But disguised himself. — Like Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:29). The LXX. reads, “he strengthened himself,” or “persisted” (ἐκραταιώθη). (Comp. 3 Esdr. 1:28.) This implies the reading hithchazzaq instead of hithchappêsh. It is wholly unlikely that “disguised himself” is used in the figurative sense of “departed from his true cha racter,” as Keil and Zöckler think.
The words of Necho from the mouth of God. — The warning of Necho was really divine, as the event proved. For “words of Necho,” 3 Esdr. 1:26 has, “words of the prophet Jeremiah;” but there is no trace of such a warning in the extant prophecies bearing his name.
In the valley of Megiddo. — The valley of the Kishon, where Deborah and Barak had fought in the olden time against Jabin and Sisera. Herodotus (ii. 159) calls the place Magdolus. (See on 2 Kings 23:29.)