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20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him. 21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you today, but against the house with which I have war. God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you.”

22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23 The archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, because I am seriously wounded!”

24 So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel. Behold, they are written in the lamentations. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds, according to that which is written in Yahweh’s law, 27 and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

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Josiah’s Reign Ends

20 After Josiah had done all this for the temple,[a] King Necho of Egypt marched up to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River.[b] Josiah marched out to oppose him. 21 Necho[c] sent messengers to him, saying, “Why are you opposing me, O king of Judah?[d] I am not attacking you today, but the kingdom with which I am at war.[e] God told me to hurry. Stop opposing God, who is with me, or else he will destroy you.”[f] 22 But Josiah did not turn back from him;[g] he disguised himself for battle. He did not take seriously[h] the words of Necho which he had received from God; he went to fight him in the Plain of Megiddo. 23 Archers shot King Josiah; the king ordered his servants, “Take me out of this chariot,[i] for I am seriously wounded.” 24 So his servants took him out of the chariot, put him in another chariot that he owned, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors;[j] all the people of Judah and Jerusalem mourned Josiah. 25 Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah which all the male and female singers use to mourn Josiah to this very day. It has become customary in Israel to sing these; they are recorded in the Book of Laments.

26 The rest of the events of Josiah’s reign, including the faithful acts he did in obedience to what is written in the law of the Lord[k] 27 and his accomplishments, from start to finish, are recorded[l] in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 35:20 tn Heb “After all this, [by] which Josiah prepared the temple.”
  2. 2 Chronicles 35:20 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  3. 2 Chronicles 35:21 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Neco) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  4. 2 Chronicles 35:21 tn Heb “What to me and to you, king of Judah?”
  5. 2 Chronicles 35:21 tn Heb “Not against you, you, today, but against the house of my battle.”
  6. 2 Chronicles 35:21 tn Heb “Stop yourself from [opposing] God who is with me and let him not destroy you.”
  7. 2 Chronicles 35:22 tn Heb “and Josiah did not turn his face from him.”
  8. 2 Chronicles 35:22 tn Heb “listen to.”
  9. 2 Chronicles 35:23 tn Heb “carry me away.”
  10. 2 Chronicles 35:24 tn Heb “fathers.”
  11. 2 Chronicles 35:26 tn Heb “and his faithful acts according to what is written in the law of the Lord.”
  12. 2 Chronicles 35:27 tn Heb “look, they are written.”

The Death of Josiah(A)

20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish(B) on the Euphrates,(C) and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. 21 But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told(D) me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”

22 Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised(E) himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.

23 Archers(F) shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, “Take me away; I am badly wounded.” 24 So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.

25 Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments.(G) These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments.(H)

26 The other events of Josiah’s reign and his acts of devotion in accordance with what is written in the Law of the Lord 27 all the events, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

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