[The letter was sent] by the handof Elasahthe sonof Shaphan,and Gemariahthe sonof Hilkiah,whomZedekiahkingof Judahsentto Babylonto Nebuchadnezzarkingof Babylon,saying,
When they calledto the king,Eliakimthe sonof Hilkiah,whowas overthe household,and Shebnahthe scribeand Joahthe sonof Asaphthe recorder,cameout to them.
Then the kingcommandedHilkiahthe priest,Ahikamthe sonof Shaphan,Achborthe sonof Micaiah,Shaphanthe scribe,and Asaiahthe king'sservantsaying,
Then Hilkiahthe highpriestsaidto Shaphanthe scribe,"I have foundthe bookof the lawin the houseof the LORD."And Hilkiahgavethe bookto Shaphanwho readit.
and Azariahbecamethe fatherof Helez,and Helezbecamethe fatherof Eleasah,
and Shallumbecamethe fatherof Hilkiah,and Hilkiahbecamethe fatherof Azariah,
Then the kingcommandedHilkiah,Ahikamthe sonof Shaphan,Abdonthe sonof Micah,Shaphanthe scribe,and Asaiahthe king'sservant,saying,
Then KingJehoiakimsentmento Egypt:Elnathanthe sonof Achborand [certain] menwith him [went] into Egypt.
But the handof Ahikamthe sonof Shaphanwas with Jeremiah,so that he was not giveninto the handsof the peopleto puthim to death.
Even thoughElnathanand Delaiahand Gemariahpleadedwith the kingnot to burnthe scroll,he would not listento them.
they even sentand tookJeremiahout of the courtof the guardhouseand entrustedhim to Gedaliah,the sonof Ahikam,the sonof Shaphan,to takehim home.So he stayedamongthe people.
Standingin frontof them were seventyeldersof the houseof Israel,with Jaazaniahthe sonof Shaphanstandingamongthem, eachmanwith his censerin his handand the fragranceof the cloudof incenserising.
