2 Chronicles 35 21

2 Chronicles 35:21 kjv

But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.

2 Chronicles 35:21 nkjv

But he sent messengers to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you."

2 Chronicles 35:21 niv

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 told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you."

2 Chronicles 35:21 esv

But he sent envoys to him, saying, "What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you."

2 Chronicles 35:21 nlt

But King Neco sent messengers to Josiah with this message: "What do you want with me, king of Judah? I have no quarrel with you today! I am on my way to fight another nation, and God has told me to hurry! Do not interfere with God, who is with me, or he will destroy you."

2 Chronicles 35 verses

2 Chronicles 35 21 Meaning

King Neco of Egypt sent a message to King Josiah of Judah, specifically clarifying that his military expedition was not directed against Judah but against another distant foe (the "house with which I am at war," referring to the Assyrian remnants or Babylon). Crucially, Neco claimed divine command for his swift action, stating that God had ordered him to make haste. He warned Josiah not to interfere, asserting that by fighting against him, Josiah would be struggling against God Himself, which would lead to his destruction. This verse highlights a direct divine warning conveyed through an unexpected foreign channel, setting the stage for Josiah's tragic decision.

2 Chronicles 35 21 Context

Verse 21 is a pivotal moment following Josiah's extensive and religiously pure reforms, including the greatest Passover celebration in Judah's history (2 Chr 35:18-19). Historically, Egypt, under Pharaoh Neco II, was on the rise and aiming to aid Assyria's remnant forces against the growing power of Babylon at Carchemish (609 BCE). Judah, situated strategically between Egypt and Mesopotamia, lay directly in Neco's path. Josiah, despite his piety and God-fearing nature, likely saw Neco's passage as an infringement on his territory or perhaps as an act aiding Judah's historical oppressor (Assyria), against whom Josiah may have harbored a strategic alliance with Babylon. The message from Neco, emphasizing a divine mandate for his journey and warning Josiah against interference, creates a profound theological dilemma for Josiah, ultimately leading to his demise at Megiddo (2 Chr 35:22-24). The Chronicler emphasizes Josiah's defiance not against Neco, but against God, through the message Neco delivered.

2 Chronicles 35 21 Word analysis

• But he sent envoys to him, saying: This indicates a formal diplomatic communication. Neco didn't simply march through; he sought to avert conflict, signaling his non-hostile intent toward Judah. This further underscores the clarity of the warning Josiah received.
• What have I to do with you, King of Judah?: This is a rhetorical question (מַה-לִּ֚י וָלָךְ֙ mah-li wa-lakh). It conveys Neco's surprise and disinterest in Josiah as an opponent. His purpose is elsewhere, signifying that the conflict is not personal or against Judah's sovereignty specifically.
• I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war: Neco explicitly states his objective, dispelling any ambiguity. "House with which I am at war" likely refers to the Neo-Assyrian Empire's remnants (who still held parts of Harran, seeking to re-establish control) or, more accurately in context of 609 BC, directly implies Babylon's forces or a remnant Assyrian-Babylonian coalition in northern Mesopotamia. His target is clear and distant from Judah.
• and God has commanded me to make haste: This is the most crucial part. The Hebrew word for God is אֱלֹהִים (Elohim), a general term that can refer to any god or the one true God, Yahweh. While Neco, as an Egyptian Pharaoh, likely believed his deity (e.g., Ra, Amun) commanded him, the Chronicler's narrative uses Elohim in a way that implies it was indeed the God of Israel (Yahweh) directing events. The Chronicler aims to show God's sovereignty extending even over foreign kings, using them as instruments of His will. "To make haste" (לְמַהֲרָה l’mahǎrâh) signifies divine urgency.
• Cease struggling against God, who is with me, lest He destroy you: This is a direct warning from what Neco perceives as divine authority. "Cease struggling" (חֲדַל־לְךָ֙ מֵאֱלֹהִ֔ים ḥadal-lekhā mê’elohim) is an emphatic imperative. By opposing Neco's God-commissioned journey, Josiah is essentially "struggling against God" (בֵאלֹהִ֔ים)—the very God Neco claims to serve. The consequence of defying this divine command is destruction (יַשְׁמִידֶךָ yashmîdekha), a severe threat that ironically comes to pass.

Words-group analysis:

• "What have I to do with you, King of Judah? I am not coming against you this day": This phrase functions as a clear statement of Neco's non-hostile intentions towards Judah. It establishes the context of the warning: Neco's focus is strategic, not conquest of Judah.
• "and God has commanded me to make haste. Cease struggling against God, who is with me, lest He destroy you": This group of words emphasizes divine decree and consequence. The repeated "God" (אֱלֹהִים) implies a clear, direct message of divine will, regardless of Neco's specific theological understanding. For the Chronicler's audience, it underscores that defying Neco in this instance was an act of defying Yahweh himself, a stark warning to trust God's communicated will, even through unconventional means.

2 Chronicles 35 21 Bonus section

• The Chronicler's theological framing of Neco's statement highlights a core belief: God's control extends over all nations and their rulers, even those who do not worship Him. He can use them as instruments for His own divine plans, whether for judgment or for deliverance.
• Josiah's mistake may have stemmed from a lack of consulting the prophetess Huldah or other true prophets (like Jeremiah, who was active during this period) concerning Neco's warning, despite his prior diligence in seeking God's law. His zeal for Judah's sovereignty overshadowed spiritual discernment.
• This account contrasts with previous instances where kings (e.g., Asa in 2 Chr 16) sought help from foreign powers, resulting in prophetic rebuke. Here, Josiah resisted a foreign power but was himself in opposition to what was divinely sanctioned. This demonstrates the complexity of discerning God's will in geopolitical affairs.

2 Chronicles 35 21 Commentary

2 Chronicles 35:21 serves as a profound theological statement within the Chronicler's work, portraying Josiah's death not as an accidental war casualty but as a divine judgment for his disobedience. Despite Josiah being a "good king" who rigorously reformed Judah's worship and initiated the greatest Passover, he faltered in a critical moment of spiritual discernment. He chose to rely on his own geopolitical assessment, ignoring a clear warning delivered by an unlikely messenger—Pharaoh Neco. The Chronicler frames Neco's declaration, "God has commanded me," as a legitimate word from Yahweh, emphasizing that God's sovereignty extends even to pagan rulers, whom He can use to accomplish His purposes (e.g., Cyrus, Assyria). Josiah's tragic error was in failing to recognize God's voice in an unexpected form and in refusing to "cease struggling against God," leading to his predicted destruction. This narrative powerfully underscores the chronicler's theology: obedience to God's revealed will brings blessing and life, while disobedience, even by well-intentioned leaders, results in severe consequences. The verse is a cautionary tale about the perils of pride and the necessity of humility and accurate discernment, even when facing a seemingly beneficial political decision.