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Josiah Dies in War

20 (A)After all this, when Josiah had set the [a]house in order, Neco king of Egypt went up to make war at (B)Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. 21 But [b]Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “(C)What have I to do with you, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has said for me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not bring you to ruin.” 22 However, Josiah would not turn [c]away from him, but (D)disguised himself in order to make war with him; nor did he listen to the words of Neco (E)from the mouth of God, but came to make war on the plain of (F)Megiddo. 23 Then the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.” 24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and drove him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem [d]where he died, and he was buried in the tombs of his fathers. (G)And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Then (H)Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. And all the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations to this day. And they made them a statute in Israel; behold, they are also written in the lamentations. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his deeds of lovingkindness according to what was written in the law of Yahweh, 27 and his acts, first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 35:20 Or temple
  2. 2 Chronicles 35:21 Lit he
  3. 2 Chronicles 35:22 Lit his face
  4. 2 Chronicles 35:24 Lit and

Josiah’s Death

20 After all this, when Josiah had restored the House, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him.

21 Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What do we have to do with each other, King of Judah? I am not against you this day, but only against the house[a] against which I am waging war. God has said that I should hurry. Stop opposing God, who is with me, so he will not destroy you.”

22 But Josiah did not turn aside from him. Instead, he disguised himself to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco, which were from the mouth of God, but he went out to battle on the plain near Megiddo.

23 The archers shot King Josiah, so the king said to his attendants, “Take me away, because I am badly wounded.” 24 His attendants took him out of the chariot and carried him to his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. He died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

25 Jeremiah composed a lament for Josiah, and all the male and female singers have sung about Josiah in their laments right up until the present day. They made this into a customary practice in Israel. You can find them recorded among the laments.

26 The rest of the acts of Josiah and his faithful deeds, which were performed according to what is written in the Law of the Lord, 27 and his actions from first to last, you can find these written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 35:21 Or dynasty