2nd Kings 22:5 And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the Lord, to repair the breaches of the house, 7 Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
So, basically, it was a mission to count the tithes and offerings, with the purpose of repairing the house of God, and that the workmen would be compensated for their efforts in doing so. But somehow the stated mission took an unexpected turn, when the law of God was discovered and handed to Shaphan, who in turn read what was written therein. It seems as if whatever Shaphan read in the law had a deep, profound effect on his mind, in so much that his attention was now engrossed with the reading to the point where it appears as if he had become very troubled in his spirit.
2nd Kings 22:8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord.
Disclaimer: We have not a clue what, in particular was read from the book of the law, that caused the king such a great disturbance, because renting one’s clothes back then in Jewish culture, represented the utmost anger and indignation with great urgency, or grim foreboding. In other words, the king was at his wits end, after he heard the plain unadulterated word of God. So, this disclaimer certifies that we don’t know what exactly was read.
2nd Kings 22:10 And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!