II Chronicles 35:22 Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.” 24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds according to what 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.
Josiah, like Hezekiah, had made a lot of good choices in restoring worship, the Passover, and obedience to God and His Word. For whatever reason, when Neco came through the region (as Egypt often did in going to battle with their enemies, Josiah decided to try to stop him. There was no need. There was no seeking God for direction. Notice the effect on the nation: long-lasting laments. People looked back on this decision as a turning point: the revival under Josiah ended abruptly and Judah was never the same again. May we take heed.
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