2 Kings 23:28-30 - Lessons from a tragedy

Second Chronicles 35:20-27 have a more elaborate account surrounding Josiah’s death than 2 Kings 23:28-30. The latter passage merely said that he was killed by Pharoah Neco  in Megiddo. And his body was brought in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem, where he was buried. The people then took his son Jehoahaz and made him the king in his father’s place. Second Kings 23:23 implied that all the things Josiah had done, and much more were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.

The passage in 2 Chronicles tells us that he went to confront Neco in the Battle of Carchemish. Apparently, Neco was not coming against Judah, he was hastening toward Carchemish by the River Euphrates to confront the king of Assyria. He was not coming to attack Judah but was only using  a quicker route to his destination through Megiddo. So he sent a warning to Josiah not to interfere with his mission saying that it was prompted by God. But Josiah would not listen though it was said that warning was from God. So he persisted in confronting Neco at Megiddo and was shot by an archer. Immediately his second servants brought him into the second chariot to Jerusalem where he died. So they had him buried with his forefathers in that city.  The whole of Judah mourned for him that even Jeremiah the prophet lamented his passing with a chant. The chant about Josiah was sung by the male and female singers in their lament. Second Chronicles 35:25 said that even made them an ordinance in Israel.

Unfortunately, Josiah was confronted with much turmoil in his reign in that region. His death was in a sense untimely. Even then there must be some lessons that we can glean from his tragedy. The passage in 2 Chronicles was clear that Neco was not coming to attack Judah, he was just using a shorter route to Carchemish. Even when warned not to interfere, Josiah persisted and was shot by an archer and asked to be carried away from the battlefront. Firstly, we learn from this incident that it is dangerous to meddle in other people’s strife. If only Josiah had minded his own business, he would not have met his untimely demise. So the first lesson is: don’t meddle in the strife of others, just concentrate on minding our God-given business. Don’t trouble trouble, till trouble troubles you. Secondly, we learn that though the words of warning came from Neco, the passage in Chronicles in verse 22 made it clear that the message was from God. So the second lesson is: in the thick of life circumstances, we need to learn to discern and hear from God above the fury and sound of those circumstances.  Bear in mind that good advice can come from people we least expect or like. And the third lesson is: we must not take life for granted. Death can strike at a time we least expect. We must live the best we know how and make every moment count for God.