Single lesson
Josiah's Final Battle
2 Kings 23:28–30; 2 Chronicles 35:20–27
King Josiah went out against Neco of Egypt, was struck down at Megiddo, and Judah mourned deeply when he died.
Before you teach
After Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates. Josiah went out against him. Neco sent messengers saying he was not coming against Judah that day, but against another power he was fighting, and he warned Josiah not to oppose him. Josiah did not turn back. He disguised himself and went to fight in the valley of Megiddo. Chronicles says he did not listen to Neco’s words, which it describes as words from the mouth of God.
Describe the central teaching of Josiah's Final Battle, using two details from the reading. King Josiah went out against Neco of Egypt, was struck down at Megiddo, and Judah mourned deeply when he died.
Welcome: Josiah's Final Battle
4 minIntroduce “Josiah's Final Battle” and locate 2 Kings 23:28–30; 2 Chronicles 35:20–27. King Josiah went out against Neco of Egypt, was struck down at Megiddo, and Judah mourned deeply when he died. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
2 Kings 23:28, 2 Chronicles 35:22, 2 Chronicles 35:27
Read and explain the passage
8 minAfter Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates. Josiah went out against him. Neco sent messengers saying he was not coming against Judah that day, but against another power he was fighting, and he warned Josiah not to oppose him.
In the battle, archers shot King Josiah. He told his servants to take him away because he was seriously wounded. So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and carried him away from the fighting.
All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. Jeremiah lamented for him, and singers kept speaking of Josiah in their laments. The rest of his acts and his good deeds were written in other records.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Josiah's Final Battle”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
2 Chronicles 35:20, 2 Kings 23:29, 2 Chronicles 35:21, 2 Chronicles 35:23, 2 Chronicles 35:24, 2 Kings 23:30, 2 Chronicles 35:26, 2 Kings 23:28
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““Josiah did not turn back.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. King Josiah went out against Neco of Egypt, was struck down at Megiddo, and Judah mourned deeply when he died. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
2 Chronicles 35:22, 2 Kings 23:28, 2 Chronicles 35:20, 2 Chronicles 35:23, 2 Chronicles 35:24, 2 Kings 23:30, 2 Chronicles 35:26
Make and respond: Story sequence booklet
9 minWork on “Josiah's Final Battle: Story sequence booklet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Josiah's Final Battle” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
2 Kings 23:28, 2 Chronicles 35:22, 2 Chronicles 35:27
Closing: return to Josiah's Final Battle
3 minRevisit 2 Kings 23:28–30; 2 Chronicles 35:20–27. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Josiah's Final Battle and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
2 Kings 23:28, 2 Chronicles 35:22, 2 Chronicles 35:27
Questions to explore
“Josiah did not turn back.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
Josiah did not turn back. He disguised himself and went to fight in the valley of Megiddo. Chronicles says he did not listen to Neco’s words, which it describes as words from the mouth of God.
2 Chronicles 35:22, 2 Kings 23:28, 2 Chronicles 35:20
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “In the battle, archers shot King Josiah.”?
In the battle, archers shot King Josiah. He told his servants to take him away because he was seriously wounded. So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and carried him away from the fighting.
2 Chronicles 35:23, 2 Chronicles 35:24, 2 Kings 23:30
“All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. Jeremiah lamented for him, and singers kept speaking of Josiah in their laments. The rest of his acts and his good deeds were written in other records.
2 Chronicles 35:26, 2 Chronicles 35:24, 2 Kings 23:28
Make, think or respond
Josiah's Final Battle: Story sequence booklet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Beginning”, “What changes?”, “How it ends”.
- Read 2 Kings 23:28–30; 2 Chronicles 35:20–27. Use “Josiah's Final Battle” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Retell the account using your three panels, checking the order against the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Josiah's Final Battle connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use Josiah's Final Battle as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between Josiah's Final Battle and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 2 Kings 23:28–30; 2 Chronicles 35:20–27. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Kings 23
28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
29 In his days Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him, but Pharaoh Necoh killed him at Megiddo when he saw him.
30 His servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place.
2 Chronicles 35
20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him.
21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you today, but against the house with which I have war. God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you.”
22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
23 The archers shot at King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, because I am seriously wounded!”
24 So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, 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 lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel. Behold, they are written in the lamentations.
26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his good deeds, according to that which is written in Yahweh’s law,
27 and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.