Hilki'ah, a significant figure in the Old Testament, served as the high priest during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. His name, meaning "my portion is Yah" or "Yahweh is my portion," reflects his dedication to the service of God. Hilki'ah is most renowned for his pivotal role in the religious reforms that took place in Judah during Josiah's reign, as recorded in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.

Discovery of the Book of the Law

The most notable event associated with Hilki'ah is the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord. This event is detailed in 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34. During the eighteenth year of King Josiah's reign, while the temple was being repaired, Hilki'ah found the Book of the Law. He reported this discovery to Shaphan the scribe, saying, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD" (2 Kings 22:8). This discovery was instrumental in sparking a nationwide religious reform, as the contents of the book revealed the extent to which the people of Judah had strayed from God's commandments.

Role in Josiah's Reforms

Upon hearing the words of the Book of the Law, King Josiah was deeply moved and initiated a series of reforms to restore proper worship and adherence to the covenant. Hilki'ah played a crucial role in these reforms, working alongside the king to rid the land of idolatry and to reestablish the worship of Yahweh. The reforms included the removal of pagan altars and idols, the reinstitution of the Passover, and the renewal of the covenant between God and His people.

Genealogy and Family

Hilki'ah was a descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and belonged to the priestly line of Levi. His lineage is outlined in 1 Chronicles 6:13-15, where he is listed as the son of Shallum and the father of Azariah. This genealogical record underscores his legitimate claim to the high priesthood and his role in the spiritual leadership of the nation.

Legacy

Hilki'ah's legacy is one of faithfulness and dedication to the service of God. His actions during the reign of Josiah had a lasting impact on the spiritual life of Judah, helping to bring the nation back to the worship of the one true God. His discovery of the Book of the Law and his involvement in the subsequent reforms highlight the importance of returning to God's Word as the foundation for righteous living.

References in Scripture

Hilki'ah is mentioned in several passages throughout the Old Testament, including 2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 34-35, and Jeremiah 1:1, where he is identified as the father of the prophet Jeremiah. These references collectively portray him as a man of integrity and a key figure in the religious history of Israel.Hilki'ah (30 Occurrences)

2 Kings 18:18
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
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2 Kings 18:26
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh: 'Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Aramean language; for we understand it; and speak not with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.'
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2 Kings 22:4
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the money which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people;
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2 Kings 22:8
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe: 'I have found the book of the Law in the house of the LORD.' And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
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2 Kings 22:10
And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying: 'Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book.' And Shaphan read it before the king.
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2 Kings 22:12
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying:
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2 Kings 22:14
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, 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 second quarter--and they spoke with her.
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2 Kings 23:4
And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth-el.
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2 Kings 23:24
Moreover them that divined by a ghost or a familiar spirit, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the detestable things that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.
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1 Chronicles 6:13
and Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah;
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1 Chronicles 6:45
the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah;
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1 Chronicles 9:11
and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
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1 Chronicles 26:11
Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
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2 Chronicles 34:9
And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the door, had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and they returned to Jerusalem.
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2 Chronicles 34:14
And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses.
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2 Chronicles 34:15
and Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe: 'I have found the book of the Law in the house of the LORD.' And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
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2 Chronicles 34:18
And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying: 'Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book.' And Shaphan read therein before the king.
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2 Chronicles 34:20
And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying:
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2 Chronicles 34:22
So Hilkiah, and they whom the king had commanded, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe--now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter--and they spoke to her to that effect.
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2 Chronicles 35:8
And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover-offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.
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Ezra 7:1
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
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Nehemiah 8:4
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
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Nehemiah 11:11
Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God,
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Nehemiah 12:7
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
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Nehemiah 12:21
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
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Isaiah 22:20
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah;
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Isaiah 36:3
Then came forth unto him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
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Isaiah 36:22
Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rab-shakeh.
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Jeremiah 1:1
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,
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Jeremiah 29:3
By the hand of Eleasah son of Shaphan, and Gemariah son of Hilkijah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon -- to Babylon, saying,
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Hilki'ah (30 Occurrences)
Hilki'ah. Hilkiah, Hilki'ah. Hilkiah's . Multi-Version Concordance
Hilki'ah (30 Occurrences). 2 Kings 18:18 And when they had called ...
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Hilkiah's (1 Occurrence)

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Hilkiah (31 Occurrences)

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