Huldah

She was a married prophetess who lived in Jerusalem, in the Second Quarter. It lay in an angle formed by the W wall of the Temple and the ancient N Wall of the city, and was later included within the wall built by Nehemiah (Bible Gateway). We don’t know anything about her husband except that his name was Shallum and the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. Huldah is mentioned in the second books of Kings and Chronicles. We meet her after Hilkiah the high priest finds the Book of the Law given by Moses in the house of the Lord. He gave to Shaphan, the scribe who took it to King Josiah. Shaphan said to the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And then, he read it before the king.

When the king heard what words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. Then, he commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

The men went to Huldah and spoke with her. She said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read— because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’ ” ’ But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. “Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place” ’ ” (2 Kings 22:15-20, NKJV).

The men returned to the king and told them what God had said through Huldah. We don’t hear anything more about this prophetess. According to Wikipedia, the Huldah Gates in the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount are named for her. Her tomb is believed to located in front of the southern gates of the Temple Mount (Madain Project).

Since she is mentioned briefly in the Bible, we don’t know much about Huldah except when King Josiah asked his priest, scribe and servant to inquire of the Lord, they went to her. She was recognized as a prophetess of God. Her story is a wonderful testimony and reminder that God speaks through women too. ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams (Acts 2:17, NIV).

Source: Wikipedia