(כח) וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃ (כט) בְּיָמָ֡יו עָלָה֩ פַרְעֹ֨ה נְכֹ֧ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם עַל־מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּׁ֖וּר עַל־נְהַר־פְּרָ֑ת וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ וַיְמִיתֵ֙הוּ֙ בִּמְגִדּ֔וֹ כִּרְאֹת֖וֹ אֹתֽוֹ׃ (ל) וַיַּרְכִּבֻ֨הוּ עֲבָדָ֥יו מֵת֙ מִמְּגִדּ֔וֹ וַיְבִאֻ֙הוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֖הוּ בִּקְבֻֽרָת֑וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח עַם־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־יְהֽוֹאָחָז֙ בֶּן־יֹ֣אשִׁיָּ֔הוּ וַיִּמְשְׁח֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֹת֖וֹ תַּ֥חַת אָבִֽיו׃ (פ)
(28) Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? (29) In his days Pharaoh-necoh king of Egypt went up on the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates; and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. (30) 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.
Pharoah Necho (Egypt) goes up to Assyria, Yoshiyhau, king of Judah, makes a stand at Megiddo against Pharaoh Necho: Either for a political reason or spiritual
Pharaoh kills Yoshiyahu. Yoshiyahu is buried in Jerusalem and his son is appointed by the people
1. Who is Pharoah Necho? He is the king of Egypt
2. Why is Pharoah Necho going up to the King of Assyria? He goes
3. Why is King Yoshiyahu (Josiah) going up against Pharoah Necho?
4. Why does Pharoah Necho kill Yoshiyahu at Megiddo?
In order to understand these events we will have to look at the following map.
(ו) וְנָתַתִּ֤י שָׁלוֹם֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּ֖ם וְאֵ֣ין מַחֲרִ֑יד וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֞י חַיָּ֤ה רָעָה֙ מִן־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְחֶ֖רֶב לֹא־תַעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם׃
If we look at it from a spititual understanding...(6) And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; and I will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
Reformed the Jews and brought
Yoshiyahu incorrectly believes the Jews have sincerely repented returned to G-d. Due to this he takes steps to make sure "no sword will pass through the land of Israel" in accordance with Vayikra
Here's the deal: Pharoah Necho was the King of Egypt. He wanted to aid Assyria, which was his ally. In order to do that, he had to pass through Israel's land. King Josiah did not want to allow Pharoah Necho to go through his land (either because he simply didn't want an army passing through as based on ויקרא or because his foreign policy was such that he wanted to destroy Assyria's influence and thought that if Assyria got conquered by Babylon, that would be a good thing; thus he couldn't allow this Egyptian king to go aid Assyria). Due to this, Josiah decides to stand off against Pharoah Necho to prevent Pharoah Necho from passing through his territory. He loses this confrontation and dies.
(כ) אַחֲרֵ֣י כָל־זֹ֗את אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵכִ֤ין יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת עָלָ֞ה נְכ֧וֹ מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם בְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ עַל־פְּרָ֑ת וַיֵּצֵ֥א לִקְרָאת֖וֹ יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ (כא) וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אֵלָ֣יו מַלְאָכִ֣ים ׀ לֵאמֹר֩ ׀ מַה־לִּ֨י וָלָ֜ךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה לֹא־עָלֶ֨יךָ אַתָּ֤ה הַיּוֹם֙ כִּ֚י אֶל־בֵּ֣ית מִלְחַמְתִּ֔י וֵאלֹהִ֖ים אָמַ֣ר לְבַֽהֲלֵ֑נִי חֲדַל־לְךָ֛ מֵאֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־עִמִּ֖י וְאַל־יַשְׁחִיתֶֽךָ׃ (כב) וְלֹֽא־הֵסֵב֩ יֹאשִׁיָּ֨הוּ פָנָ֜יו מִמֶּ֗נּוּ כִּ֤י לְהִלָּחֵֽם־בּוֹ֙ הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֛ע אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י נְכ֖וֹ מִפִּ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֕א לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בְּבִקְעַ֥ת מְגִדּֽוֹ׃ (כג) וַיֹּרוּ֙ הַיֹּרִ֔ים לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ לַעֲבָדָיו֙ הַעֲבִיר֔וּנִי כִּ֥י הָחֳלֵ֖יתִי מְאֹֽד׃ (כד) וַיַּֽעֲבִירֻ֨הוּ עֲבָדָ֜יו מִן־הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֗ה וַֽיַּרְכִּיבֻהוּ֮ עַ֣ל רֶ֣כֶב הַמִּשְׁנֶה֮ אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֒ וַיּוֹלִיכֻ֙הוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיָּ֕מָת וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּקִבְר֣וֹת אֲבֹתָ֑יו וְכָל־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם מִֽתְאַבְּלִ֖ים עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ׃ (פ) (כה) וַיְקוֹנֵ֣ן יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ֒ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ כָֽל־הַשָּׁרִ֣ים ׀ וְ֠הַשָּׁרוֹת בְּקִינ֨וֹתֵיהֶ֤ם עַל־יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ עַד־הַיּ֔וֹם וַיִּתְּנ֥וּם לְחֹ֖ק עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהִנָּ֥ם כְּתוּבִ֖ים עַל־הַקִּינֽוֹת׃ (כו) וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ וַחֲסָדָ֑יו כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃ (כז) וּדְבָרָ֕יו הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֔ים עַל־סֵ֥פֶר מַלְכֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וִיהוּדָֽה׃
(20) After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. (21) But he sent ambassadors to him, saying: ‘What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war; and God hath given command to speed me; forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that He destroy thee not.’ (22) 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 Neco, from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. (23) And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants: ‘Have me away; for I am sore wounded.’ (24) So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. (25) And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations, unto this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel; and, behold, they are written in the lamentations. (26) Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds, according to that which is written in the Law of the LORD, (27) and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
1. Yoshiyahu vs. Phoarah Nacho at Meggido
2. Phorah Nacho vs. Baval at Car Camim and Assyria
1. What dialogue do we find in כתובים that is missing from מלכים? We have a scene where Pharaoh Necho explicitly tells Yoshiyhau his quarrel is not with him and he has no interest in fighting with him
2. What exactly happened to יאשיהו? He is disguised, shot, bleeds out and dies
3. Where does יאשיהו end up being buried?
Jerusalem
4. What is ירמיהו's response to יאשיהו's death? Why do you think he is so affected?Very upset - moaning and laments. Possibly because he has lost his ally in the cause to bring Jews back to G-d
מפני מה נענש יאשיהו מפני שהיה לו לימלך בירמיהו ולא נמלך מאי דרש (ויקרא כו, ו) וחרב לא תעבור בארצכם מאי חרב אילימא חרב שאינה של שלום והכתיב ונתתי שלום בארץ אלא אפילו של שלום והוא אינו יודע שאין דורו דומה יפה כי הוה ניחא נפשיה חזא ירמיהו שפוותיה דקא מרחשן אמר שמא ח"ו מילתא דלא מהגנא אמר אגב צעריה גחין ושמעיה דקא מצדיק עליה דינא אנפשיה אמר (איכה א, יח) צדיק הוא ה' כי פיהו מריתי פתח עליה ההיא שעתא (איכה ד, כ) רוח אפינו משיח ה':
Steinsaltz, Volume 14, pp. 107-109 as found here.
“For the sword [the alarm is sounded]”. Our Rabbis taught: “[Regarding] the sword of which they spoke, it is not necessary to mention a sword that is not of peace but even a sword of peace. For you do not have a sword more peaceful than [that of] Pharaoh Necho and even so King Josiah came to grief on account of it, as it is said, “And he sent messengers to him, saying: What have I to do with you, King of Judah? Not against you do I come this day but against the house with which I am at war; and God commanded me to make haste; Forbear from interfering with God, who is with me, so that he will not destroy you. (II Chronicles 35:20-22)” What is [meant by] “God who is with me”? Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: This [means] idols. [Josiah] said: “Since he trusts in idolatry, I can [defeat] him.” “And the archers shot at King Josiah and the king said to his servants. Move me away for I am very seriously wounded. (II Chronicles 35:23)” What is [meant by] “for I am very seriously wounded”? Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: This teaches that they made his entire body like a sieve. Rabbi Shmuel bar Nahmani said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: Why was Josiah punished? Because he should have consulted with Jeremiah, but he did not consult [with him]. What did he expound? “[And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lied down and none shall make you afraid; and I will remove evil beasts from the land.] And a sword shall not go through your land. (Leviticus 26:6)” What is [meant by] “a sword”? If we say: A sword that is not of peace but surely it is written: “And I will give peace in the land [which must mean swords of war will not appear in the land].”! Rather, even [a sword] of peace. But he [Josiah] did not know that his generation did not appear worthy [of receiving these blessings mentioned in Leviticus]. 2 When [Josiah] was dying, Jeremiah saw that his lips were moving [and] said: “Perhaps, God forbid, he is saying something improper on account of his pain.” He bent over and heard [Josiah] justifying the judgment on himself, saying: “The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against His word. (Lamentations 1:18)” [Jeremiah] began [his tribute] over him at that hour: “The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord [was trapped in their pits. (Lamentations 4:20)”
He believes he was was living in a t time where the promise in Vayikra wshould come true (where the people were righteous enough for that to happen)
2. Why did Yoshiyahu think he would win that battle?
Because he thought that he and the Jews had G-d on their side while Pharaoh Necho had idols
3. What was Yoshiyahu unaware of (in terms of his people/ the nation he governed)?
4. What ought he to have done instead?
(נג) צדיק הוא ה' כי פיהו מריתי מי אמרו לפסוק? זה יאשיהו אמרה. הדא הוא דכתיב: (ד"ה ב' ל"ה) אחרי כל זאת אשר הכין יאשיהו את הבית, עלה נכו להלחם בכרכמיש על פרת. בקרקסיון דעל פרת וישלח אליו מלאכים לאמר מה לי ולך מלך יהודה, לא עליך אתה היום כי אל בית מלחמתי ואלהים אמר לבהלני. מפי הקדוש ברוך הוא אני עולה. (שם) חדל לך מאלהים אשר עמי. זה לשון עבודת כוכבים. ולא הסב יאשיהו פניו, ולא שמע אל דברי נכו מפי אלהים. זה ירמיהו שאמר ליאשיהו: כך מקובלני מישעיה רבי, (ישעיה י"ט) וסכסכתי מצרים במצרים. ולא שמע לו, אלא אמר לו: משה רבה דרבך לא כך אמר: (ויקרא כ"ו) וחרב לא תעבור בארצכם, וחרבו של אותו רשע עוברת בארצי ובתחומי. והוא לא היה יודע שכל דורו עובדי עבודת כוכבים היו? הוה משלח זוג תלמידים למיבערא עבודת כוכבים מבתיהון, והוון עללין ולא משכחין כלום. עד דנפקון אמרון טרודו תרעין מן דהוון טרדין לתרעיה, הוון חמן יתיה אמרו עליהון: מן דאתא ותיקן הוא, דאתא וקלקל לפיכך, (דה"ב ל"ה) ויורו היורים למלך יאשיהו אמר רבי מני: שלש מאות חצים הורו בו, עד שנעשה גופו ככברה, והיה ירמיהו מצית אחריו לידע מהו אומר, ומה היה אומר? צדיק הוא ה' כי פיהו מריתי, פיהו ופום סרסורו.
How could it be Yoshiyhaudidn't know that the Jews were all worshipping idols? He actually send a squad of people (talmudim) to go check for idolatry in people's houses. When they would go they wouldn't find any because the Jews would set it up so the idol was painted on two backs of a door when the doors when open you didn't see anything but when they were closed the formed an idol.
This explains how Yoshiyhau were misinformed because he thought the Jews were righteous but the idols were hidden and he didn't know.
"The sin of the wicked ones of his generation cleaved to him" says the paytan. In spite of all his accomplishments, the Midrash says that the people of his time could not be completely torn away from idol worship. They did not worship idols publicly because Josiah had destroyed all their temples, their shrines, their cultic sites. But they used to hide it and fool him, worshipping clandestinely, surreptitiously, behind closed doors. King Josiah, like any melekh Yisrael, was responsible for every sin of his people, even if the sin was not known to him. A leader is responsible for the sins of his community, even for matters of which he is not aware, and which, therefore, he cannot correct. There is no mitigating circumstance that may save the leader from being punished. He should have known; He was, after all, a melekh Yisrael.
Here one sees how enormous and frightening is the responsiblity of the Jewish leader. "If the anointed priest should sin, bringing guilt upon the people..." (Lev 4:3). He is responsible not only for the sins committed by the people in public that he can eliminate or change, but even for those committed clandestinely. Sometimes the leader is the sacrifice or offering that Ha-Kadosh Baruch Hu demands from the generation. This is the principle of "the death of the righteous is an atonement" (Tanhuma Buber Aharei Mot 10). This is the only reason he died.
As the king, Josiah was responsible for many things for which we would not have been held responsible. Responsibility is measured, always, by the greatness of the person; the small or ordinary person is not as responsible as the great person. We have already seen this in the context of the sin committed by Moses.
The same is true with Josiah. He was not a prophet, not a mind-reader. How could he know that some wicked people had their idols hidden away in their attic, in the cellar, in the basement? But still, he should have known. A leader has to know. And that is why he was punished.
(ל) וַיַּרְכִּבֻ֨הוּ עֲבָדָ֥יו מֵת֙ מִמְּגִדּ֔וֹ וַיְבִאֻ֙הוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֖הוּ בִּקְבֻֽרָת֑וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח עַם־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־יְהֽוֹאָחָז֙ בֶּן־יֹ֣אשִׁיָּ֔הוּ וַיִּמְשְׁח֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֹת֖וֹ תַּ֥חַת אָבִֽיו׃ (פ) (לא) בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְשָׁלֹ֤שׁ שָׁנָה֙ יְהוֹאָחָ֣ז בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה חֳדָשִׁ֔ים מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ חֲמוּטַ֥ל בַּֽת־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ מִלִּבְנָֽה׃ (לב) וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֖וּ אֲבֹתָֽיו׃
(30) 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. (31) Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. (32) And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.
Yehoachaz
2. How old is he when he begins to rule?
23
3. Does he follow in his father's footsteps or not?
Nope - he's evil
(לג) וַיַּאַסְרֵהוּ֩ פַרְעֹ֨ה נְכֹ֤ה בְרִבְלָה֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֲמָ֔ת במלך [מִמְּלֹ֖ךְ] בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיִּתֶּן־עֹ֙נֶשׁ֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵאָ֥ה כִכַּר־כֶּ֖סֶף וְכִכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב׃
(33) And Pharaoh-necoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a fine of a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
He binds him up in chains and puts him in prison.
2. From a foreign policy angle, why might that be?
Pharaoh NEcho is turing Israel into a vassal state of Egypt
3. What tribute does מלכות יהודה now need to pay Pharoah Necho?
100 talents of silver and 1 talent of gold
(לד) וַיַּמְלֵךְ֩ פַּרְעֹ֨ה נְכֹ֜ה אֶת־אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֗הוּ תַּ֚חַת יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ אָבִ֔יו וַיַּסֵּ֥ב אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ יְהוֹיָקִ֑ים וְאֶת־יְהוֹאָחָ֣ז לָקָ֔ח וַיָּבֹ֥א מִצְרַ֖יִם וַיָּ֥מָת שָֽׁם׃ (לה) וְהַכֶּ֣סֶף וְהַזָּהָ֗ב נָתַ֤ן יְהוֹיָקִים֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה אַ֚ךְ הֶעֱרִ֣יךְ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ לָתֵ֥ת אֶת־הַכֶּ֖סֶף עַל־פִּ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה אִ֣ישׁ כְּעֶרְכּ֗וֹ נָגַ֞שׂ אֶת־הַכֶּ֤סֶף וְאֶת־הַזָּהָב֙ אֶת־עַ֣ם הָאָ֔רֶץ לָתֵ֖ת לְפַרְעֹ֥ה נְכֹֽה׃ (ס)
(34) And Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim; but he took Jehoahaz away; and he came to Egypt, and died there. (35) And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh; he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-necoh.
He's a puppet king who does whatever Pharaoh Necho wants
2. What happens to יהואחז?
He goes down in his chains to Egypt and he eventually dies there. Shows what can happen if you don't listen
2. What's the significance of Pharoah Necho changing the new king's name?
Shows power
3. How does יהויקים act towards Pharoah Necho?
He complies: He taxes the people heavily to raise the tribute Pharaoh Necho wants.
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(לו) בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֤שׁ שָׁנָ֨ה יְהוֹיָקִ֣ים בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ וְאַחַ֤ת עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ זבידה [זְבוּדָּ֥ה] בַת־פְּדָיָ֖ה מִן־רוּמָֽה׃ (לז) וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֖וּ אֲבֹתָֽיו׃
(36) Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. (37) And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.
Means he isn't going to be interested in fixing the status quo and getting rid of idolatry
2. How is this going to impact ירמיהו's job as prophet?