2 Chronicles 35:20-24

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 35:20

After all this . A period of about thirteen years of happy retrospect is now the portion of the good king. This period brings itself to an unhappy and even fatal termination in the year B.C. 608; when, as it would appear by the result, King Josiah did wrong, and went out of his way, in opposing the march of Pharaoh-Necho, successor of Psammetichus King of Egypt, against Cyaxares King of Assyria ( 2 Kings 23:29 ), or King of Babylon at Circesium on the River Phrat, the head-quarters... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 35:20-27

The lamentations for Josiah's death. Some cloud of mystery, but, so far as we can see, none of shame, hangs over the closing events of Josiah's reign and life. His determined resolution to oppose Necho King of Egypt, when he came to "Charchemish by Euphrates," with the view of engaging in battle with the forces of Babylon or Assyria, had no doubt some strong motive, It is not at all impossible to imagine and even to assign some alternative motives as those most probably at work. One... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 35:20-27

The death of Josiah. I. JOSIAH 'S MILITARY EXPEDITION . ( 2 Chronicles 35:20 .) Seemingly the only expedition in his reign. 1 . When it took place. "After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple;" i.e. after the eighteenth year of his reign, in point of fact, thirteen years after ( 2 Chronicles 34:1 ). 2 . Against whom it was directed. Necho King of Egypt; in Egyptian, Neku, son of Psammatik I the illustrious founder of the Saitic or twenty-sixth dynasty, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 35:21

Not against thee this day . Possibly the suggestion couched in these last two words may have been the opposite of agreeable to King Josiah. For God commanded me to make haste . The margin reading of the Revised Version seems preferable, both for the Hebrew text and the connection, hath given command to speed me. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 35:22

Would not turn his face (so 2 Chronicles 25:17 and its parallel, 2 Kings 14:8 ). Disguised himself . This is, possibly enough, the intention of the word, but it is more probable that the simple meaning is fully armed himself. The Septuagint has strengthened himself. Hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God. Unless these words are intended to convey really their patent and most natural import, it is tenfold strange that they should find a place in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 35:24

And he died. If the form of words used in the parallel, 2 Kings 23:30 , be followed, Josiah was dead before they reached Jerusalem. And all … mourned for Josiah . We still find no note whatever of blame attributed to Josiah, and the general mourning ( Zechariah 12:11 ) appears to have been most genuine. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 35:24-25

An early sunset. That very good men may make very great mistakes we hardly need to be told; unfortunately, we have all too many illustrations of that fact. The text provides us with a very melancholy instance. What had Josiah to do with this contest between the kings of Egypt and Assyria? Was his heart, too, "lifted up," that he thought himself and his people more than a match for the disciplined hosts of Egypt? Had he been attacked, and had he cast himself on God as Hezekiah did when... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 35:20

After all this - i. e. 13 years after, 608 B.C. See the 2 Kings 23:28-29 notes. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 35:21

The house wherewith I have war - Necho viewed Babylon as the successor and representative of Assyria - the hereditary enemy of Egypt - and he means that he is merely continuing an old hostility with which Josiah has nothing to do. No doubt the Assyrian and Egyptian armies had often passed up and down Syria by the coast route, without approaching Jerusalem, or even touching the soil of Judaea.God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God - These are remarkable words in the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 35:22

Disguised himself - Compare the marginal reference. But most modern critics are dissatisfied with this sense in this place, and prefer to render “equipped himself;” or - with the Septuagint - adopt another reading, and render “took courage.”The words of Necho from the mouth of God - The author apparently regarded Necho’s words as actually prophetic - a warning to which Josiah ought to have listened - sent him by God to make him pause - though not spoken by divine inspiration, or in consequence... read more

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