מלכים ב, פרק כ״ב, פסוק ט״ו

Huldah the prophetess delivers a firm prophetic statement to the delegation, confirming the heavy fears that prompted their mission. She directs her message to the individual who sent them, referring specifically to King Josiah [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Speaking in the name of God, she clarifies that the harsh warnings discovered in the Torah scroll are not a coincidence. The fact that the scroll was found rolled exactly to the sections of rebuke is a clear divine sign that disaster will indeed fall upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants [אברבנאל].

This severe decree stems from the people completely abandoning God in favor of idol worship. Their rejection is absolute; they chose to serve false gods without even attempting to maintain a shared worship with God. Yet, by addressing her words specifically to the king, the prophetess hints at a crucial separation in her message. While the harsh punishment is aimed at the sinful nation, Josiah is not included in their guilt. Because he humbled himself before God with a tender heart, he will receive a different fate and will be spared from seeing the destruction of Jerusalem and the burning of the Temple with his own eyes [אברבנאל].