2 Chronicles 35:20–25

The Death of Josiah

35:20–36:1pp—2Ki 23:28–30

²⁰After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish^l on the Euphrates,^m and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. ²¹But 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.”

²²Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised^o 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.

²³Archers^p shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, “Take me away; I am badly wounded.” ²⁴So 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.

²⁵Jeremiah 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