2 Kings 23:28-30

2 Kings 23:28-30

[28] Now the rest  of the acts  of Josiah,  and all that he did,  are they not written  in the book  of the chronicles  of the kings  of Judah?  [29] In his days  Pharaohnechoh  king  of Egypt  went up  against the king  of Assyria  to the river  Euphrates:  and king  Josiah  against  him; and he slew  him at Megiddo,  when he had seen  him. [30] And his servants  carried him in a chariot  dead  from Megiddo,  and brought  him to Jerusalem,  and buried  him in his own sepulchre.  And the people  of the land  took  Jehoahaz  the son  of Josiah,  and anointed  him, and made him king  in his father's  stead.

What does 2 Kings 23:28-30 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The king seems to have preferred Babylon to Assyria in his foreign policy. When Egyptian armies moved up the Mediterranean coast to join Assyria in resisting Babylonian advance westward, Josiah intercepted Pharaoh Neco II (609-595 B.C.) at Megiddo and tried to stop him. Unfortunately for Judah, the Egyptians killed Josiah there in609 B.C. Egypt continued north, united with Assyria, and battled Babylon at Carchemish on the upper Euphrates River. There Babylon defeated the allies and broke the domination of the Assyrian Empire over the ancient Near Eastern world. The Battle of Carchemish in605 B.C. was one of the most important in ancient Near Eastern history for this reason. [1]
Josiah was a strong influence for righteousness in his day and a very capable ruler. The success of his far-reaching reforms indicates his ability to overcome much popular opinion that must have opposed his convictions. His influence for good extended even into the fallen territory of Israel. [1] Unfortunately, he died prematurely as a result of his unwise decision to challenge Pharaoh Neco (cf. 2 Chronicles 35:20-27).