II Kings 23:28-30 · Bible study
2 Kings 23:28-30 Commentary: Josiah's End
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the death of King Josiah at Megiddo, the abrupt end of his 13-year silence, and the anointing of Jehoahaz.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The death of King Josiah at Megiddo and the anointing of his son Jehoahaz as successor, despite an unexplained thirteen-year gap in the record.
- Key words: מֵת (met), participle meaning 'dying' rather than 'dead', showing Josiah was mortally wounded but died later; מָשַׁח (mashach), 'to anoint', used for an extraordinary succession.
- Main debate: Whether Josiah acted wisely in confronting Pharaoh Necho, and why a righteous king died such a premature death.
- Theological theme: The mystery of divine providence: even the most faithful servant can experience tragedy, and God's judgment against national sin may fall despite individual righteousness.
- Best use: For teaching on the sovereignty of God in history, the reality of suffering, and the importance of trusting God even when events seem inexplicable.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
28As for the rest of the acts of Josiah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
29At the end of Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went out to confront him, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo.
30From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.
WEB World English Bible 2000
28Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
29In his days Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him, but Pharaoh Necoh killed him at Megiddo when he saw him.
30His servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place.
KJV King James Version 1769
28Now 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?
29In his days Pharaoh–nechoh 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.
30And 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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
28Now 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?
29In his days Pharaoh-necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and Pharaoh-necoh slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
30And 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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
28And the rest of the matters of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?
29In his days hath Pharaoh-Nechoh king of Egypt come up against the king of Asshur, by the river Phrat, and king Josiah goeth out to meet him, and he putteth him to death in Megiddo, when he seeth him.
30And his servants cause him to ride dying from Megiddo, and bring him in to Jerusalem, and bury him in his own grave, and the people of the land take Jehoahaz son of Josiah, and anoint him, and cause him to reign instead of his father.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
28And 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?
29In his days Pharaoh-Nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates; and king Josiah went against him; but [Nechoh] slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
30And 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.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
28Now the rest of the acts of Josias, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda?
29In his days Pharao Nechao, king of Egypt, went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josias went to meet him: and was slain at Mageddo, when he had seen him.
30And his servants carried him dead from Mageddo: and they brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Joachaz, the son of Josias: and they anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Kings 23:28
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that II Kings 23:28-30 records the final events of Josiah's reign: his death at Megiddo after confronting Pharaoh Necho, his burial in Jerusalem, and the anointing of Jehoahaz as his successor. The passage covers only a brief episode, though it follows a thirteen-year gap after the great Passover (2 Kings 23:21-23). The text itself hints at lost material through the formula in verse 28, which references the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, a standard rhetorical device that signals more was recorded elsewhere. What is clear from the narrative is that Josiah died in battle, a startling end for a king praised as without equal (2 Kings 23:25). The Chronicler (2 Chronicles 35) adds that Josiah was mortally wounded by archers, that he ignored a warning from Necho, and that his death prompted national lamentation. The brevity of the Kings account leaves the reader with the puzzle of why a righteous king met such a fate, a question the surrounding context begins to address.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Allied with Babylon: Josiah's territory likely became a tributary state to the new Babylonian power after Nineveh's fall; his attack on Necho was an attempt to protect that alliance (Barnes, Gill).
- Defending sovereignty: Josiah was asserting independence by preventing a foreign army from crossing his land, a common cause for war among ancient states (Wesley).
- Acting rashly: The Chronicler explicitly states that Josiah 'disguised himself' and 'hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God,' suggesting he acted against divine warning and thus suffered consequences (Cambridge).
What is clear: Josiah died at Megiddo after confronting Pharaoh Necho, was buried in Jerusalem, and his son Jehoahaz was anointed king in his place.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Cause of Josiah's decision to confront Necho | Josiah went out to engage Pharaoh Necho's army at Megiddo. | Some (Barnes, Gill) think Josiah was allied with the Babylonian king and was defending a tributary relationship; others (Wesley) think he was defending his own territory from Egyptian intrusion; the Chronicler suggests Necho claimed a divine mandate and Josiah rejected that claim. |
| Whether Josiah died at Megiddo or later | He was mortally wounded at Megiddo and his body was carried to Jerusalem. | The language in verse 30 allows that he was still alive when placed in the chariot but died en route or upon reaching Jerusalem (Clarke, Barnes). The Chronicles account explicitly says he was taken out of his war chariot into another and died in Jerusalem. |
| Significance of the anointing of Jehoahaz | Jehoahaz was anointed as king by the people of the land. | Some (Cambridge, Poole) see the anointing as extraordinary, implying an irregular succession because Jehoahaz was not the oldest son; others (Gill) note that the people may have preferred a more aggressive king to resist Egypt. |
| Identity of the 'king of Assyria' in verse 29 | The king Necho opposed was the ruler of the empire that included Assyria at that time. | Some (Wesley, Gill) identify him as the Babylonian king Nabopolassar who had conquered Assyria and become de facto ruler of the Assyrian realm; others simply hold that the title 'king of Assyria' reflects the continuing use of the older term for the reigning power in Mesopotamia. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The political landscape of the ancient Near East had shifted dramatically after the fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C. The Assyrian Empire collapsed, and the Babylonians under Nabopolassar emerged as the new power. Into this vacuum stepped Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt, who aimed to reassert Egyptian influence in the region by detaching the territory from the Euphrates to Egypt from the fledgling Babylonian empire.
Megiddo, a site on the southern rim of the Jezreel valley, commanded a strategic pass on the Via Maris, the major trade route connecting Egypt and Mesopotamia. It had been a battlefield before (Judges 5:19). Necho, as the Cambridge Bible suggests, likely came by sea and landed on the Palestinian coast, planning to cross through the Jezreel valley. Josiah's decision to confront him is not fully explained in Kings, but the Chronicler states that Necho claimed divine commission for his campaign.
Josiah's reign had seen a thorough reformation of worship, centralization of sacrifice at Jerusalem, and removal of high places and idols. Yet the Lord's wrath against Judah, kindled by Manasseh's sins, remained (2 Kings 23:26-27). The "people of the land" who anointed Jehoahaz, bypassing the elder son Eliakim (Jehoiakim), indicate an irregular succession, perhaps because Jehoahaz was seen as more likely to resist Egyptian domination.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for II Kings 23:28-30. The earliest manuscripts (Masoretic Text) are consistent across the passage. A few later Hebrew manuscripts and the Greek Septuagint show minor differences in spelling of proper names (e.g., Necho vs. Neco) but these do not affect meaning.
Reception History
Early Christian writers such as Jerome and Ambrose used Josiah's death as a type of the righteous suffering unexplained tragedy, pointing to the mysteries of God's ways. In the medieval period, theologians like Thomas Aquinas cited Josiah as an example of a king who did what was right in the Lord's sight yet still faced judgment, not for his own sin but for the sins of the people. The Reformation era saw commentators like Calvin and Luther wrestling with the apparent contradiction between Josiah's faithfulness and his violent end. They emphasized that even the best human leadership cannot avert divine judgment when a nation is ripe for punishment. Modern readers often focus on the historical question of what happened in the missing thirteen years, with scholars like Barnes reconstructing the geopolitical pressures on Judah. The mourning at Hadad-Rimmon (Zechariah 12:11) has been linked to Josiah's death, suggesting the event left a lasting mark on Jewish memory.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The gap in the record: Thirteen years of Josiah's reign are omitted. The formula of verse 28 points to a fuller account elsewhere, reminding us that Scripture does not tell us everything.
- The death of a good king: Josiah died at Megiddo, apparently acting without a clear divine command. The Chronicler says he disguised himself and would not listen to Necho's warning. This raises the mystery of why a faithful king suffered such an end.
- The succession of Jehoahaz: The people anointed a younger son, suggesting political instability. Jehoahaz reigned only three months before being deposed by Necho, showing the fragility of Judah's independence.
Five-Point Outline
- The missing years: What did Josiah do between his Passover and his death? The text is silent, but the silence itself speaks: even the king's faithfulness could not avert the coming judgment.
- The battle: Josiah went out to meet Necho at Megiddo. The Hebrew verb "went out" (וַיֵּלֶךְ) can imply a military expedition. The confrontation was likely along the coast route.
- The wound and death: The Hebrew word מֵת (met) in verse 30 is a participle, meaning "dying" rather than already dead. Josiah was mortally wounded at Megiddo and died either on the way or after reaching Jerusalem.
- The burial: His servants brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. This honor distinguished him from many later kings who were buried ignominiously.
- The anointing of Jehoahaz: The anointing of a king was not standard in Judah; 1 Kings 1:34 reserves it for extraordinary cases. The irregularity suggests the nation was in crisis.
Illustration Hooks
- An athlete suffers a career-ending injury just before a championship, despite years of disciplined training.
- A faithful employee is laid off during a company merger, while less scrupulous colleagues keep their jobs.
- A community gathers to honor a leader who died young, only to see his successor fail.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Why would God allow a good king like Josiah to die in battle?
- What did Josiah do in the thirteen years after his Passover? Did he compromise?
- Why did the people choose Jehoahaz instead of the older brother?
Leading a Discussion
This passage ends Josiah's story abruptly, leaving many questions. It shows that even the most faithful lives can end in tragedy, and that God's purposes may not be immediately clear. As you discuss, consider what the silence of the text might teach us.
Discussion Questions
- What do we learn about Josiah from the verses that precede this passage (2 Kings 22-23:25)? What picture of his reign emerges?
- Why do you think the author chose to include only this brief account of Josiah's death? What purpose does it serve in the larger story?
- Read the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 35:20-27. What details does it add? How do those details change your understanding?
- Josiah went out to fight Necho even though Necho claimed a divine commission. Was Josiah being faithful or foolish? On what basis do you decide?
- The text says the people of the land anointed Jehoahaz and made him king. Why do you think they did that instead of following the normal line of succession?
- How does Josiah's death affect your view of God's justice? Does it challenge the idea that faithfulness always leads to blessing?
- What can we learn from the "missing thirteen years"? Are there times in your own life when God seems silent?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Kings 20:20 | Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? |
| Joshua 17:11 | Manasseh had three heights in Issachar, in Asher Beth Shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns. |
| Judges 1:27 | Manasseh didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its towns, nor Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. |
| Judges 5:19 | “The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver. |
| I Kings 4:12 | Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam; |
| II Kings 9:27 | But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, “Strike him also in the chariot!” They struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there. |
| II Kings 14:8 | Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let’s look one another in the face.” |
| II Kings 14:11 | But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke clarifies that the Hebrew word for "dead" in this passage means "dying," since Josiah was only mortally wounded at Megiddo and died later in Jerusalem. He also identifies the battle site as Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo, connecting it to Herodotus and the mourning later described by Zechariah.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that Josiah did not act recklessly in confronting Pharaoh Nechoh; he considered himself bound by duty to oppose a hostile army marching through his land to attack his Babylonian overlord. Barnes also notes that calling the Babylonian ruler king of Assyria was an informal survival, not an error, by the Jewish annalist.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights that Pharaoh-nechoh's claim to be divinely directed is unusual for an Egyptian king, but he distinguishes it from Rabshakeh's assertion that Jehovah sent him, noting Nechoh may have used "God" (Elohim) in a general belief in a single Divine Being. The anointing of Jehoahaz, not the usual practice, suggests the people sought to secure acceptance of a king who may not have been the recognized successor.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes present this account as a straightforward historical record, simply stating what happened without moral commentary. Josiah went to battle against Pharaoh Nechoh, was killed at Megiddo, carried back to Jerusalem, and buried in his own tomb; the people then anointed his son Jehoahaz as king.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that Josiah acted rashly in confronting Pharaoh Necho, apparently without seeking the Lord's guidance or consulting the prophets. His point is that even a godly king, known for his reforms, could make a strategic error by acting on his own judgment instead of inquiring of God first.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
In his days Pharaoh-nechoh —(See 2 Ch 35:20-27 ).
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry emphasizes Josiah's unmatched sincerity and zeal in turning to the Lord and reforming Judah, yet God's fierce wrath against the nation remained because of Manasseh's provocations. Even the best king could not reverse the judgment already set in motion.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley suggests Josiah's death in battle may have been divine punishment for acting without a clear call from God. He notes Josiah intervened against Pharaoh at Carchemish, likely to aid Babylon, and received a mortal wound. The people then chose his younger son Jehoahaz as king over the rightful heir.