Definition: And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, [that] the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Kings 22:3. It's a really important piece of scripture that speaks about a serious situation in ancient Israel. Here’s a simple explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is telling us about a plea for help from a scribe – someone who served the king – to the Lord God. It describes a time when Josiah, the King of Judah, was facing a very difficult problem. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah…” – This tells us when this happened. The "eightheen year" refers to the 8th year of King Josiah’s reign, which was around 64 BC. It's important because it places the event within a specific historical period. “[that] the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam…” – This identifies who made the plea. “Shaphan” is a specific name – this is a scribe (a record-keeper) who served the King. “Azaliah” and “Meshullam” are names of people – they were royal family members, likely advisors or officials. "...to the house of the LORD..." - This refers to the Tabernacle, which was God’s dwelling place in Jerusalem. It was a sacred space where the Lord God lived with his people. "...saying," – This is the beginning of the plea itself. The scribe is asking for something from the Lord. So, what's the meaning ? The verse essentially says that King Josiah was desperate and pleading to the Lord because he was facing a serious problem. It suggests that he was worried about something significant, possibly related to his kingdom or his people’s well-being. It’s a moment of crisis where the King sought divine guidance. Important Note: The exact nature of the problem is not fully revealed in this verse – it's a moment of anxiety and need for help. It's part of a larger story about God’s faithfulness to his people even during times of hardship. --- Do you want me to explain any of these parts further? For example, would you like me to: Give you some context about the time period (the 8th year of Josiah)? Explain why this verse is significant in biblical history?