2 chronicles 34:20 - The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,

Generated Verse: 2 chronicles 34:20

What does "2 chronicles 34:20" mean?


This verse, 2 Chronicles 34:20, is a simple statement introducing an order or command given by the King, Josiah, to a specific group of officials. Let's break it down:

"The king": Refers to King Josiah of Judah, who was known for his religious reforms.
"commanded": Indicates that Josiah was giving a direct order.
"Hilkiah": The high priest. He was a significant figure in the religious life of Judah.
"Ahikam the son of Shaphan": Ahikam was a prominent official in Josiah's court. He was the son of Shaphan, who was the scribe.
"Abdon the son of Micah": Another royal official, though less is known about him compared to Hilkiah and Ahikam. In the parallel account in 2 Kings 22:12, the name given is Achbor, son of Micaiah. Some scholars believe these are two names for the same person or that a scribal error occurred.
"Shaphan the scribe": A key official in Josiah's government. He was responsible for the royal records and played a role in the discovery and reading of the Book of the Law.
"Asaiah the king's servant": Another royal official. His title "king's servant" indicates a position of service within the royal court.
"saying": Introduces the specific instructions that Josiah was about to give these men.

In essence, this verse sets the stage for a crucial event in Josiah's reign. It introduces a group of important officials who were tasked with carrying out the king's order. By naming these figures, the verse emphasizes their roles in the subsequent events. The following verses will detail what Josiah commanded them to do, which is related to consulting a prophetess regarding the recently discovered Book of the Law.

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