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Huldah

Portrait of Huldah

Huldah was a prophetess in Jerusalem during the reign of Josiah, consulted by the king's officials when the lost Book of the Law was discovered in the temple. She confirmed that the curses of the book would fall on Judah for its idolatry, but promised King Josiah that, because his heart was tender and he humbled himself, he would be gathered to his grave in peace before the disaster came. Her word authenticated the Scriptures and launched Josiah's great reformation.

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Biography

Occupation
Prophetess
Spouse
Shallum
Era
Divided Kingdom / Fall of Judah
Nationality
Israelite (Judah)

Family

Huldah โšญ Shallum
Old Testament Prophet Woman 2 Kings

Did You Know?

1

Huldah is the prophetess King Josiah's officials consulted when the lost Book of the Law was found - remarkably, they sought out a woman prophet even though Jeremiah and Zephaniah were active at the same time (2 Kings 22:14).

2

Her authentication of the scroll triggered Josiah's sweeping national reformation, making her word the catalyst for one of the great religious revivals in Judah's history.

3

She delivered both judgment and mercy: disaster would come upon Judah, but Josiah would be gathered to his grave in peace first - a prophecy the king trusted enough to stake the nation's course upon.

Key Chapters

Key Passages

Huldah Confirms the Book

2 Kings 22:14-20

The prophetess Huldah verifies the word of the LORD and promises Josiah he will die in peace before judgment falls.

S14o Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

15 And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, 16 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: 17 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 my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; 19 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. 20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

Read full chapter: 2 Kings 22 โ†’