The Death of Josiah at Megiddo

During the days of King Josiah, Pharaoh Neco, the king of Egypt, traveled toward the Euphrates River to assist the king of Assyria. In response to this movement, King Josiah went out to meet him (2 Kings 23:29). The text does not say why Josiah initiated this encounter or what words, if any, were exchanged between the two leaders before their meeting at Megiddo.

Upon encountering the king of Judah at Megiddo, Pharaoh Neco killed him as soon as he saw him (2 Kings 23:29). The text does not say the specific method of execution or the details of any battle that may have occurred. Following the death of the king, his servants carried his body in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:30).

After arriving in Jerusalem, the servants brought Josiah to his own sepulcher, where he was buried. The people of the land then took Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, and anointed him to succeed his father as king (2 Kings 23:30). The text does not say how the population reacted to the death beyond the immediate transition of power to the next monarch in Jerusalem.