2 Kings 23:30

And his seruants caried him in a charet dead from Megiddo, & brought him to Ierusalem, and buried him in his owne sepulchre: and the people of the land tooke Iehoahaz the sonne of Iosiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his fathers stead. 2 Kings 23:30 (KJV)

And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.

This verse is part of a larger narrative that describes the reigns of several kings in Judah. To fully understand its significance, we need to explore the context and the events leading up to this verse.

Historical Context: 2 Kings 23:30 occurs during the late monarchic period of the southern kingdom of Judah, after the northern kingdom had already been conquered by Assyria. The passage follows the period following the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel, when only the southern kingdom of Judah remained. Josiah is presented in the biblical account as a righteous king who instituted religious reforms in the land.

The Death of Josiah:

In the preceding verses (2 Kings 23:28‑29), the Bible records that Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt went to meet foreign forces. Josiah, mistakenly believing that Necho was advancing against Judah, confronted him in battle at Megiddo. Josiah was fatally wounded by an arrow and was slain at Megiddo, and his servants carried his dead body back to Jerusalem for burial.

The Rise of Jehoahaz:

After Josiah’s death, the people of the land took his son Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum) and anointed him as king in his father’s place. The biblical text does not specify why Jehoahaz was chosen over his brothers, including Jehoiakim.

The Reign of Jehoahaz:

The subsequent verses in 2 Kings describe the short and troubled reign of Jehoahaz. He reigned for only three months in Jerusalem before Pharaoh Necho returned, deposed him, and placed Jehoiakim on the throne instead. Jehoahaz was taken captive to Egypt, where he died in captivity.

Overall, 2 Kings 23:30 captures the aftermath of Josiah’s death, the people’s response in making Jehoahaz king, and the swift political changes that followed. It underscores the fleeting nature of human power and the consequences of disobedience to God, as the subsequent events reveal the continuing decline of the kingdom of Judah.