23:29 against the king of Assyria. The word translated “against” (Hebrew qara) is more commonly translated “to meet,” which is probably the intent here. That is, Pharaoh-necho was intending to assist the Assyrians against the Babylonians, who had already taken Nineveh. It is probable that Josiah wanted to prevent them from reaching the Assyrians, who had been such a problem to Judah. As it turned out, the Babylonians won a great victory over both the Assyrians and Egyptians at Carchemish, essentially marking the end of the great Assyrian empire.

23:29 he slew him. Josiah had been prophetically warned not to interfere in the Egyptian advance (II Chronicles 35:21). He ignored the warning, however, and died in the battle.