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2 Kings · around about 609 BC

Josiah Dies at Megiddo

Josiah Dies at Megiddo is recorded in 2 Kings and falls around about 609 BC. Below is what happened, where it fits, and the full text.

about 609 BCmedium

What happened

Pharaoh Necho kills Josiah in battle at Megiddo.

Where it fits on the timeline

Josiah dies fighting Pharaoh Necho after his reforms, before Babylon’s deportations under Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Kings 24:10-17; 2 Kings 23:1-25).

The passage

2 Kings 23:29-30

In 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. His 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.

2 Chronicles 35:20-27

After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you today, but against the house with which I have war. God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you.” Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. The archers shot at King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, because I am seriously wounded!” So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel. Behold, they are written in the lamentations. Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his good deeds, according to that which is written in the LORD’s law, and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Scripture references

2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chronicles 35:20-27

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