intelligence.

It doesn’t say much of in this verse, but at the same time, it says a lot. It says she was the wife of Shallum, who was in charge of keeping the royal clothing safe. This means she lived close to the palace, and her husband was part of the royal court. It also says here she lived in the New Quarter of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was separated into 4 quadrants, and she lived in the second one, where the temple was also located. She lived close to both the palace and the temple.

We can also infer that she was a distinctive woman. Imagine the five messengers sent from the king including: the priest Hilkiah who found the Book of the Law, Shaphan the king’s secretary, Shaphan’s son, and the other two that we don’t know much about. She was a faithful and intellectual woman. The men who went to question her needed guidance. They hadn’t complied with the law; therefore, disobeying it, and they didn’t know what to do. They brought her book, and she confirmed that it was holy.

“She said to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: Tell the man who sent you to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched'” (v. 15-17). It was confirmed that the Israelites would be punished because they had disobeyed the law.

We also need to look at why the king sent five of his messengers to a woman, when there were other male prophets during this time. We could infer that King Josiah had looked toward his mother for guidance since he began reigning as king during his childhood. He looked toward his mother instead of all the palace people he was surrounded by. His mother had a lot of influence on him. Remember that his father, Amon, worshipped other gods, but his wife, Josiah’s mother, wanted a good king. A king who would rebuild the temple through the influence of those who were around him, primarily his mother and a priest.

He felt more inclined to consult a woman than a man. However, we see that she was saying throughout her message, “This is what the Lord says.” She wasn’t writing or saying any message, she was relaying clearly what the Lord was saying, she was just being used as a channel.

The prophecy of Huldah says something specific to King Josiah. “Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people–that they would become a curse and be laid to waste–and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’ So they took her answer back to the king” (v. 18-20).

When the king heard the message from the Lord that came through Huldah, he called a meeting with all of Judah. He went to the temple with everyone who lived in Jerusalem, all the people, priests, etc. to read the covenant in front of the people. He read in a loud voice that the Book of the Law was found in the temple of the Lord, and he made a new covenant. He promised to obey the law and all of God’s commands. With all his heart and soul he would comply with what was in this book, and the people also made this covenant.

This was not just a promise of words, but they destroyed and burned all the idols. King Josiah ordered that all the priests of Judah be transferred to Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple. In the end, he eradicated the idolatry that had been there – Baal, Maloke, all the other gods they were worshipping.

King Josiah was a God-fearing man and proved his respect and admiration for the prophetess Huldah, because she transmitted the word of the Lord. This woman was very close to the king’s royal court and the temple, a devoted, respectable, and well-known woman. She prophecies to bring a message from the Lord to the king.

We need to have these same characteristics: God-fearing, being in relationship and communion with God, and sharing His message. It doesn’t matter who the person is or their status (a government worker, close friend, coworker, stranger, etc.). We should work to always share and proclaim His message while living according to His ways. The best testimony of His message is our actions – what we say and what we do need to align.

Thank you brothers and sisters and may God bless you. We hope you join us for another installment of Women in the Bible.