2 Chronicles 35:21

19 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was observed.

20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him.

But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”

22 Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.

23 There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”
KJV
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
WEB
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.”
ASV
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? [I come] not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war; and God hath commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from [meddling with] God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
DARBY
And he sent messengers to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house with which I have war; and God has told me to make haste: keep aloof from God who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
BLB
And he sent to him messengers, saying, “And what have I [to do] with you, O king of Judah? Not against you this day, but against the house I am fighting, for God told me to hurry. Cease for yourself from God, who [is] with me, and He will not destroy you.”
ÅB
Da sendte Neko bud til ham og lot si: Hva har jeg med deg å gjøre, Judas konge? Det er ikke mot deg jeg kommer idag, men mot det kongehus som jeg stadig ligger i krig med[^4], og Gud har sagt at jeg skulle være snar. La være å stride mot Gud! Han er med meg. Ta deg i vare så han ikke ødelegger deg!
OTB
Men Neko sendte budbringere til ham og sa, "Hva har vi med hverandre å gjøre, konge av Juda? Jeg kommer ikke mot deg i dag, men mot huset jeg er i krig med; og Gud har sagt til meg at jeg skal skynde meg. Stopp for din egen skyld fra å blande deg inn med Gud som er med meg, så Han ikke ødelegger deg."
B1930
Da sendte Neko bud til ham og lot si: Hvad har jeg med dig å gjøre, Judas konge? Det er ikke mot dig jeg kommer idag, men mot det kongehus som jeg stadig ligger i krig med, og Gud har sagt at jeg skulde være snar. La være å stride mot Gud! Han er med mig. Ta dig i vare så han ikke ødelegger dig! / < d.e. mot Assyrias konge, 2KG 23, 29.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Chronicles 25:19

    You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 18:25

    So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 36:10

    So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”

    Read in context
  • John 2:4

    “Woman, why does this concern us?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 16:10

    But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”

    Read in context
  • Matthew 8:29

    “What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

    Read in context