Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 34:22
And Hilkiah, and [they] that the king [had appointed], went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college: ) and they spoke to her to that [effect].
22. they that the king had appointed] R.V. they whom the king had commanded. The verb mar has seemingly fallen out of the Heb. text.
the prophetess ] This title is given to Miriam (Exo 15:20), Deborah (Jdg 4:4), Anna (Luk 2:36); cp. also Neh 6:14; Rev 2:20.
Tikvath ] R.V. Tokhath. In 2 Kin. “Tikvah.”
Hasrah ] In 2 Kin. “Harhas.”
keeper of the wardrobe ] Lit. “keeper of the garments.” The Heb. word for garments ( bgdim) is applied to a king’s robes (2Ch 18:29), to a high priest’s vestments (Exo 28:2; Exo 28:4), and to clothes in general; it is therefore not easy to say what office precisely is here referred to. Some in consideration of 2Ki 10:22 have thought that the garments here meant were ecclesiastical and not royal.
in the college ] R.V. in the second quarter; so Zep 1:10 (R.V.). A second, newer division of the city seems to be meant, but precisely what part is not known. Cp. Neh 11:9 (with Ryle’s note on second over the city).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 22. Huldah the prophetess] See on 2Kg 22:14.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
[See comments on 2Ch 34:14]
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
See note on 2Ki 22:14
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(22) And they that the king had appointed.The Hebrew text is defective. We may restore it from the LXX., and they whom the king had commanded; or better, perhaps, from the Syriac and Vulg., and all they whom the king sent, Three MSS. read, and the kings princes, a plausible correction. 2Ki. 22:14 adds the names (2Ch. 34:20 supra).
Son of Tikvath.Heb., Tkahath. Kings, Tikvah. The LXX., , the Syriac, Tekwa, and the Vulg., Thecuath, show that Tikvah or Tikvath is right. (The final h and th of Chronicles arise from blending these two equivalent spellings.)
Son of Hasrah.Kings, son of Harhas. So the LXX., Apy; but the Syriac (Hasd) and Vulg. support Hasrah.
In the college.In the second quarter y i.e., the lower city.
To that effect.2Ch. 32:15 (on this manner). Added by the chronicler. The differences in the text of the oracle which follows are mostly due to alteration of the original, which is more exactly given in Kings.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 34:22 And Hilkiah, and [they] that the king [had appointed], went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that [effect].
Ver. 22-26. See 2Ki 22:14-18 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
had appointed. The Septuagint reads “named”; the Syriac reads “sent”.
college: or second quarter [of the city].
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ch 34:22-28
2Ch 34:22-28
HULDAH THE PROPHETESS OF GOD AFFIRMS THE DISCOVERY AS NOTHING LESS THAN THE LAW OF JEHOVAH GIVEN BY MOSES
“So Hilkiah, and those whom the king commanded, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they spake to her to that effect. And she said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Tell ye the man that sent you unto me, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore is my wrath poured out upon this place, and it shall not be quenched. But unto the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: As touching the words which thou hast heard, because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and hast humbled thyself before me, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof.”
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 34:22. Strong, in his lexicon, says a prophetess is an inspired woman. In all of the dispensations, God has occasionally used inspired women in his work. Miriam was a prophetess (Exo 15:20), who was still under the Patriarchal Dispensation. Philip had four daughters who prophesied (Act 21:9), and that was in the Christian Dispensation. Now we have Huldah as an inspired prophetess. But we must not forget that all such were temporary arrangements of God, and that when he finally got his Revelation to man complete, all miraculous methods of information were discontinued, and mankind was left solely to depend on the written Word which is perfect. (1Co 13:10; Jas 1:25.) The men appointed by the king went to this prophetess for information concerning the crisis that Josiah feared was at hand. The woman’s husband had the care of the sacred garments that were worn by the priests while in active service. She would very logically be dwelling nearby, so the text says it was in the college. The marginal reading is “second part,” which agrees with the lexicon. It is from MISHNEH and the definition is, “a repetition, i. e. a duplicate (copy of a document), or a double (in amount) by implication a second (in order, rank, age, quality or location.”–Strong. Moffatt’s translation gives it that she lived “in the second ward” of Jerusalem. It is thus clear: she was an inspired woman, yet occupied a secondary residence in the city where her husband had the important assignment of caring for the sacred garments.
2Ch 34:23-24. Evil is a word with wide extent of meaning, including adversity and affliction. In this verse it has special reference to the things that had been warned about in the writings of Moses. Many of these are written in Deuteronomy 27, 28. Huldah did not give any new information as to the curses that were to come, only that the ones already written about were soon to be brought upon them.
2Ch 34:25. All forms of service to false gods were displeasing to the true God, but the burning of incense seemed to be the highest indication of devotion, and was especially offensive to God. That was the reason that it was the special thing that distinguished the rights of the priests from all others. (2Ch 26:18.) Shall not be quenched is a final decision, from which nothing can move the Lord. All of the reformative work of Josiah could not save the nation from the impending doom. But even in the midst of the conditions, and just as God was affirming that nothing could change his mind, he still admonished sinners to repent and seek the favor of God. It is natural to wonder if there were not some contradictions in the actions of the Lord. There were not, but we need to consider that God’s dealings with the nation as a whole was one thing, and those of individuals was another. For a more detailed discussion of this subject see my comments at 2Ki 22:17.
2Ch 34:26. This verse is for the personal benefit of the king. It will be an instance of the distinction referred to in the preceding verse. Let it be noted that Josiah was credited with seeking information of the Lord, even though he was applying to the prophetess. The thought is important; it signifies that the words of any of the persons who are inspired of God, are divine words, and he who disregards them is guilty of having disregarded the words of God and of disobeying them.
2Ch 34:27. Heart was tender means it was penitent toward God. Had Josiah been resentful and inclined to justify himself and the nation, both he and the nation would have been punished. Instead, he performed the actions that were the accustomed signs of penitence in those days (the actions described in the body of this verse).
2Ch 34:28. The doom of the nation was sealed, and all of the work of Josiah could not stop it. But on account of his personal righteousness, the Lord promised to delay the national calamity until after he was gone. Gather thee to thy fathers has the same meaning as “slept with his fathers,” which is explained at 1Ki 2:10. Gathered . . . in peace means that he will not die as a casualty of the great tribulation threatened upon the nation. It cannot mean that he would die “from natural causes,” for 2Ch 35:20-24 shows that he died by violence. The peace promised him consisted in the fact that his eyes would not see all the evil that was to be brought upon his beloved country.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Renewing the Covenant
2Ch 34:22-33
The tender heart is a humble one, 2Ch 34:27. To admit that God is right and we are wrong, and to take home his rebuke, is an admirable position. The penitential tear is like the baptism of dew on foliage parched by the scorching heat. But the tender heart does not confine itself to emotion, it acts. The king gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem, went up to the house of the Lord, and caused all the people to stand to the covenant he proposed. He made all that were found, even in Israel, though they were outside his jurisdiction, to serve the Lord their God. Evidently Josiah was one of those men who have a compelling force because they appeal to the conscience in the heart of all men, and are themselves in close touch with God. Why not surrender yourself wholly to God! There are temples which need repairing, priests and people who require direction and leadership, nations which must be brought back to the God of their fathers. Only be tender, humble, and trustful. The world has yet to learn what God can do by those wholly devoted to Him.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
the prophetess: Exo 15:20, Jdg 4:4, Luk 1:41-45, Luk 2:36, Act 21:9
Hasrah:Hasrah is most probably a mistake for Harhas; as the Septuagint reads, both here and in the parallel place, , Aras, 2Ki 22:14; Harhas
wardrobe: Heb. garments
college: or, school, or second part, It is probable that Mishneh was either the name of a street, or a particular part of the city of Jerusalem.
Reciprocal: 2Ch 34:9 – Hilkiah Jer 22:11 – Shallum
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
34:22 And Hilkiah, and [they] that the king [had appointed], went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the {m} wardrobe;
(now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the {n} college:) and they spake to her to that [effect].
(m) Meaning, either of the priests apparel or the kings.
(n) Read 2Ki 22:15.