In Second Chronicles, chapter thirty-five, verse twenty-two, Necho military campaign against the emerging Babylonian world power was from the Lord. Josiah, the righteous man, failed to understand the will of God in this matter and attempted to hinder Necho’s army. Josiah’s political agenda and subsequent failure to seek out God’s will and purpose cost him his life. During his whole reign, Josiah had endeavored to carry out the will of God, while in his action against Pharaoh, on the contrary, he had acted differently, going into battle against the will of God.
Josiah, like Ahab, as in Second Chronicles eighteen, verse twenty-nine, took the warning so far seriously as to think that his life was in danger and that he would be safer fighting in disguise. Josiah changed his habit by this camouflage so that he might not give his enemies the advantage of aiming at his person, which he wisely thought they would do, that being a likely course to end their trouble, as indeed it proved.
Why did not Josiah listen to the words of Necho from the mouth of God? First, could it be which Pharaoh sent to him in the name of God? Or rather, Second, could it be which Pharaoh received from the mouth of God? Who was pleased, in some way or other, to impart his mind to him and which Pharaoh acquainted him with by the command of God. Still, Josiah receives blame for not accepting this message.
Although, if he sinned herein, it was only a sin of ignorance, for he did not know that God had spoken this to Pharaoh and was not bound to believe his testimony, which he had good reason to suspect in this matter. Yet, it seems he thought so far to have regarded it as to have inquired into the mind of God about it, which he neglected to do. How can we think to prosper in our ways if we do not acknowledge God in them?