2 Kings 22 · a question people ask
Which book did Hilkiah find?
The chapter calls it "the book of the law" (22:8, 22:11), "a book" (22:10) and "this book" (22:13), and the king says of it, "our fathers have not listened to the words of this book" (22:13). The next chapter calls it "the book of the covenant which was found in the LORD’s house" (23:2). Beyond what the king and the LORD's word say of its words (22:13, 22:16), the chapter doesn't say what the book held, how much of it there was, or how it came to be in the house. 2 Kings has already spoken of "the book of the law of Moses" (14:6) in Amaziah's days. Deuteronomy tells that Moses finished "writing the words of this law in a book" (Deuteronomy 31:24) and said, "Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark" (Deuteronomy 31:26). 2 Kings 22 doesn't name Deuteronomy, and these notes don't say the book Hilkiah found is the book Deuteronomy speaks of; they go no further than what the text says: it was the book of the law, found in the LORD's house.
The verses
“Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the LORD’s house.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.”
“Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.” Then Shaphan read it before the king. When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.”
““Go inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the LORD’s wrath that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.””
““The LORD says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.”