The Death of Josiah

35:20–36:1pp—2Ki 23:28–30

20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemishl on the Euphrates,m 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 toldn 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 disguisedo 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 Archersp 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.q These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments.r

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.