So 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.
2 KINGS 22:14KJVWhat does 2 Kings 22:14 mean?
2 Kings 22:14 describes how Hilkiah the priest and several officials went to consult Huldah the prophetess in Jerusalem after finding the Book of the Law. They sought her guidance because she was recognized as a true prophetess, and they wanted to understand what God’s message was for their situation.
In this verse, the group includes Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asahiah. They approach Huldah, who is identified as the wife of Shallum, the keeper of the wardrobe, and who lives in a specific area of Jerusalem called "the college" (likely a district or quarter). The officials speak with her to seek spiritual insight about the newly discovered scroll, showing the seriousness with which they treated the discovery and their respect for Huldah’s prophetic role.
The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 22:14
- חֻלְדָּה (ḥuldāh, "Huldah"): This is the name of the prophetess consulted by the officials. Her presence as a recognized female prophet in Jerusalem highlights the diversity of spiritual leadership in ancient Israel.
- נְבִיאָה (nəvī’āh, "prophetess"): This word means a female prophet, indicating Huldah’s recognized role as someone who speaks God’s message.
- מִשְׁנֶה (mišneh, "college"): The word translated as "college" often means "second quarter" or "new quarter," likely referring to a specific district of Jerusalem rather than a school or place of learning.
- דִּבֶּר (dibber, "communed"): This word means "spoke" or "conversed," showing that the officials had a direct conversation with Huldah, not just a formal inquiry.
Why 2 Kings 22:14 matters
- This verse shows that women could hold respected positions as spiritual leaders in ancient Israel, as seen in Huldah’s role as a prophetess.
- The officials’ decision to seek out Huldah emphasizes the seriousness of the situation and their desire for genuine prophetic guidance.
- The mention of the "college" or "second quarter" clarifies that Jerusalem had distinct neighborhoods, helping us picture the city’s layout and social structure at the time.