18. And Shaphan read therein] Contrast 2 Kings, “And Shaphan read it,” implying that he read the whole book, which of course was a simple matter, if it consisted of the nucleus of Deuteronomy (see note, verse 14). The Chronicler, however, believing the book to have been the whole Pentateuch, could not suppose that the whole was read to the king, and accordingly he writes therein in place of it.
¹⁹And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.
19. rent his clothes] A sign of grief. “Clothes” is in the plural because both inner and outer garments are meant. See Ezra ix. 3 (with Ryle’s note).
²⁰And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah[¹], and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
[¹] In 2 Kings xxii. 12, Achbor the son of Micaiah.
20. Ahikam the son of Shaphan] Compare Jeremiah xxvi. 24, xl. 5.
Abdon the son of Micah] In 2 Kings “Achbor the son of Micaiah.”
²¹Go ye, inquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according unto all that is written in this book.
21. for them that are left in Israel] Not in 2 Kings The Chronicler likes to mention the remnants of the northern tribes, as in verses 6, 9.
that is poured out upon us] In 2 Kings “that is kindled against us,” so LXX. ἐκκέκαυται. Compare verse 25.