2 Chronicles 35 23

2 Chronicles 35:23 kjv

And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.

2 Chronicles 35:23 nkjv

And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am severely wounded."

2 Chronicles 35:23 niv

Archers shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, "Take me away; I am badly wounded."

2 Chronicles 35:23 esv

And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am badly wounded."

2 Chronicles 35:23 nlt

But the enemy archers hit King Josiah with their arrows and wounded him. He cried out to his men, "Take me from the battle, for I am badly wounded!"

2 Chronicles 35 verses

2 Chronicles 35 23 Meaning

This verse records the fatal wounding of King Josiah during the battle of Megiddo and his immediate command to be removed from the battlefield due to his severe injury. It highlights the sudden, tragic end of Judah's most righteous king, brought about by an act of disobedience against a divine message relayed by Pharaoh Neco, as understood by the Chronicler.

2 Chronicles 35 23 Context

Chapter 35 of 2 Chronicles portrays King Josiah as one of Judah's most faithful kings, highlighted by his purification of the temple, his widespread religious reforms, and the celebration of an unparalleled Passover. However, the chapter culminates in his untimely and tragic death at the Battle of Megiddo. The verse immediately preceding our focal verse (2 Chr 35:20-22) is crucial, stating that Pharaoh Neco of Egypt was en route to fight Carchemish against Assyria and sent messengers to Josiah, claiming God had told him to rush. Neco warned Josiah not to interfere, but Josiah, "did not turn his face from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him; nor did he heed the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo." Thus, the chronicler sets the stage for Josiah's death not as a random tragedy, but as a direct consequence of his failure to listen to a divine warning, even though it came through a pagan king.

2 Chronicles 35 23 Word analysis

• And the archers (וְהַיּוֹרִים, ve'hayo'rim): The Hebrew "הַיּוֹרִים" (ha-yorim) means "the archers" or "the shooters." These were military professionals skilled in bow and arrow warfare, common in ancient armies. Their presence and action indicate active combat. The Chronicler notes their instrumentality, while the underlying cause is divine.

• shot at (יָרוּ, yaru): This verb means "they shot" or "they hurled" (arrows). It signifies a direct, targeted action. The phrase "shot at" implies the target was specifically Josiah, likely due to his visible presence or royal standards.

• king Josiah (עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, al hammelek Yoshaiyahu): Refers specifically to the King of Judah, Josiah, identifying him as the one attacked. His royal status meant he was a primary target in battle.

• and the king (וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ, vayo'mer hammelek): The conjunctive "and" connects the action of being shot to his immediate reaction. "The king" emphasizes Josiah's authority, even in a dire state.

• said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayo'mer): A common Hebrew verb for speaking. Indicates Josiah's last recorded words on the battlefield, reflecting urgency and immediate assessment of his critical condition.

• to his servants (אֶל עֲבָדָיו, 'el 'avadav): His attendants, charioteers, or military officers who would have been accompanying him closely. Kings always had an retinue for protection, logistical support, and commands.

• Carry me away (הוֹרִידוּנִי, horiduni): Imperative command, meaning "bring me down" or "take me away." It's an urgent plea for extraction from the battle, indicating that staying was no longer an option for him, either due to pain, severity of injury, or to prevent capture or further desecration.

• for I am sore wounded (כִּי הָחֳלֵיתִי מְאֹד, ki hoḥaleti me'od):

  • for (כִּי, ki): Explanatory conjunction, indicating the reason for his command.
  • I am wounded (הָחֳלֵיתִי, hoḥaleti): From the root חָלָה (ḥalah), meaning "to be sick," "to be weak," "to be wounded." This specific form is Hophal, meaning "I have been made sick/wounded" or "I am severely affected." It suggests an internal, debilitating wound rather than just a superficial cut, likely signifying a mortal injury causing great distress. It also suggests divine agency; he was made wounded.
  • sore (מְאֹד, me'od): An intensifier, meaning "very," "exceedingly," "greatly." Together with "hoḥaleti," it stresses the severity and fatal nature of the wound.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And the archers shot at King Josiah": This phrase succinctly delivers the main action and protagonist's fate. The "archers" are the instrument, but the preceding verses establish that God's judgment allowed this outcome due to Josiah's disobedience. It's a precise detail often found in battle reports, yet charged with theological weight by the Chronicler.
  • "and the king said to his servants": Even grievously injured, Josiah maintains his authority, giving a command rather than pleading. This portrays his kingly bearing till the very end. The presence of servants implies his continued command structure and royal retinue.
  • "Carry me away; for I am sore wounded": This two-part command and explanation is Josiah's last recorded battlefield order. "Carry me away" speaks of his urgent need for evacuation and likely his inability to move on his own. "For I am sore wounded" (or "I am made very sick/weak") is his recognition of a severe, life-threatening injury. This powerful confession signals the inevitability of his death, linking cause (divine permission, via disobedience) to effect (fatal wound).

2 Chronicles 35 23 Bonus section

• Theological Perspective: The Chronicler's account of Josiah's death is more theologically loaded than the parallel in 2 Kings, which merely states Josiah was killed. The Chronicler actively attributes the demise to Josiah's rejection of Neco's "words from the mouth of God," emphasizing a direct cause-and-effect relationship based on divine judgment. This served as a crucial lesson for the post-exilic community about the absolute necessity of obedience to God's commands, regardless of the perceived goodness of their own intentions.
• Historical Disguise: The mention in 2 Chronicles 35:22 that Josiah "disguised himself" for battle might have been an attempt to avoid being a high-profile target. However, it failed, reinforcing the idea that divine decree cannot be evaded by human strategy when it comes to consequences for sin.
• Mourning and Lament: The death of Josiah led to intense national mourning. Jeremiah the prophet composed lamentations for Josiah (2 Chr 35:25), underscoring the deep impact of his loss despite the circumstances of his death. This collective grief indicates his beloved status among his people, irrespective of the Chronicler's theological assessment of his final error.
• Implications for Leadership: The account implies that wise leaders should discern the source of counsel, even if unexpected, and not act impulsively or proudly. Josiah's example serves as a reminder that personal piety does not grant immunity from accountability for specific acts of defiance against divine will.

2 Chronicles 35 23 Commentary

2 Chronicles 35:23 marks the tragic end of one of Judah's most commendable kings, Josiah. His death by Egyptian archers at Megiddo is presented by the Chronicler as a direct consequence of his disobedience to God's warning, which, controversially, came through Pharaoh Neco (2 Chr 35:21-22). Despite Josiah's overall righteousness and extensive reforms (detailed earlier in the chapter), this single act of defiance sealed his fate. The severity of the wound, indicated by "sore wounded," underscores the certainty of his demise. This account serves as a solemn lesson that even a devout individual is not immune to the consequences of direct disobedience to a divine command, no matter how that command is conveyed or how seemingly noble the intentions might be (e.g., stopping Neco to aid Judah's nominal ally, Assyria, or for his own pride). It highlights the Chronicler's theological emphasis: obedience brings blessing, and disobedience, even if an anomaly in a generally faithful life, brings severe repercussions, emphasizing God's strict justice and sovereignty.