1 esdras 1:28 - Howbeit Josias did not turn back to his chariot, but undertook to fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet Jeremy spoken by the mouth of the Lord:

Generated Verse: 1 esdras 1:28

What does "1 esdras 1:28" mean?


This verse from 1 Esdras 1:28 describes King Josiah's fateful decision to engage in battle with the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho. Let's break it down:

"Howbeit Josias did not turn back to his chariot...": This indicates that Josiah, despite likely being advised otherwise, didn't retreat. Chariots were used for command and transportation, so "turning back" would suggest a retreat from the battle.

"...but undertook to fight with him...": This means Josiah decided to actively engage in combat with Pharaoh Necho.

"...not regarding the words of the prophet Jeremy spoken by the mouth of the Lord:": This is the crucial part. It states that Josiah ignored a warning delivered through the prophet Jeremiah, who was speaking on behalf of God.

In essence, the verse says: King Josiah chose to fight Pharaoh Necho even though he had been warned against it by God through the prophet Jeremiah.

Context and Significance:

To fully understand the verse, you need to know the broader context. Here's a summary:

Pharaoh Necho was marching through Josiah's territory (Judah) to assist the Assyrians in a battle against the Babylonians. Necho claimed he was only passing through and had no quarrel with Josiah.

According to the biblical account in 2 Chronicles 35:20-24, Necho specifically told Josiah that God had commanded him to go and that Josiah should not interfere. (1 Esdras elaborates on this.)

Josiah, against this warning (whether directly from Necho or through Jeremiah as mentioned in 1 Esdras), chose to intercept Necho's army at Megiddo.

Josiah was mortally wounded in the battle and later died. His death was a major turning point for Judah, leading eventually to its downfall and exile.

Therefore, the verse highlights:

Josiah's disobedience: He went against what was perceived as God's will.
Josiah's hubris/pride: He possibly felt he knew better or could overcome the odds.
The consequences of ignoring divine warnings: His actions led to his death and ultimately contributed to the decline of his kingdom.

The verse emphasizes the importance of heeding prophetic warnings and the potential consequences of disobedience. It sets the stage for the subsequent events that led to the Babylonian exile, a major event in Jewish history.

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