After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
Ver. 20. After all this,] viz, Thirteen years after the aforesaid passover.
Necho king of Egypt,] i.e., Pharaoh with the goutish feet.
And Josiah went out against him.] But better he had kept at home. See 2 Kings 23:29. Ius legionis facile est, The law of the army is easy, saith Vegetius, a Non sequi, non fugere bellum; war is neither to be followed after nor fled from. Passion is an ill counsellor. It is no weighing gold in the midst of a wind. We read not that he consulted with God by any prophet. Lassitude of the members precedeth a disease, saith Hippocrates: so doth carnal security danger.
I come not against thee.] Or, Be not against thyself.
But against the house wherewith I have war.] Heb., The house of my war, i.e., the race royal of Assyria, perpetual enemies and emulators to the Egyptians.
For God commanded me to make haste.] By Jeremiah, say the Jewish doctors; but that was more than Josiah knew. He might take it for a pretence only, like that of Rabshakeh 2Ki 18:25
Forbear thee form meddling with God.] Desine a Deo. It is not safe to fight against God.
a Lib. ii. cap. 1.