20After all this that Josiah had prepared for the house, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and he came out to confront Josiah.21He sent messengers to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah? This day is not against you, for the battle is mine, and God has told me to hasten; cease from opposing God who is with me, lest he destroy you."22Josiah did not turn his face away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight against him, and he did not listen to the words of Neco that came from the mouth of God; instead he went to fight in the valley of Megiddo.23The archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am severely wounded."24So his servants removed him from the chariot and placed him in the second chariot that belonged to him; they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.25Jeremiah composed a lament concerning Josiah, and all the singers, both men and women, spoke of Josiah in their laments to this day; they made it a custom in Israel, and indeed these laments are written in the book of laments.26As for the rest of the acts of Josiah and his faithful deeds, they are written in the law of the LORD,27and his first and last words are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Chapter 36
1Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in place of his father in Jerusalem.