2 Kings 23 29

2 Kings 23:29 kjv

In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.

2 Kings 23:29 nkjv

In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went to the aid of the king of Assyria, to the River Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him. And Pharaoh Necho killed him at Megiddo when he confronted him.

2 Kings 23:29 niv

While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo.

2 Kings 23:29 esv

In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him, and Pharaoh Neco killed him at Megiddo, as soon as he saw him.

2 Kings 23:29 nlt

While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, went to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah and his army marched out to fight him, but King Neco killed him when they met at Megiddo.

2 Kings 23 verses

2 Kings 23 29 Meaning

2 Kings 23:29 states that during King Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Necho of Egypt went north to the Euphrates River to aid the king of Assyria. King Josiah of Judah confronted Necho at Megiddo and was killed by him upon their encounter. This tragic event marked the premature end of a significant reformative reign and signified Judah's diminished sovereignty amidst escalating regional powers.

2 Kings 23 29 Context

Chapter 23 details King Josiah’s extensive religious reforms, triggered by the discovery of the Book of the Law during the temple’s repair. He initiated a nationwide covenant renewal, purged Judah of idolatry and pagan practices, and centralized worship at Jerusalem, leading to an unprecedented Passover celebration. This verse, however, abruptly pivots from Josiah's great spiritual achievements to his sudden death, signaling the rapid decline of Judah. Historically, the Near East was undergoing a dramatic shift: the once-mighty Assyrian Empire was crumbling, with Babylon (Chaldea) rising as the new dominant power. Egypt, under Pharaoh Necho II, aimed to preserve a weak Assyrian buffer state by providing aid at the Euphrates. Josiah’s interception of Necho's army was likely an attempt to assert Judah’s independence, control vital trade routes through the Jezreel Valley, or align with the emerging Babylonian power by hindering Egyptian support for Assyria. This fatal encounter at Megiddo ended the last period of true spiritual revival in Judah before its eventual destruction and exile.

2 Kings 23 29 Word analysis

• בְּיָמָיו (B'yamayv) - "In his days": This refers to the reign of King Josiah, emphasizing that the events unfold while he is king. It signifies a transition point, as his death directly precipitates significant changes for Judah.

• פַרְעֹֽה־נְכֹ֤ה (Pharaoh Neko) - "Pharaoh Necho": Identifies a specific historical figure, Pharaoh Necho II of the 26th Dynasty of Egypt (610-595 BCE). He was a strategic leader who actively sought to protect Egypt's northern borders and regional interests against the burgeoning power of Babylon.

• מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (Melek Mitzrayim) - "king of Egypt": Clearly designates Necho's national allegiance and high political status, highlighting the formidable power confronting Judah.

• עָלָ֨ה (Alah) - "went up": A common Hebrew verb indicating movement upwards or northwards. Here, it specifically denotes a military campaign or march by the Egyptian army towards a strategically important northern objective.

• עַל־מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר (Al Melek Ashur) - "against the king of Assyria": While "al" (על) often means "against" in an adversarial sense, in military contexts it can also mean "towards" or "for" (to aid). Historically, Necho was moving to support the remnants of the Assyrian army against Babylon. The phrasing here might initially suggest hostility from Egypt towards Assyria, but context and historical records clarify it as a movement to assist the beleaguered Assyrians.

• עַל־נְהַר־פְּרָ֑ת (Al Nehar P'rat) - "to the river Euphrates": Specifies the ultimate destination of Necho’s campaign. The Euphrates River region was the strategic frontier in Mesopotamia, crucial for control between the major powers of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon.

• וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ לִקְרָאתֹ֔ו (Vayyēlekh haMelekh Yoshiyyahu liqra'to) - "King Josiah went to meet him": This phrase emphasizes Josiah's deliberate decision to intercept the Egyptian army. "Liqra'to" means "to meet," implying confrontation, either to prevent passage, to negotiate, or to engage in battle. This was a proactive choice by Josiah that defied previous passive allowances of foreign armies to cross Judah.

• וַיְמִתֵ֙הוּ֙ (Vaymītēhu) - "and killed him": A concise and direct statement of the outcome. Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Necho, highlighting the swift and tragic end of Judah's reforming king.

• בִּמְגִדֹּ֖ו (Bim'giddo) - "at Megiddo": Designates the precise geographical location of the fatal confrontation. Megiddo, situated in the Jezreel Valley, was a historically significant battlefield due to its strategic position on key trade and military routes through the Levant.

• כִּרְאֹתֹֽו (Kir'otō) - "when he saw him": This clause signifies that Josiah was killed upon his direct engagement or encounter with Pharaoh Necho's forces. It implies the killing occurred at the point of recognition or initial confrontation, perhaps suggesting a swift and decisive action from Necho or a quick escalation of the situation once Josiah’s intention to stop him was clear. It underscores the direct agency of Necho in Josiah's death.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates": This passage establishes the grand geopolitical context, framing Judah's story within a larger international conflict between declining Assyria, rising Babylon, and strategically ambitious Egypt. Judah's existence was intrinsically tied to the outcomes of these great power struggles.
  • "King Josiah went to meet him, and Pharaoh Necho killed him at Megiddo": This stark juxtaposition reveals the unexpected and tragic demise of a righteous king engaged in what he perceived as a necessary defense of his kingdom, or perhaps an attempt to expand Judah's influence. It illustrates the high cost of playing geopolitical games against larger powers.
  • "at Megiddo when he saw him": This combination specifies the immediate circumstances of Josiah's death, emphasizing the swift, decisive action taken by Necho at a famous ancient battleground, signaling the abrupt end to Josiah's reign and Judah's brief respite from God's judgment.

2 Kings 23 29 Bonus section

• The profound national mourning for Josiah (Zec 12:11, 2 Chr 35:25) testifies to his widespread respect and the hope that he represented for Judah's future. His death was seen as a grave tragedy, indicating a turning point after which Judah would only experience decline.
• The death of Josiah posed a theological conundrum for the people: how could a king who had diligently sought the Lord meet such an untimely end? The Chronicler’s explanation (Josiah's refusal to heed Necho's "God-sent" warning) attempts to reconcile this, placing agency and consequence on Josiah's decision, rather than on a failure of divine justice towards a righteous king.
• The "River Euphrates" here represents the broader international conflict involving Mesopotamia's fate, where Judah was caught between great imperial ambitions. Megiddo, meanwhile, signifies the specific pinch-point within Josiah's immediate control, illustrating how even local geopolitical decisions had fatal consequences when juxtaposed with global power struggles.

2 Kings 23 29 Commentary

2 Kings 23:29 chronicles the abrupt and unexpected demise of King Josiah, Judah's most revered reformer. Following his unparalleled commitment to re-establishing covenant fidelity and rooting out idolatry, his death at Megiddo is a poignant moment in biblical narrative, leaving a stark theological challenge. Pharaoh Necho's campaign was strategically aimed at bolstering the faltering Assyrian Empire against Babylon's ascent, seeking to maintain a power balance crucial for Egypt's security. Josiah’s decision to intercept Necho at Megiddo, a strategically vital choke point, reveals his ambition, perhaps fueled by a desire to defend Judah's borders, challenge Egyptian dominance, or align with the rising Babylonian power.

The Chronicler’s account (2 Chr 35:20-24) adds a critical layer of understanding: Necho warned Josiah to stand aside, explicitly claiming divine commission. Josiah's fatal error, therefore, was not merely a military miscalculation, but a failure to heed a divine message, even if delivered through a foreign potentate. This underscores the complexity of discerning God’s will and highlights that even righteous intentions can lead to grave consequences if not aligned with divine counsel. Josiah's death marks the tragic end of a genuine revival and ushers in the final, rapid decline of Judah towards Babylonian exile. It served as a somber lesson about God's sovereignty over nations and individuals, even over the most pious, and the serious implications of human will overriding divine guidance.