II Kings 23:20

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II Kings 23:20

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Last time, we ended herePhase I of “Clean up” Complete

• (2 Ki 23:20 NKJV) He executed all the priests of the high places who were there, on the altars, and burned men's bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem.

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Now Restore Worship• (2 Ki 23:21 NKJV) Then the king commanded

all the people, saying, "Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant."

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Such a Passover• (2 Ki 23:22-23 NKJV) Such a Passover surely

had never been held since the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah. {23} But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was held before the LORD in Jerusalem.

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A verse, not clear on all points

• (2 Ki 23:24 NKJV) Moreover Josiah put away those who consulted mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

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An alternative reading• (2 Ki 23:24 NASB) Moreover, Josiah removed

the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

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The Questions:

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The Questions:• Who was removed?

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The Questions:• Who was removed?• The mediums, etc., or

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The Questions:• Who was removed?• The mediums, etc., or • Those who consulted them?

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The Questions:• Who was removed?• The mediums, etc., or • Those who consulted them?• How were they removed?

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The Questions:• Who was removed?• The mediums, etc., or • Those who consulted them?• How were they removed?• The dictionary is not a lot of help this time.

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BDB Definition:• 1) to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled (verb)• 1a) (Qal)– 1a1) to begin to burn, be kindled, start burning– 1a2) to burn, be burning– 1a3) to burn, consume– 1a4) Jehovah’s wrath, human wrath (figuratively)– 1c3) to consume (destroy)

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What a tribute!• (2 Ki 23:25 NKJV) Now before him there was

no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.

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I’m reminded of the first commandment

• (Mat 22:37-38 NKJV) Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' {38} "This is the first and great commandment.

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Manasseh still not atoned for

• (2 Ki 23:26 NKJV) Nevertheless the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.

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Judah will fall• (2 Ki 23:27 NKJV) And the LORD said, "I will

also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, 'My name shall be there.'"

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The end comes for Josiah• (2 Ki 23:28 NKJV) Now the rest of the acts of

Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

• So we will look at what Chronicles may add to what we know.

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Josiah & Pharaoh Necho in Chronicles

• (2 Chr 35:20-27 NKJV) 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.

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Carchemish & Jerusalem

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Josiah & Pharaoh Necho in Chronicles

• (2 Chr 35:20-27 NKJV) {21} But he sent messengers to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you."

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Matthew Henry’s Comments

• I. Josiah was a very good prince, yet he was much to be blamed for his rashness and presumption in going out to war against the king of Egypt without cause or call. It was bad enough, as it appeared in the Kings, that he meddled with strife which belonged not to him. But here [Chronicles] it looks worse; for, it seems, the king of Egypt sent ambassadors to him, to warn him against this enterprise,

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Matthew Henry’s Comments

• The king of Egypt argued with Josiah, (1.) From principles of justice. He professed that he had no desire to do him any hurt, and therefore it was unfair, against common equity and the law of nations, for Josiah to take up arms against him. If even a righteous man engage in an unrighteous cause, let him not expect to prosper. God is no respecter of persons. See Pro_3:30; Pro_25:8.

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Verses cited by Matthew Henry

• (Prov 3:30 NKJV) Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

• (Prov 25:8 NKJV) Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame?

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Perhaps a better reading• (2 Chr 35:21 NIV) But Neco sent messengers

to him, saying, "What quarrel is there between you and me, O king of Judah? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you."

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Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown• But he sent ambassadors ... “What have I to

do with thee, thou king of Judah?” — Not wishing to spend time, or strength in vain, Necho informed the king of Judah that he had no intention of molesting the Jews; that his expedition was directed solely against his old Assyrian enemy; and that he had undertaken it by an express commission from God.

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Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown• Commentators are not agreed whether it was

really a divine commission given him through Jeremiah, or whether he merely used the name of God as an authority that Josiah would not refuse to obey. As he could not know the truth of Necho’s declaration, Josiah did not sin in opposing him; or, if he sinned at all, it was a sin of ignorance. [Nevertheless, the teaching in Proverbs still applies. HLP]

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Josiah & Pharaoh Necho in Chronicles

• (2 Chr 35:20-25 NKJV) {22} Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.

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Megiddo – Its location

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Josiah & Pharaoh Necho in Chronicles

• (2 Chr 35:20-25 NKJV) {23} And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am severely wounded." {24} His servants therefore took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem. So he died, and was buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

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Josiah & Pharaoh Necho in Chronicles

• (2 Chr 35:20-25 NKJV) {25} Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And to this day all the singing men and the singing women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. They made it a custom in Israel; and indeed they are written in the Laments.

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Josiah is killed by Pharaoh Necho

• (2 Ki 23:29 NKJV) In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went to the aid of the king of Assyria, to the River Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him. And Pharaoh Necho killed him at Megiddo when he confronted him.

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Megiddo – The end

• (Rev 16:16-21 NKJV) And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. [from Megiddo] {17} Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!”

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Megiddo – The end

• (Rev 16:16-21 NKJV) {18} And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. {19} Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

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Megiddo – The end

• (Rev 16:16-21 NKJV) {20} Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. {21} And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

• (Rev 16:21 NASB) And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each,

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Does this relate to Josiah?• (Zep 1:1-7 NKJV) The word of the LORD

which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. {2} "I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land," Says the LORD;

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Does this relate to Josiah?• (Zep 1:1-7 NKJV) {3} "I will consume man and

beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land," Says the LORD. {4} "I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests;

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Does this relate to Josiah?• (Zep 1:1-7 NKJV {5} Those who worship the

host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, But who also swear by Milcom; {6} Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him." {7} Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.

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Jehoahaz becomes king• (2 Ki 23:30 NKJV) Then his servants moved

his body in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in his father's place.

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Jehoram

Zechariah 753-752Shallum 752Menahem 752-742Pekahiah 742-740Pekah 740-732 Jothan 740-732Hoshea 732-721 Ahaz 732-716

Hezekiah 716-687Manasseh 687-642Amon 642-640Josiah 640-608Jehoahaz 608

Jehoahaz becomes king• (2 Ki 23:31 NKJV) Jehoahaz was twenty-three

years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

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“He did evil” – he will pay

• (2 Ki 23:32 NKJV) And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

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Pharaoh Necho takes over• (2 Ki 23:33 NKJV) Now Pharaoh Necho put

him in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and he imposed on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

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Adam Clarke’s Comments: “Nechoh put him in bands” - But what was

the cause of his putting him in bands? It is conjectured, and not without reason, that Jehoahaz, otherwise called Shallum, raised an army, met Nechoh in his return from Carchemish, fought, was beaten, taken prisoner, put in chains; and taken into Egypt, where he died;

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Necho takes over• (2 Ki 23:34 NKJV) Then Pharaoh Necho made

Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Pharaoh took Jehoahaz and went to Egypt, and he died there.

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Jehoram

Shallum 752Menahem 752-742Pekahiah 742-740Pekah 740-732 Jothan 740-732Hoshea 732-721 Ahaz 732-716

Hezekiah 716-687Manasseh 687-642Amon 642-640Josiah 640-608Jehoahaz 608Jehoiakim 608-597

Judah is governed by Egypt• (2 Ki 23:35 NKJV) So Jehoiakim gave the

silver and gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give money according to the command of Pharaoh; he exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land, from every one according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Necho.

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Jehoiakim’s rather short reign

• (2 Ki 23:36 NKJV) Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

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He did evil, and it is almost over

• (2 Ki 23:37 NKJV) And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

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II Kings 24 & 25 will close

Kings

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II Kings 24 begins this way• (2 Ki 24:1 NKJV) In his days Nebuchadnezzar

king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.

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What can we say?

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What can we say?• Sometimes past errors come back to hurt us.

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What can we say?• Sometimes past errors come back to hurt us.• Great men like Josiah can make serious

mistakes in their decisions.

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What can we say?• Sometimes past errors come back to hurt us.• Great men like Josiah can make serious

mistakes in their decisions.• God is the God of the universe and

sometimes uses “less noble nations” to punish those we think belong to Him.

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What can we say?• Sometimes past errors come back to hurt us.• Great men like Josiah can make serious

mistakes in their decisions.• God is the God of the universe and

sometimes uses “less noble nations” to punish those we think belong to Him.

• We need to always be humble: seeking God’s guidance for ourselves, our nation & church.

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