Page 743 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_07_MacArthur_Bible_July.qxd 8/8/03 16:07 Page 724

JULY 19
16 So all the service of the LORD was prepared 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his
the same day, to keep the Passover and to goodness, according to what was written in
27
offer burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, the Law of the LORD, and his deeds from first
according to the command of King Josiah. to last, indeed they are written in the book of
17 And the children of Israel who were present the kings of Israel and Judah.
kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast Then the people of the land took
18
of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There 36 Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made
had been no Passover kept in Israel like that him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
since the days of Samuel the prophet; and 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he
none of the kings of Israel had kept such a became king, and he reigned three months in
Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and Jerusalem. Now the king of Egypt deposed
3
the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were him at Jerusalem; and he imposed on the land
19
present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a
the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this talent of gold. Then the king of Egypt made
4
Passover was kept. Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king over Judah
20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the and Jerusalem, and changed his name to
temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his
against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and brother and carried him off to Egypt.
Josiah went out against him. But he sent mes- 5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when
21
sengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with he became king, and he reigned eleven years
you, king of Judah? I have not come against you in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the sight of
6
this day, but against the house with which I the LORD his God. Nebuchadnezzar king of
have war; for God commanded me to make Babylon came up against him, and bound him
haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is in bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.
with me, lest He destroy you.” Nevertheless 7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried off some of the
22
Josiah would not turn his face from him, but articles from the house of the LORD to Babylon,
8
disguised himself so that he might fight with and put them in his temple at Babylon. Now
him, and did not heed the words of Necho the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, the abomina-
from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in tions which he did, and what was found
the Valley of Megiddo. against him, indeed they are written in the
book of the kings of Israel and Judah. Then
Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he
became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem
35:21 God commanded me. Necho is refer- three months and ten days. And he did evil in
ring to the true God—whether he had a true 10
revelation or not is unknown. Josiah had no the sight of the LORD. At the turn of the year
way to know either, and it is apparent he did King Nebuchadnezzar summoned him and
not believe that Necho spoke the word of took him to Babylon, with the costly articles
God. There is no reason to assume his death from the house of the LORD, and made
was punishment for refusing to believe. He Zedekiah, Jehoiakim’s brother, king over Judah
probably thought Necho was lying and, once and Jerusalem.
victorious with Assyria over Babylon, they 11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when
would together be back to assault Israel. he became king, and he reigned eleven years
12
in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the
LORD his God, and did not humble himself
23 And the archers shot King Josiah; and the before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from
king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled
13
am severely wounded.” His servants there- against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made
24
fore took him out of that chariot and put him in him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his
the second chariot that he had, and they neck and hardened his heart against turning
14
brought him to Jerusalem. So he died, and was to the LORD God of Israel. Moreover all the
buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. And leaders of the priests and the people trans-
all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. gressed more and more, according to all the
25 Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And to abominations of the nations, and defiled the
this day all the singing men and the singing house of the LORD which He had consecrated
women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. in Jerusalem.
They made it a custom in Israel; and indeed 15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent
they are written in the Laments. warnings to them by His messengers, rising

724