Overall Theme: King Josiah-The Young Reformer Talk #5 – Death & Decline (2 Chron. 35:20-27)

God’s Summary of Josiah’s Life 2 Kings 23:25 ¶ And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 26 Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.

THE DEATH OF JOSIAH Archaeology has facilitated a correct translation of the passage dealing with Josiah’s death and revealed the reason for Pharaoh-Necho’s advance toward the Euphrates. Heretofore in the absence of an archaeological clue the phrase “Pharaoh-Necho went up to the King of Assyria” has been wrongly translated “went up against”. While the Hebrew preposition “al” here means against, the historical context shows that in this passage it has one of its more specialised meanings. Historians used to be perplexed as to why Josiah advanced against Necho when the Pharaoh was on his way to fight Assyria, the ancient enemy of the Hebrews. The Babylonian chronicle published by C.J.Gadd in 1923 has put the whole matter in a new light and shows that Pharaoh-Necho did not advance against Assyria at all, but went to his aid. Upon Ashurbanipal’s death in 633 BC the Assyrian empire declined rapidly. In 612 BC Nineveh fell under attack by a coalition of Babylonians, Medes and Scythians. A remnant of the Assyrian army fled west to Haran and made it a temporary capital.

THE DEATH OF JOSIAH The King of Egypt, Pharaoh-Necho, accordingly came to help the Assyrian remnant and their king Ashuruballit, who stood at bay for several years at Carchemish under the combined attacks of the Medes and the Babylonians. Josiah, no lover of Assyria, and not wishing any aid to reach the hard- pressed Assyrians, went to Megiddo to stop Necho, but was killed by the Egyptian. Necho in turn was overwhelmingly defeated when he eventually clashed with Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish on the Euphrates in 605 BC. With the battle of Carchemish, two ancient empires passed away forever, and Egypt never again became a first rate power. The magnificent city of Carchemish, with a long and brilliant career behind it, was utterly destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and lay buried under desert dust until modern excavations brought its interesting monuments to the light of day. Archaeology and the Old Testament Merril F Unger

Ancient Propaganda! 2 Kings 18:25 Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. 28 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: 31 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:

Josiah – a type of Christ JosiahChrist Prophesied before Birth1 Kg 13:2Lk 1:32 Son of David2 Kg 22:2Matt 1:1 Sought God in his youth2 Chr 34:3Lk 2:49 Cleansed the Temple2 Chr 34:3-7Jn 2:13-16 Cleansed the Temple again2 Chr 34:8Mk 11:15-17 Zeal for House of God2 Kg 22:3-9John 2:17 Condemned idolatry & hypocrisy2 Chr 34:7Matt 23 Impending disaster foretold2 Kg 22:16-17Mk 13

JosiahChrist Sought lost sheep of Israel2 Chr 35:18Lk. 15 Prepared a House2 Chr 35:2-3John 14:2 Prepared a Passover2 Chr 35:1Mk 14:15 Provided Passover lamb2 Chr 35:71 Cor 5:7 Instituted a new covenant2 Chr 34:30-33Mk 14:24 A unique man2 Kg 23:25John 1:14 Demonstrated Father’s character2 Chr 35:26John 14:9 Never turned to left or right2 Kg 22:21 Pet 2:22 Turned to God with all his heart, soul, might 2 Kg 23:25Heb 10:7 Died in saving his people2 Chr 35:24Heb 2:9-15 Nation mourned his death2 Chr 35:25Zech 12:10-11

Josiah’s Sons Name of KingOther names Relationship to Josiah Length of Reign Jehoahaz (aged 23) Chosen by the people Shallum (Jer.22:11) Son 3 months Taken to Egypt Eliakim (aged 25) Set up by Pharaoh Jehoiakim Named by Pharaoh Son 11 years Taken to Babylon Jehoiachin (aged 18) Set up by Neb Jeconiah or Coniah Grandson 3 months & 10 days Taken to Babylo n Mattaniah (aged 21) Set up by Neb Zedekiah Named by Neb Son 11 years Taken to Babylon

SUMMARY & LESSONS Rid your life of things offensive to God Seek God with all your heart, soul and might Learn from the examples of others Be willing to “lay down your life” for others Follow the example of Jesus – manifest His character! Be ready for the Return of Christ and the re- establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth! If we walk away from the life of King Josiah after this week UNCHANGED, then we have not come to grips with what he was fighting against!