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other respects； but with provisions of all sorts that they
wanted。 And indeed； when he had changed his former course； he so
led his life for the time to come； that from the time of his
return to piety towards God he was deemed a happy man； and a
pattern for imitation。 When therefore he had lived sixty…seven
years； he departed this life； having reigned fifty…five years；
and was buried in his own garden； and the kingdom came to his son
Amon； whose mother's name was Meshulemeth； of the city of
Jotbath。
CHAPTER 4。
How Amon Reigned Instead Of Manasseh； And After Amon Reigned
Josiah； He Was Both Righteous And Religious。 As Also Concerning
Huldah The Prophetess。
1。 This Amon imitated those works of his father which he
insolently did when he was young： so he had a conspiracy made
against him by his own servants； and was slain in his own house；
when he had lived twenty…four years； and of them had reigned two。
But the multitude punished those that slew Amon； and buried him
with his father； and gave the kingdom to his son Josiah； who was
eight years old。 His mother was of the city of Boscath； and her
name was Jedidah。 He was of a most excellent disposition； and
naturally virtuous； and followed the actions of king David； as a
pattern and a rule to him in the whole conduct of his life。 And
when he was twelve years old； he gave demonstrations of his
religious and righteous behavior； for he brought the people to a
sober way of living； and exhorted them to leave off the opinion
they had of their idols； because they were not gods； but to
worship their own God。 And by repeating on the actions of his
progenitors； he prudently corrected what they did wrong； like a
very elderly man； and like one abundantly able to understand what
was fit to be done； and what he found they had well done； he
observed all the country over； and imitated the same。 And thus he
acted in following the wisdom and sagacity of his own nature； and
in compliance with the advice and instruction of the elders； for
by following the laws it was that he succeeded so well in the
order of his government； and in piety with regard to the Divine
worship。 And this happened because the transgressions of the
former kings were seen no more； but quite vanished away； for the
king went about the city； and the whole country； and cut down the
groves which were devoted to strange gods； and overthrew their
altars； and if there were any gifts dedicated to them by his
forefathers； he made them ignominious； and plucked them down； and
by this means he brought the people back from their opinion about
them to the worship of God。 He also offered his accustomed
sacrifices and burnt…offerings upon the altar。 Moreover； he
ordained certain judges and overseers； that they might order the
matters to them severally belonging； and have regard to justice
above all things； and distribute it with the same concern they
would have about their own soul。 He also sent over all the
country； and desired such as pleased to bring gold and silver for
the repairs of the temple； according to every one's inclinations
and abilities。 And when the money was brought in； he made one
Maaseiah the governor of the city； and Shaphan the scribe； and
Joab the recorder； and Eliakim the high priest； curators of the
temple； and of the charges contributed thereto； who made no
delay； nor put the work off at all； but prepared architects； and
whatsoever was proper for those repairs； and set closely about
the work。 So the temple was repaired by this means； and became a
public demonstration of the king's piety。
2。 But when he was now in the eighteenth year of his reign； he
sent to Eliakim the high priest； and gave order； that out of what
money was overplus； he should cast cups； and dishes； and vials；
for ministration ＇in the temple＇； and besides； that they should
bring all the gold or silver which was among the treasures； and
expend that also in making cups and the like vessels。 But as the
high priest was bringing out the gold； he lighted upon the holy
books of Moses that were laid up in the temple； and when he had
brought them out； he gave them to Shaphan the scribe； who； when
he had read them； came to the king； and informed him that all was
finished which he had ordered to be done。 He also read over the
books to him； who； when he had heard them read； rent his garment；
and called for Eliakim the high priest； and for ＇Shaphan＇ the
scribe； and for certain ＇other＇ of his most particular friends；
and sent them to Huldah the prophetess； the wife of Shallum；
（which Shallum was a man of dignity； and of an eminent family；）
and bid them go to her； and say that ＇he desired＇ she would
appease God； and endeavor to render him propitious to them； for
that there was cause to fear； lest； upon the transgression of the
laws of Moses by their forefathers； they should be in peril of
going into captivity； and of being cast out of their own country；
lest they should be in want of all things； and so end their days
miserably。 When the prophetess had heard this from the messengers
that were sent to her by the king； she bid them go back to the
king； and say that 〃God had already given sentence against them；
to destroy the people； and cast them out of their country； and
deprive them of all the happiness they enjoyed； which sentence
none could set aside by any prayers of theirs； since it was
passed on account of their transgressions of the laws； and of
their not having repented in so long a time； while the prophets
had exhorted them to amend； and had foretold the punishment that
would ensue on their impious practices； which threatening God
would certainly execute upon them； that they might be persuaded
that he is God； and had not deceived them in any respect as to
what he had denounced by his prophets； that yet； because Josiah
was a righteous man； he would at present delay those calamities；
but that after his death he would send on the multitude what
miseries he had determined for them。
3。 So these messengers； upon this prophecy of the woman； came and
told it to the king； whereupon he sent to the people every where；
and ordered that the priests and the Levites should come together
to Jerusalem； and commanded that those of every age should be
present also。 And when they had gathered together； he first read
to them the holy books； after which he stood upon a pulpit； in
the midst of the multitude； and obliged them to make a covenant；
with an oath； that they would worship God； and keep the laws of
Moses。 Accordingly； they gave their assent willingly； and
undertook to do what the king had recommended to them。 So they
immediately offered sacrifices； and that after an acceptable
manner； and besought God to be gracious and merciful to them。 He
also enjoined the high priest； that if there remained in the
temple any vessel that was dedicated to idols； or to foreign
gods； they should cast it out。 So when a great number of such
vessels were got together； he burnt them； and scattered their
ashes abroad； and slew the priests of the idols that were not of
the family of Aaron。
4。 And when he had done thus in Jerusalem； he came into the
country； and utterly destroyed what buildings had been made
therein by king Jeroboam； in honor of strange gods； and he burnt
the bones of the false prophets upon that altar which Jeroboam
first built； and； as the prophet ＇Jadon＇； who came to Jeroboam
when he was offering sacrifice； and when all the people heard
him； foretold what would come to pass； viz。 that a certain man of
the house of David； Josiah by name； should do what is here
mentioned。 And it happened that those predictions took effect
after three hundred and sixty…one years。
5。 After these things； Josiah went also to such other Israelites
as had escaped captivity and slavery under the Assyrians； and
persuaded them to desist from their impious practices； and to
leave off the honors they paid to strange gods； but to worship
rightly their own Almighty God； and adhere to him。 He also
searched the houses； and the villages； and the cities； out of a
suspicion that somebody might have one idol or other in private；
nay； indeed； he took away the chariots ＇of the sun＇ that were set
up in his royal palace； （7） which his predecessors had framed；
and what thing soever there was besides which they worshipped as
a god。 And when he had thus purged all the country； he called the
people to Jerusalem； and there celebrated the feast of unleavened
bread； and that called the passover。 He also gave the people for
paschal sacrifices； young kids of the goats； and lambs； thirty
thousand； and three thousand oxen for burnt…offerings。 The
principal of the priests also gave to the priests against the
passover two thousand and six hundred lambs； the principal of the
Levites also gave to the Levites five thousand lambs； and five
hundred oxen； by which means there was great plenty of
sacrifices； and they offered those sacrifices according to the
laws of Moses； while every priest explained the matter； and
ministered to the multitude。 And indeed there had been no other
festival thus celebrated by the Hebrews from the times of Samuel
the prophet； and the plenty of sacrifices now was the