2 Chronicles 35:20-27

Josiah Killed in Battle

20 ¹After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at ²Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him.

21 But he sent envoys to him, saying, "What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you."

22 Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but ³disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of ⁴Megiddo.

23 And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, ⁵"Take me away, for I am badly wounded."

24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. ⁶All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

25 ⁷Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all ⁸the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments.

26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds according to what is written in the Law of the LORD,

27 and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

2 Chronicles 35:20-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 35

In this chapter we have an account of the keeping of the passover and its preparation, for which the priests and Levites were ordered to prepare, and to which Josiah, and his princes, gave liberally, and such an one was kept as had not been for ages past, 2Ch 35:1-19, and of Josiah's rash engagement in battle with the king of Egypt, in which he was slain, 2Ch 35:20-23 and of the great lamentations that were made for him, 2Ch 35:24-27.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Kings 23:29, 30
• 2. [Jeremiah 46:2]
• 3. [1 Kings 22:30]
• 4. Judges 5:19
• 5. [1 Kings 22:34]
• 6. [Zechariah 12:11]
• 7. Lamentations 4:20; [2 Samuel 1:17]
• 8. 2 Samuel 19:35; Ezra 2:65; Nehemiah 7:67; [Matthew 9:23]