Log inSign up

2 Chronicles 35 · a question people ask

Neco was the king of Egypt. Were his words really from God?

In the text

The chapter says so in its own voice: Josiah "didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God" (35:22). Neco had said, "God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you" (35:21). In both verses the word is God; the chapter doesn't put the name the LORD in Neco's mouth. It doesn't say how Neco came to have the word, how Josiah could have known it was from God, or why Josiah went out, and these notes don't guess. Three other verses of 2 Chronicles are set beside it as they stand. When a prophet warned Amaziah, the king said, "Stop! Why should you be struck down?" (25:16), and later "Amaziah would not listen; for it was of God" (25:20). And at the book's end, "the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia" (36:22).

The verses

“But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you today, but against the house with which I have war. God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you.” Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.”
2 Chronicles 35:21-22 · World English Bible
“As he talked with him, the king said to him, “Have we made you one of the king’s counselors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.””
2 Chronicles 25:16 · World English Bible
“But Amaziah would not listen; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom.”
2 Chronicles 25:20 · World English Bible
“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the LORD’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,”
2 Chronicles 36:22 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 35

2 Chronicles 35: Prepare for your brothers

Josiah's Passover is a chapter of preparing: the Hebrew verb for prepare comes eight times, and the Levites prepared for their brothers, the priests and the singers (35:14-15). Then the king who "had prepared the temple" (35:20) "didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God" (35:22), disguised himself as Ahab once had (18:29), and died.

In Favor, questions like this come up right where they arise as you read, with the Hebrew and Greek behind the words and how the chapter leads to Jesus.

Start your free week2 Chronicles 35 Bible study

First week free, then $10 a month per person

More questions about 2 Chronicles 35

All questions about 2 Chronicles →

The best way to learn the Bible

Favor opens up every chapter as you read.

Favor is a Bible study app for your phone or computer. It takes you through the Bible one chapter at a time, a few minutes a day, and shows you what's really there: the words behind the words, the moments most people miss, and how the whole story fits together. For you. For everyone.

  • Every chapter explains itself

    As you read, short notes open up what's really going on, the details most readers walk past, and the honest questions people ask.

  • The Hebrew and Greek behind it

    Tap a highlighted word to see the original, how to say it, and what it means, checked against the original-language texts.

  • Every page leads to Jesus

    Watch promises made in Genesis kept in Jesus. Each line lights up on your map as you read.

  • Better together

    Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together.

  1. 1

    Start your free week

    Sign up in a minute with your email.

  2. 2

    Read a few minutes a day

    Each chapter opens itself up as you go. Tap what you're curious about.

  3. 3

    Bring your people, if you like

    Send one link. Everyone reads the same chapter, then meets to talk.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person

Questions like this, in every chapter

The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.

There's a seat for you at the table.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person · Log in

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions