The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 409

-106), which is alluded to by Jeremiah inheritor of the Assyrian empire, a.s indeed (vi. 1-5), Ezekiel (xxxviii., xxxix.), e.nd they regarded tl ,e Persian monarchs also perho.ps by Zepho.uia.h (ii. 6), probably (Ezra. vi. 22), a.nd therefore ge.ve him the title of " King of Assyria.." To the river belongs to it; e.e o.leo the e.tto.ck of Pso.mo.tik Euphrates. 'l'he e.uthor of Chronicles says I. upon Philistia. (Herod., ii. 105), the fe.11 tho.t "Necbo King of Egypt co.we up to of the Assyrian empire (ciro. B.o. 617), and fight o.gainst Ce.rchemish " (or "at Carche- the destruction of Nineveh: the establish- mish ") " by Euphre.tes," which shows that ment of the independence of Babylon, o.nd his design was to penetrate into Northern Syria., where Ca.rcbernish (now Jerabus) her rise to greatness ; together with the was situo.ted, with a view probably of cross- transfer of power in the central part of ing the Euphrates by the ford at Bir, or by Westem Asia., from the Assyrians to the that a.t Be.lie, into Mesopotamia.. And King Medes. Amid the dangers which beset J'osiah went a.go.inst him. It is possible him, Josiah appears to have conducted him- that Josiah ha.d accepted the position of lla.bylonian tributary after the fall r,f the self prudently, gradually extending his Assyrian kingdom, e.ncl thought himself power over Sa.maria and Galilee, without bounu to resist an attack upon his suzerain. coming into hostile collision with a.ny of Or he may simply he.ve resented the viola- the neighbouring nations, until about the tion of his territory, without his permission, year B.O. 609 or 608, when his land wa.s in- by e. foreign army. Certainly, if he ha.d allowed the free passe.ge of the Egyptian vaded by Pharaoh-Nechoh, the Neku of the troops, backwards a.nd forwards, through Egyptian monuments. Josiah felt himself his country, he would in a short time hnve ea.lied upon to resist this invasion, and, in lost even the shadow of independence. doing so, met his death (vers. 29, 30). Nechoh's e.ssuraoce that his expedition was not age.inst him ( J osia.b ), bnt against the Ver. 28.-Now the rest of the a.cts of Assyria.us (2 Chron. xxxv. 21), was not a J'osiah, and all tha.t he did. Josio.h Wtl.B thing to be relied upon, any more than his reckoned a good ro.ther than a great king. declaration the.t God had commanded his No mention is marle of his "might." The expedition. And he slew him at Megiddo, writer of Chro11icles (2 Cbron. xxxv. 26) when he had seen him. Megiddo is, be- commemorates his "kindnesses" or "his yond a.II doubt, the present El-Ledjun on good deeds." The son of Sire.eh speaks of the northern outskirt of the range of hills hie "upright" behavionr (Ecclus. xlix. 2). which separates the Plain ofEsdraelon from Josephus(' Ant. Ju<l.,' x. 4. § I) praises his that of Sho.ron. It is certainly surprising "justice" e.nd bis •• piety," a.nd says (ibicl., to find that Josiah had taken up n position x. 4. § 5) his la.tor year, were pe.ssed "in so fo.r to the north, leaving Jerusalem, o.nd, peace o.nd opulence." Are they not written indeed, a.11 J udroa, unprotected. But be in the book of tho chronicles of the kings may have thought the a.drnntages of the of J'udah 1 (see 2 Chron. xxxv. 27). position such as to compensate for a.ny ri~k Ver. 29.-In his days l'haraoh-Nechoh to the J udree.n cities, in which he wonld, Xing of Egypt went up ago.inst the Xing of of colll'Se, have left gnrrisons. Or, po•sibly, Assyria. Ncku, the "Pharaoh-Necbob" of ns Keil and Bii.hr suppose, N echoh may have this po.seage, aud the Nccos of Herodotus conveyed his troops to the Syrian coo..st by (ii. 158, 159), was the son of Pso.matik I., seo., and ho.ve landed in the Bay of Acre, a.nd succeeded his father on the throne of close to the Plain of Esdraelon. In this Egypt, probably in B.O. 610. He was one case Josiah would have no choice, but, if of the most enterprising of the later Egyptiun be opposed the Egyptian monarch a.t all, kings, aud appears to bo.ve made this ex- must ho.ve met him where he diil, in the pedition in his second or third year. The Esdro.elon pie.in, WI be entered it from the unseUled condition of Western Asio. nfter Pio.in of Acre. the Scythic invasion, o.ud the fo.11 of the Ver. 30.-And his servants carried him in Assyriau empire, seemed to give an oppor- a. oho.riot-his •• second cha.riot," according tuuity for Egypt to reclaim her old do- to the writer of Chronicles (i Chron. xxxv. miuion over Syria and Mesopotamia. The 24), which we.s probably oue kept in reserve "King of Assy1fa," a.go.inst whom Pharaoh- in cnse flight should be nccessnry, of lighter Nechoh "went up," was probo.bly Nnbopo- coustruction, o.nd drawn by fleeter horses, lo.ssar, the father of Nebuclrndnezznr. Hie tha.u bis wn.r-oho.riot-dead from Megiddo, proper title wns "King of Ba.bylou," whi~ll Wounded to denth, that is. From Chro- is what Nebuchadnezzar nlwnys culls him nicles we go.ther tho.t his wound, which was (' Recor& of the Pust,' vol. v. p.113, lino 22; from an nrrow, wns not innucdio.tely fatal vol. vii. p. 71, line 6; p. 75, line !l) ; but tho (2 Chron. xxxv. 23, 2-l); but thut he die<.! Jews not uuna.tura.lly regarded hiiu 116 the of it on hie wa.y to Jerus:ilem, or directly  460 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [on. xxm.1-87.