Josiah Killed in Battle

20 (A)After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at (B)Carchemish 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 (C)disguised 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 (D)Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, (E)“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. (F)All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 (G)Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all (H)the 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.

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Josiah’s Last Deeds and Death

20 After all this(A) that Josiah had prepared for the temple, King Neco of Egypt(B) marched up to fight at Carchemish(C) by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. 21 But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, king of Judah?(D) I have not come against you today[a] but I am fighting another dynasty.[b] God told me to hurry. Stop opposing God who is with me; don’t make him destroy you!”

22 But Josiah did not turn away from him; instead, in order to fight with him he disguised himself.[c](E) He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to the Valley of Megiddo(F) to fight. 23 The archers shot King Josiah, and he said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am severely wounded!” (G) 24 So his servants took him out of the war chariot, carried him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem. Then he died, and they buried him in the tomb of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned(H) for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah chanted a dirge(I) over Josiah, and all the male and female singers still speak of Josiah in their dirges today. They established them as a statute for Israel, and indeed they are written in the Dirges.

26 The rest of the events(J) of Josiah’s reign, along with his deeds of faithful love according to what is written in the law of the Lord, 27 and his words, from beginning to end, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

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Footnotes

  1. 35:21 LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads Not against you, you today
  2. 35:21 Lit house
  3. 35:22 LXX reads he was determined