In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the LORD, saying, — Josiah, now twenty-six years old (eight at accession, plus eighteen regnal years), commissions his secretary Shaphan to conduct repairs to the temple. The detail that this occurs in the eighteenth year suggests purposeful timing: Josiah has ruled long enough to establish authority and initiate comprehensive temple renovation. Shaphan's role as secretary indicates administrative authority to manage the temple project.

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