This week the Bible woman is an obscure character. She is Huldah, and she makes her only appearance in the Bible in the story of the high priest Hilkiah, who discovered the lost book of God while restoring the Temple. The story is told in Kings and in Chronicles. Huldah, whose name means “weasel,” was a messenger of God blessed with the power of prophecy. The basic structure of the bodies of weasels are highly powerful, as against their small size. Weasels are considered to be ferocious hunters and are often not afraid to even confront animals bigger in size.
The events take place under the reign of Josiah, who was king of the land of Judah. He reigned sometime in the seventh century B.C. Josiah was attempting to restore the worship of God in Jerusalem, and also to restore the Temple. During work on the Temple, the high priest Hilkiah discovered "the Book of the Law" and had it delivered to King Josiah.
When the king's secretary read aloud from the book, the king "tore his robes," because, as the king declared, "Great is the Lord's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us."
The king wanted to find out everything he could about the book, so Hilkiah, together with members of the king's court, went to speak with Huldah: "the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her."
It's a quite remarkable moment. Besides Deborah, Huldah is the only other woman who is called a "prophetess" in the Bible. At this momentous discovery, she is the one that the high priest consults for guidance.
In answer to Hilkiah's query, Huldah begins by explaining that God is angry at the people of Israel because they have worshipped other gods: "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to Me, 'Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.'
Then, Huldah conveys a special message meant for the king, explaining that there is hope for the people of Israel because the king reacted with contrition when he heard the words of the book read to him: "Tell the man that sent you to Me, 'Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.'
Huldah's words were accepted as Divine revelation, and the king took her words to heart. He instituted reforms, and the people returned to the faith of their fathers and became deeply spiritual.
2 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.
11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,
13 "Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us."
14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
15 And she said unto them, "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to Me,
16 'Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
17 Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.'
18 But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, 'Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;
19 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.
20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.' " And they brought the king word again.
See also 2 Chronicles 34:22-28 for the same account.
Huldah tomb - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Hulda_tomb.jpg/800px-Hulda_tomb.jpg