Megiddo
… and when Pharaoh Neco saw him he killed him at Megiddo. His servants drove his body in a chariot from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem and buried him …
(2 Kings 23:29-30 NASB)
Here it is clearly stated that Josiah died at Megiddo in a military conflict with Pharaoh Neco.
Jerusalem
So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem [a]where he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers …
(2 Chronicles 35:24 NASB)
Remark! [a] where; literally: and
This text gives the impression that he died in Jerusalem.
Question
Did king Josiah die in Megiddo or in Jerusalem? Are the biblical records divided in this matter?
False translation of 2 Chronicles 35:24
1. the word ‘where’ is literally ‘and’.
2. the word ‘brought’. Two different Hebrew verbs are used:
– In 2 Chronicles: ‘halak’, meaning (hiphil form): cause to go away to (Jerusalem). The depart is included.
– In 2 Kings: ‘boa’, meaning (hiphil form): cause to come in (Jerusalem). The entering in Jerusalem is included.
It’s a pity that the difference of these verb meanings is not made clear in the translations.
Better translation
Taking the two points in consideration the translation of 2 Chronicles should be:
‘So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in the second chariot which he had, and took him to go to Jerusalem and he died and he was buried in the tombs of his fathers.’
In 2 Chronicles Josiah died as soon as he was carried to his second chariot and they departed for Jerusalem. So, indeed he still died at Megiddo, when they left the battlefield.
No Bible Contradiction