Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. New Living Translation After Josiah had finished restoring the Temple, King Neco of Egypt led his army up from Egypt to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River, and Josiah and his army marched out to fight him. English Standard Version After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. Berean Standard Bible After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. Berean Literal Bible After all this, when Josiah had prepared the house, Neco king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. King James Bible After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. New King James Version After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. New American Standard Bible After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt came up to wage war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to engage him. NASB 1995 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt came up to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to engage him. NASB 1977 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt came up to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to engage him. Legacy Standard Bible After all this, when Josiah had set the house in order, Neco king of Egypt went up to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. Amplified Bible After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt came up to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. Berean Annotated Bible After all this, when Josiah (whom YHWH heals) had set the temple in order, Neco (lame) king of Egypt (land of bondage) marched up to fight at Carchemish (fortress of Chemosh) by the Euphrates (fruitfulness), and Josiah went out to confront him. Christian Standard Bible After all this that Josiah had prepared for the temple, King Neco of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. Holman Christian Standard Bible After all this that Josiah had prepared for the temple, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version Some time later, King Neco of Egypt led his army to the city of Carchemish on the Euphrates River. And Josiah led his troops north to meet the Egyptians in battle. English Revised Version After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. GOD'S WORD® Translation After all this, when Josiah had repaired the temple, King Neco of Egypt came to fight a battle at Carchemish at the Euphrates River. Josiah went to attack him. Good News Translation After King Josiah had done all this for the Temple, King Neco of Egypt led an army to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates River. Josiah tried to stop him, International Standard Version Some time after all of this, after Josiah had finished preparing the Temple, King Neco of Egypt invaded Carchemish on the Euphrates River, and Josiah went out to fight him. NET Bible After Josiah had done all this for the temple, King Necho of Egypt marched up to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River. Josiah marched out to oppose him. New Heart English Bible After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Perath: and Josiah went out against him. Webster's Bible Translation After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAfter all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAfter all this, when Josiah has prepared the house, Necho king of Egypt has come up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah goes forth to meet him; Berean Literal Bible After all this, when Josiah had prepared the house, Neco king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. Young's Literal Translation After all this, when Josiah hath prepared the house, come up hath Necho king of Egypt, to fight against Carchemish by Phrat, and Josiah goeth forth to meet him; Smith's Literal Translation After all this, when Josiah prepared the house, Necho king of Egypt came up to war against Carchemish upon Phrath: and Josiah will go forth to meet him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAfter that Josias had repaired the temple, Nechao king of Egypt came up to fight in Charcamis by the Euphrates: and Josias went out to meet him. Catholic Public Domain Version After Josiah had repaired the temple, Neco, the king of Egypt, ascended to fight at Carchemish, beside the Euphrates. And Josiah went out to meet him. New American Bible After Josiah had done all this to restore the temple, Neco, king of Egypt, came up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. New Revised Standard Version After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, King Neco of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAfter all this, when Josiah had prepared the affairs of the temple, Pharaoh the lame king of Egypt came up to fight against Mabog by Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated After all these things when Yoshiah prepared the possessions of the house, Pharaoh the crippled King of Egypt went up to fight against Mabug that is by Euphrates, and Yoshiah went out to meet him. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917After 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Pharao Nechao king of Egypt went up against the king of the Assyrians to the river Euphrates, and king Josias went to meet him. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Death of Josiah20After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. 21But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”… Cross References After all this, 2 Chronicles 31:1 When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property. 2 Chronicles 32:1 After all these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself. when Josiah had set the temple in order, 2 Chronicles 34:8-13 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the land and the temple, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God. / So they went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites who guarded the doors had collected from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the people of Jerusalem. / They put it into the hands of those supervising the work in the house of the LORD, who in turn gave it to the workmen restoring and repairing the house of the LORD. … 2 Kings 22:3-7 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the scribe, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying, / “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. / And let them deliver it into the hands of the supervisors of those doing the work on the house of the LORD, who in turn are to give it to the workmen repairing the damages to the house of the LORD— … 2 Kings 23:4-7 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. / Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven. / He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people. … Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, Jeremiah 46:2 concerning Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah: Jeremiah 46:6 “The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall. Jeremiah 46:10 For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates. and Josiah went out to confront him. 2 Kings 23:29-30 During 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. / From 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. Jeremiah 22:10 Do not weep for him who is dead; do not mourn his loss. Weep bitterly for him who is exiled, for he will never return to see his native land. 2 Chronicles 36:1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father. Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD. Ezekiel 30:21-22 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. See, it has not been bound up for healing, or splinted for strength to hold the sword. / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand. Hosea 7:11 So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria. Isaiah 19:1-4 This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them. / “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. / Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists. … Jeremiah 2:36 How impulsive you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria. Treasury of Scripture After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. A. 2 Kings 23:29 In his days Pharaohnechoh 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. Pharaoh-necho Jeremiah 46:2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah. Carchemish Isaiah 10:9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? Jump to Previous Arranged Battle Carchemish Car'chemish Egypt Engage Euphrates Euphra'tes Fight Forth House Josiah Josi'ah Karkemish Marched Meet Necho Neco Order Phrat Prepared Temple WarJump to Next Arranged Battle Carchemish Car'chemish Egypt Engage Euphrates Euphra'tes Fight Forth House Josiah Josi'ah Karkemish Marched Meet Necho Neco Order Phrat Prepared Temple War2 Chronicles 35 1. Josiah keeps a most solemn Passover20. He provoking Pharaoh Neco, is slain at Megiddo 25. Lamentations for Josiah After all this This phrase indicates a transition from the previous events, specifically the religious reforms and Passover celebration led by King Josiah. It suggests a culmination of Josiah's efforts to restore proper worship in Judah, as detailed in the preceding verses. The phrase sets the stage for a significant shift in the narrative, moving from religious renewal to political and military conflict. when Josiah had set the temple in order Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates and Josiah went out to confront him Persons / Places / Events 1. JosiahThe King of Judah known for his religious reforms and dedication to restoring the worship of Yahweh. He is noted for his efforts to purify the temple and reinstate the Passover. 2. Necho The Pharaoh of Egypt during this period, who was on a military campaign to assist the Assyrians against the Babylonians at Carchemish. 3. Carchemish A significant city located on the Euphrates River, known for its strategic importance in ancient military campaigns. 4. Euphrates A major river in the Near East, often associated with significant historical and biblical events. 5. Temple Refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which Josiah had restored and set in order as part of his religious reforms. Teaching Points The Importance of DiscernmentJosiah's decision to confront Necho, despite warnings, highlights the need for discernment and seeking God's guidance in our decisions. Understanding God's Sovereignty The events remind us of God's overarching plan and sovereignty over nations and leaders, even when His purposes are not immediately clear to us. The Consequences of Actions Josiah's actions, though well-intentioned, led to his untimely death, illustrating that even righteous intentions must align with God's will. The Role of Prophecy and Warning The account encourages us to heed prophetic warnings and seek God's counsel, recognizing that His ways are higher than ours. Legacy and Leadership Josiah's life and reforms left a lasting impact, teaching us about the importance of godly leadership and the legacy we leave behind. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 35:20?2. How does 2 Chronicles 35:20 illustrate the consequences of ignoring God's warnings? 3. What can we learn about God's sovereignty from Josiah's encounter with Pharaoh Necho? 4. How does Josiah's story connect with Romans 13:1 about submitting to authorities? 5. In what ways can we discern God's will to avoid Josiah's mistake? 6. How can Josiah's actions in 2 Chronicles 35:20 guide our decision-making today? 7. Why did King Josiah confront Pharaoh Neco despite God's warning in 2 Chronicles 35:20? 8. How does 2 Chronicles 35:20 challenge the concept of divine protection for righteous leaders? 9. What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Chronicles 35:20? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Chronicles 35? 11. Does 2 Chronicles 35:20–22, where Necho’s message is reportedly from God, conflict with the broader biblical narrative of prophets and divine warnings? 12. Who was Pharaoh Neco in the Bible? 13. Psalm 21:11: Does the assertion that the king’s enemies “cannot succeed” conflict with biblical passages describing military defeats or setbacks for Israel’s leaders? 14. How do we reconcile Pharaoh Necho’s role in Josiah’s death (2 Kings 23:29) with differing details in other historical sources and the account in 2 Chronicles 35? What Does 2 Chronicles 35:20 Mean After all this“After all this” (2 Chron 35:20) signals that the chronicler is linking Josiah’s final actions to the sweeping reforms just described (vv. 1-19). • The reforms were genuine, nationwide, and centered on covenant renewal (cf. 2 Kings 23:21-25). • The phrase reminds readers that obedience and spiritual success do not exempt God’s people from later testing or conflict (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:12). • It also frames what follows as part of God’s historical narrative rather than an isolated political event (cf. Romans 15:4). when Josiah had set the temple in order By Passover’s end, “Josiah had set the temple in order.” • He restored proper worship, reinstituted the priestly divisions (2 Chron 35:2-5), and ensured covenant faithfulness (cf. Deuteronomy 16:1-8). • This highlights Josiah’s wholehearted devotion to the LORD (2 Kings 23:25). • The chronicler underscores that Josiah’s spiritual house was in order before he faced external opposition—an encouragement to believers to prioritize worship before warfare (cf. Matthew 6:33). Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates Pharaoh Neco II advanced north to aid the waning Assyrian empire against Babylon at Carchemish. • The Euphrates was a strategic frontier; whoever controlled it influenced the ancient Near East (cf. Jeremiah 46:2). • Egypt’s movement fulfilled prophetic warnings of northern conflict spilling southward (cf. Zephaniah 2:12; Jeremiah 25:17-19). • God’s sovereignty over national powers is evident: even pagan kings act within His purposes (Proverbs 21:1; Isaiah 10:5-7). and Josiah went out to confront him Josiah intercepted Neco at Megiddo (v. 22). • Josiah may have sought to honor his treaty obligations to Babylon or Assyria, or simply to protect Judah’s security route; Scripture does not specify motives. • Despite Neco’s claim of divine backing (vv. 21-22), Josiah pressed ahead, was mortally wounded, and died—demonstrating that even godly leaders can misread God’s timing (cf. 2 Chron 19:2). • His death ended Judah’s last surge of revival and opened the door to rapid decline and eventual exile (2 Chron 36:1-21). • Yet the narrative affirms God’s overarching plan: Josiah’s life and death both serve the covenant storyline that leads to Christ (cf. Matthew 1:10-11). summary 2 Chronicles 35:20 records a pivot point: after completing sweeping reforms, Josiah faced an unexpected international crisis. The verse teaches that spiritual faithfulness precedes, but does not preclude, earthly conflict; that God guides even pagan rulers to accomplish His purposes; and that a believer’s obedience must continually seek discernment of God’s present will. JOSIAH SLAIN IN BATTLE AGAINST NECHO KING OF EGYPT (2Chronicles 35:20-27. Comp. 2Kings 23:29-30; 3 Ezra 1:23-30).(20) After all this.--Comp. the similar, "after these matters, and this faithfulness" (2Chronicles 32:1). The phrase calls attention to the difference between the event and what might naturally have been expected. In spite of Josiah's fidelity to Jehovah, this was his end. Necho king of Egypt came up.--Kings, "In his days came up Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt." So LXX. here. Syriac, "Pharaoh the Lame, king of Egypt." Pharaoh is simply "the king;" Coptic Pouro, or Perro (pi "the," ouro or r?ro, "king"). The Hebrew spelling Pa'r?h appears to be due to an assimilation of the Egyptian word to the Hebrew p?r?'oth, "leaders" (Judges 5:1). An inscription of Assurbanipal gives a list of twenty subject kings appointed by Esarhaddon his father to bear rule in Egypt, the first name in the list being that of "Nik- sar ali Mimpi u ali Saa," i.e., "Necho, king of the city of Memphis, and the city of Sais." Assurbanipal twice reinstated this Necho (Necho I., circ. 664 B.C. ) after vanquishing Tirhakah. The Necho of our text is Necho II., who reigned circ. 610 B.C. (See the Note on 2Kings 23:29.) . . . Verse 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 (who reigned B.C. 611-595), successor of Psammetichus King of Egypt, against Cyaxares (the monarch who, with Nabo-polassar, had taken Nineveh, B.C. 625) King of Assyria (2 Kings 23:29), or King of Babylon at Circesium on the River Phrat, the head-quarters now of the united Assyrian and Babylonian power. Where the fault or sin of Josiah lay - whether he ran before he was sent, or whether, according to our following two verses, he set out against the Divine word by Necho - is certainly a question left in obscurity. Nothing is said in our history or its parallel to accredit the tale of Necho, or to discredit the heart and motive of Josiah - nothing except what silence and the result seem to say. One other clement of interest and of difficulty may be added to the question; for of the thirteen years' interval, which we have described above as one presumably of happy retrospect in certain aspects for Josiah, we know nothing from Scripture, but have every reason to suppose that during it Josiah and his kingdom had become subject, if only nominally, to Nabopolassar; so that, in offering to resist Necho of Egypt, he was offering to strengthen so far forth the royal line which did dishonour to his own country and his country's God. Upon this supposition, however, we can lay no stress.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Afterאַחֲרֵ֣י (’a·ḥă·rê) Preposition Strong's 310: The hind or following part all כָל־ (ḵāl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every this, זֹ֗את (zōṯ) Pronoun - feminine singular Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that, when אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that Josiah יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ (yō·šî·yā·hū) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2977: Josiah -- 'Yah supports', two Israelites had set הֵכִ֤ין (hê·ḵîn) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3559: To be erect the temple {in order}, הַבַּ֔יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1004: A house Neco נְכ֧וֹ (nə·ḵōw) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 5224: Neco -- a king of Egypt king מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4428: A king of Egypt מִצְרַ֛יִם (miṣ·ra·yim) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa marched up עָלָ֞ה (‘ā·lāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively to fight לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם (lə·hil·lā·ḥêm) Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle at Carchemish בְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ (bə·ḵar·kə·mîš) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3751: Carchemish -- a city on the Euphrates by עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the Euphrates, פְּרָ֑ת (pə·rāṯ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 6578: Euphrates -- a river of west Asia and Josiah יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ (yō·šî·yā·hū) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2977: Josiah -- 'Yah supports', two Israelites went out וַיֵּצֵ֥א (way·yê·ṣê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim to confront him. לִקְרָאת֖וֹ (liq·rā·ṯōw) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way Links 2 Chronicles 35:20 NIV2 Chronicles 35:20 NLT 2 Chronicles 35:20 ESV 2 Chronicles 35:20 NASB 2 Chronicles 35:20 KJV 2 Chronicles 35:20 BibleApps.com 2 Chronicles 35:20 Biblia Paralela 2 Chronicles 35:20 Chinese Bible 2 Chronicles 35:20 French Bible 2 Chronicles 35:20 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Chronicles 35:20 After all this when Josiah had prepared (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr) |
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