The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 35:22 Explained

2 Chronicles 35:22

KJV: 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.

YLT: And Josiah hath not turned round his face from him, but to fight against him hath disguised himself, and hath not hearkened unto the words of Necho, from the mouth of God, and cometh in to fight in the valley of Megiddo;

Darby: But Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight against him; and he hearkened not to the words of Necho from the mouth of God; and he came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

ASV: 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 Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Chronicles 35:22 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Chronicles 35:16-27 - A Fatal Conflict
The huge masses of people were admitted according to their families into the sacred courts, and the gates were closed as soon as these were filled. Thus all the fathers' houses came, one after another, in solemn procession to the altar, offering such part of the sacred victims as was required and receiving part for their own use. While this was in progress the Levite choir chanted Psalms 113:1-9; Psalms 114:1-8; Psalms 115:1-18; Psalms 116:1-19; Psalms 117:1-2; Psalms 118:1-29.
What a misfortune that so auspicious a reign should end so disastrously! Josiah opposed Pharaoh, because Palestine was under the tutelage of Babylon, and had become the cockpit of the two warring nations, which were then contending for the mastery of the world. It would seem from 2 Chronicles 35:21, as if the Egyptian kings acknowledged the supremacy of one over-ruling Deity and considered that they were inspired by him. Blame appears to be attached to Josiah for not recognizing the voice of God. The lamentation over his death became proverbial for its excessive grief, Zechariah 12:11. Josiah's reign was the last gleam of light in his doomed country, but it was good for him to be removed before the storm burst. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 35

1  Josiah keeps a most solemn Passover
20  He provoking Pharaoh Neco, is slain at Megiddo
25  Lamentations for Josiah

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 35:22 mean?

And nevertheless not would turn Josiah his face from him but so that he might fight with him disguised himself and not did listen unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God so he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo
וְלֹֽא־ הֵסֵב֩ יֹאשִׁיָּ֨הוּ פָנָ֜יו מִמֶּ֗נּוּ כִּ֤י לְהִלָּחֵֽם־ בּוֹ֙ הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֛ע אֶל־ דִּבְרֵ֥י נְכ֖וֹ מִפִּ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֕א לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בְּבִקְעַ֥ת מְגִדּֽוֹ

וְלֹֽא־  And  nevertheless  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הֵסֵב֩  would  turn 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָבַב  
Sense: to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or arou nd, surround, encircle, change direction.
יֹאשִׁיָּ֨הוּ  Josiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄאשִׁיָּה 
Sense: son of Amon by Jedidah who succeeded his father to the throne of Judah and reigned for 3 years; his reign is noteworthy for the great revivals back to the worship of Jehovah which he led.
פָנָ֜יו  his  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
מִמֶּ֗נּוּ  from  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
לְהִלָּחֵֽם־  so  that  he  might  fight 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
בּוֹ֙  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ  disguised  himself 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָפַשׂ  
Sense: to search, search for, to search out, disguise oneself.
וְלֹ֥א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שָׁמַ֛ע  did  listen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
דִּבְרֵ֥י  the  words  of 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
נְכ֖וֹ  Necho 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נְכֹו 
Sense: the Pharaoh of Egypt in the time of king Josiah of Judah.
מִפִּ֣י  from  the  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
אֱלֹהִ֑ים  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וַיָּבֹ֕א  so  he  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם  to  fight 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
בְּבִקְעַ֥ת  in  the  Valley 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בִּקְעָה  
Sense: valley.
מְגִדּֽוֹ  of  Megiddo 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְגִדֹּו 
Sense: ancient city of Canaan assigned to Manasseh and located on the southern rim of the plain of Esdraelon 6 miles (0 km) from Mount Carmel and miles (8 km) from Nazareth.