Bible Strands
2 Kings 22:8
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Hilkiah the high priest speaks to Shaphan the scribe during the temple repair project, immediately after the workmen finish accounting for the funds and before Shaphan reports the financial details to King Josiah.
The words — The Hebrew סֵפֶר (Sefer) translates literally to “scroll” or “book,” denoting the physical object recovered from the temple, while הַגָּדוֹל (ha-gadol) modifies priest to mean “great” or “high.”
The thread — This event links to the foundational recording of the law in Deuteronomy 31:24 and runs parallel to the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 34:14 where Hilkiah locates the same text.
Why it lands — The text records a factual discovery and handover, requiring the reader to recognize that covenant instruction resurfaces within routine temple administration rather than through prophetic proclamation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 31:24 When Moses had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end,
- 2 Chronicles 34:14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses.