34:22 So Hilkiah and the others sent by the king 1 went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, 2 the supervisor of the wardrobe. 3 (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh 4 district.) They stated their business, 5 34:23 and she said to them: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Say this to the man who sent you to me: 34:24 “This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in the scroll which they read before the king of Judah. 34:25 This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices 6 to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. 7 My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’” 34:26 Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the Lord: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard: 34:27 ‘You displayed a sensitive spirit 8 and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words concerning this place and its residents. You humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the Lord. 34:28 ‘Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. 9 You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place and its residents.’”’” Then they reported back to the king.
34:29 The king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. 10
1 tn Heb “and those who [were sent by] the king.”
2 tn The parallel account in 2 Kgs 22:14 has the variant spelling “son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas.”
3 tn Heb “the keeper of the clothes.”
4 tn Or “second.” For a discussion of the possible location of this district, see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 283.
5 tn Heb “and they spoke to her like this.”
6 tn Or “burned incense.”
7 tn Heb “angering me with all the work of their hands.” The present translation assumes this refers to idols they have manufactured (note the preceding reference to “other gods”). However, it is possible that this is a general reference to their sinful practices, in which case one might translate, “angering me by all the things they do.”
8 tn Heb “Because your heart was tender.”
9 tn Heb “Therefore, behold, I am gathering you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your tomb in peace.”
10 tn Heb “and the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.”