# Day 171

# The Death of Josiah

2 Chronicles 34:22–35:27

The Lord speaks,” said Huldah the prophetess. “ ‘Tell the man who sent you that I’ll bring disaster. This place will know all the curses written in the law. Judah has left me and made offerings to other gods. This has pushed me to anger. My endless rage will pour out on this place. But the king of Judah’s heart was good toward me. He’ll die in peace. Josiah won’t see the disaster I’ll bring here.’ ”

King Josiah called the priests, princes, and people to the temple. He read to them the book of the law. Then they all promised to serve the Lord and keep his law. They kept this promise while Josiah lived.

The kingdom of Judah was a part of the great empire of Assyria. But Assyria was getting weak. Pharaoh Necho of Egypt passed through Judah to attack Assyria. “I’ve nothing against you,” he told Josiah. “So don’t stand in my way, or you’ll be destroyed.”

But Josiah and his army met Egypt in battle. The king was killed in his chariot, brought to Jerusalem, and buried. The prophet Jeremiah and all the people mourned for the last hope of Judah.

Questions: Why did God say he’d bring disaster to Judah? Why did Huldah say that Josiah would die in peace?