2 Kings 23:30

In a chariot Josiah was fatally wounded at Megiddo. He had entered the battle disguised (2 Chron. 35:22), as had Ahab in the battle against the Syrians at which he lost his life (1 Kings 22:30). When hit by an arrow, Josiah sensed the serious nature of his wound and was taken away in another chariot to Jerusalem, dying either there or on the way (see on 2 Chron. 35:24).

Buried him. The author of Chronicles adds: “All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah” (2 Chron. 35:24, 25). In contrast with the great mourning at the death of Josiah, the fate of his wicked sons was to be entirely unwept (Jer. 22:10, 18).

Jehoahaz. Jehoahaz also had the name of Shallum (1 Chron. 3:15; Jer. 22:11). Jehoiakim and not Jehoahaz was the elder son of Josiah and would normally have become king (v. 31; cf. v. 36). But for some reason the people intervened and made Jehoahaz king. Some have conjectured that there were two parties then in the land, one pro- and the other anti-Egyptian. It seems likely that Jehoiakim belonged to the former and Jehoahaz to the latter. The anti-Egyptian party prevailed and put Jehoahaz on the throne. During this time Necho was evidently in the north, on his campaign against the Babylonians at the Euphrates.