But Manasseh had dared set aside these statutes; and during his reign the temple copy of the book of the law, through careless neglect, had become lost. Thus for many years the people generally were deprived of its instruction.
    The long-lost manuscript was found in the temple by Hilkiah, the high priest, while the building was undergoing extensive repairs in harmony with King Josiah's plan for the preservation of the sacred structure. The high priest handed the precious volume to Shaphan, a learned scribe, who read it and then took it to the king with the story of its discovery.
     Josiah was deeply stirred as he heard read for the first time the exhortations and warnings recorded in this ancient manuscript. Never before had he realized so fully the plainness with which God had set before Israel "life and death, blessing and cursing" (Deuteronomy 30:19). (Prophets and Kings, pp. 392, 393.)
  2 - Covenant Reference is to the Sinai covenant v4ex1905, le2612.
  3 - Cursed See de2726.
  3 - Obeyeth From shama' meaning "to hear" or "to obey."
  4 - Iron furnace A metaphor referring to bondage in Egypt de0420.
  5 - Oath See le2603-13, de0708, de0818.
  5 - Milk and honey A phrase indicating the goodness of the land of promise, Palestine ex0308, de0603.