Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 35:22
Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Josiah responds to Neco’s diplomatic warning after the Egyptian king’s messengers convey a divine directive to halt hostilities. Josiah proceeds to the Plain of Megiddo to confront Neco’s advancing army.
The words — The Hebrew הֵסֵב פָּנָיו מִמֶּנּוּ (hesib panav mimmenou) literally means “he turned his face away from him,” describing Josiah’s refusal to withdraw. The verb הִתְחַפֵּשׂ (hitkhaPesh) denotes the act of disguising oneself to engage in battle.
The thread — This refusal to heed a divine warning echoes the fatal disregard seen in Judges 5:19 and parallels the tactical disguise motif in 1 Kings 22:30 and 2 Chronicles 18:29.
Why it lands — The text states Josiah ignored Neco’s words, which were described as coming from the mouth of God, and proceeded to fight on the Plain of Megiddo. This sequence demonstrates that rejecting a clear divine directive results in irreversible action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
Cross-references
- Judges 5:19 Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver.
- 2 Chronicles 18:29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
- 1 Kings 22:30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
- 2 Chronicles 35:21 But 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, and God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”
- Joshua 9:14 Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.
- 1 Kings 14:2 and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Now get up, disguise yourself so they will not recognize you as my wife, and go to Shiloh. For Ahijah the prophet is there; it was he who spoke about my kingship over this people.
- 1 Kings 22:34 However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”
- 2 Kings 9:27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there.
- 2 Kings 23:30 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.
- 2 Chronicles 18:4 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”