In 2Ch 35:20-22, an Egyptian King commonly thought to be King Necho II shows up with an army at Israel’s front door and tells King Josiah (one of the good Judea kings) to move aside because he was on a mission from God to conquer another king, and needed to pass through in a hurry. King Josiah quite realistically rolls his eyes at this and is promptly killed in the ensuing battle. Verse 22 appears to make it clear that Necho II’s words were indeed from God.
What on Earth is going on here? Josiah is the King that tore down all of the impermissible alters, destroyed the pagan idols, teaches and enforces the laws of Moses, reconstituted temple worship, and reconstituted the Passover with one of the largest celebrations on record. God was so pleased he promised Josiah that he would forestall the kingdom’s destruction during Josiah’s lifetime. Josiah was a good king seemingly liked by God.
King Necho II was basically Napoleon circa 800 b.c. To my knowledge he was a pagan Egyptian king (his regnal name having something to do with Ra), on a campaign to conquer the east and drive out the neo-Babylonians.
How does a pagan king get word from “the Lord”, that he ought to embark on military campaign and will succeed? Why wasn’t Josiah informed by his own prophets and priests? What is going on here?
What on Earth is going on here? Josiah is the King that tore down all of the impermissible alters, destroyed the pagan idols, teaches and enforces the laws of Moses, reconstituted temple worship, and reconstituted the Passover with one of the largest celebrations on record. God was so pleased he promised Josiah that he would forestall the kingdom’s destruction during Josiah’s lifetime. Josiah was a good king seemingly liked by God.
King Necho II was basically Napoleon circa 800 b.c. To my knowledge he was a pagan Egyptian king (his regnal name having something to do with Ra), on a campaign to conquer the east and drive out the neo-Babylonians.
How does a pagan king get word from “the Lord”, that he ought to embark on military campaign and will succeed? Why wasn’t Josiah informed by his own prophets and priests? What is going on here?