The Death of Josiah

When Neco marches north, Josiah moves to confront him. Neco insists he is on another campaign and warns Josiah not to oppose God, but Josiah refuses to listen and goes to battle at Megiddo in disguise.

A²⁰fter all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. ²¹But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty, and God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!” ²²Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.

Archers wound Josiah in the battle, and his servants carry him back to Jerusalem in another chariot, where he dies and is buried. Judah and Jerusalem mourn for him.

²³There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!” ²⁴So his servants took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. And Josiah was buried in the tomb of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.