Josiah Dies in Battle

20 aAfter all this, when Josiah had set the 1temple in order, Neco king of Egypt came up to make war at bCarchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to engage him.

21 But 1Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “aWhat have we to do with each other, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not destroy you.”

22 However, Josiah would not turn 1away from him, but adisguised himself in order to make war with him; nor did he listen to the words of Neco bfrom the mouth of God, but came to make war on the plain of cMegiddo.

23 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 carried him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem 1where he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. aAll Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.