Let's break down 2 Kings 22:3:
"In the eighteenth year of King Josiah..." This establishes the time period. This is the 18th year of Josiah's reign over Judah. This is a significant year in the narrative.
"...the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe..." This identifies the messenger and his lineage.
Shaphan: He is the key figure being sent on a mission.
"the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam..." This provides Shaphan's genealogy. It's not always crucial to the immediate meaning, but in ancient texts, genealogy often establishes importance or connection to a certain family/tribe.
"the scribe": This is Shaphan's official title, indicating his position and likely his literacy and knowledge of the law. As a scribe, he would have been a trusted official, capable of reading, writing, and handling documents.
"...to Yahweh’s house, saying..." This states the destination and implies the purpose.
"to Yahweh’s house": This refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. Yahweh is the name of God.
"saying...": This introduces a direct quote of what King Josiah instructed Shaphan to do.
In summary, the verse means:
In the 18th year of King Josiah's reign, he sent his scribe (a high-ranking official) named Shaphan, whose lineage is traced back through Azaliah and Meshullam, to the Temple of Yahweh. The word "saying" indicates that the next verse will contain the instructions or message King Josiah gave to Shaphan regarding the Temple.
Importance and Context
This verse is crucial because it sets the stage for a significant event in the story of King Josiah. Josiah was a righteous king who sought to reform Judah's religious practices and restore the worship of Yahweh. The events that unfold after this verse are pivotal to that reformation. It is highly probable that Josiah has sent Shaphan to make repairs and collect money that had been donated, a common practice in that time.
Let's break down 2 Kings 22:3:
"In the eighteenth year of King Josiah..." This establishes the time period. This is the 18th year of Josiah's reign over Judah. This is a significant year in the narrative.
"...the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe..." This identifies the messenger and his lineage.
Shaphan: He is the key figure being sent on a mission.
"the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam..." This provides Shaphan's genealogy. It's not always crucial to the immediate meaning, but in ancient texts, genealogy often establishes importance or connection to a certain family/tribe.
"the scribe": This is Shaphan's official title, indicating his position and likely his literacy and knowledge of the law. As a scribe, he would have been a trusted official, capable of reading, writing, and handling documents.
"...to Yahweh’s house, saying..." This states the destination and implies the purpose.
"to Yahweh’s house": This refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. Yahweh is the name of God.
"saying...": This introduces a direct quote of what King Josiah instructed Shaphan to do.
In summary, the verse means:
In the 18th year of King Josiah's reign, he sent his scribe (a high-ranking official) named Shaphan, whose lineage is traced back through Azaliah and Meshullam, to the Temple of Yahweh. The word "saying" indicates that the next verse will contain the instructions or message King Josiah gave to Shaphan regarding the Temple.
Importance and Context
This verse is crucial because it sets the stage for a significant event in the story of King Josiah. Josiah was a righteous king who sought to reform Judah's religious practices and restore the worship of Yahweh. The events that unfold after this verse are pivotal to that reformation. It is highly probable that Josiah has sent Shaphan to make repairs and collect money that had been donated, a common practice in that time.