Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 23
Josiah’s death happened when he fought an unwise and unnecessary battle against the king of Egypt’s army. This happened at about the same time that Assyria lost its power as a formerly great nation. It seems that Egypt’s king was fighting against Babylon’s king for the right to rule over Assyria’s land. Babylon’s king had declared himself to be also the ruler of Assyria, and for that reason, Egypt’s king decided to oppose him.
However, to fight the king of Babylon, Egypt’s army had to march through Israel. Josiah decided that Judah was in danger; so, he took Judah’s army to fight against Egypt’s army.
The king of Egypt urged Josiah not to start a battle. Egypt’s king insisted that he did not want to attack Judah. Rather, he said that God had sent him to fight a battle further north, near the Euphrates river. God had told him to go there quickly, he said. So, the king of Egypt warned Josiah that he must not attack Egypt’s army. If he did, he would die.
2 Chronicles 35:22 tells us that God commanded Egypt’s king to say this. God can use anyone, even someone who does not serve him, to speak his messages. As a good and holy king, Josiah should have inquired of God, to know whether God really had spoken to Egypt’s king.
However, instead, Josiah insisted that he must fight against Egypt’s army. In the battle, he did not wear his royal clothes, so that Egypt’s soldiers would not recognise him. However, someone shot an arrow, and it caused Josiah to suffer a very serious injury. His servants took him out of the battle; but by the time that he reached Jerusalem, Josiah was dead (2 Chronicles 35:20-24).
He was the last good king of Judah, who served only the true God. His sons would rule Judah after him.
Next part: Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31-32)
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