Josiah Is Killed

From the very beginning of his reign, Josiah sought to please God.  After they found a copy of God’s Law, he began a concerted effort to get all of Judah to follow God as well, even out doing David in his devotion, as II Kings 23:25 tells us.  “And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”

A great leader can influence peopl’s behaviou, but he cannot control their attitudes.  Although the people accepted Josiah’s leadership for over thirty years, destroying all the idols and stopping worshipping the false gods, they never truly confessed or repented of their idolatry under Manasseh and Amon.  As a result, they had never been forgiven for that sin, as II Kings 23:26-27 tells us.  “Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.  And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.” 

Thae Assyrian Empire was beginning to fade as the Babylonian Empire grew, and had been forced to withdraw to Charchemish on the Euphrates River, far north of israel and Judah.  The Egyptians claimed the city and went to their aid, apparently crossing Jewish territory.  Josiah refused to give them passage, as II Chronicles 35:20 tells us.  “After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. “

Necho II, the Egyptian pharaoh attempted to negotiate with Josiah, insisting they had no intention of attacking Judah, but Josiah refused to listen, disguising himself, and leading an attack on the Egyptians in the valley of Meggido, as II Chronicles 35:21-22 describes.  “But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.  Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.”

The Egyptians were victorious, and Josiah was fatally injured in the fighting and was taken back to Jerusalem, as II Chronicles 35:23-24 explains.  “And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.  His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.”

Josiah had been the best king they ever had and all Judah mourned over his death at such a young age.  Jeremiah held a special memorial for him that was to be observed in the future, according to II Chronicles 35:25-27.  “And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.  Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD, And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.”

Because of their respect for Josiah, the people made his son Jehoahaz king as II chronicles 36:1 tells us.  “Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.”