2 Chronicles 35:21
New International Version
But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”

New Living Translation
But King Neco sent messengers to Josiah with this message: “What do you want with me, king of Judah? I have no quarrel with you today! I am on my way to fight another nation, and God has told me to hurry! Do not interfere with God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”

English Standard Version
But he sent envoys to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.”

Berean Standard Bible
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”

King James Bible
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.

New King James Version
But he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.”

New American Standard Bible
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What business do you have with me, King of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am at war, and God has told me to hurry. For your own sake, stop interfering with God who is with me, so that He does not destroy you.”

NASB 1995
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not destroy you.”

NASB 1977
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, that He may not destroy you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has said for me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not bring you to ruin.”

Amplified Bible
But Neco sent messengers to Josiah, saying, “What business do we have with each other, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not destroy you.”

Christian Standard Bible
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, king of Judah? I have not come against you today but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry. Stop opposing God who is with me; don’t make him destroy you! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, king of Judah? I have not come against you today but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry. Stop opposing God who is with me; don’t make Him destroy you!”

American Standard Version
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war; and God hath commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he sent him Messengers and said to him: “What do I have with you, King of Yehuda? It was not against you I came today, King of Yehuda, because it was not against you I came to fight! LORD JEHOVAH told you to frighten me. Remove yourself from the God who is with me so that he will not destroy you!”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he sent messengers to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, O king of Juda? I am not come to-day to war against thee; and God has told me to hasten: beware of the God that is with me, lest he destroy thee.

Contemporary English Version
Neco sent the following message to Josiah: I'm not attacking you, king of Judah! We're not even at war. But God has told me to quickly attack my enemy. God is on my side, so if you try to stop me, he will punish you.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he sent messengers to him, saying: What have I to do with thee, O king of Juda? I come not against thee this day, but I fight against another house, to which God hath commanded me to go in haste : forbear to do against God, who is with me, lest he kill thee.

English Revised Version
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war; and God hath commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Neco sent messengers to Josiah to say, "What's your quarrel with me, king of Judah? I'm not attacking you. I've come to fight those who are at war with me. God told me to hurry. God is with me, so stop now or else he will destroy you."

Good News Translation
but Neco sent Josiah this message: "This war I am fighting does not concern you, King of Judah. I have not come to fight you, but to fight my enemies, and God has told me to hurry. God is on my side, so don't oppose me, or he will destroy you."

International Standard Version
But he sent messengers to him, who asked him, "What do we have in common, King of Judah? I am not here today opposing you. I am fighting the dynasty that is fighting me, and God has ordered me to hurry. For your own good, stop interfering with God, who is with me, and he won't destroy you!"

JPS Tanakh 1917
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying: 'What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war; and God hath given command to speed me; forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that He destroy thee not.'

Literal Standard Version
and he sends messengers to him, saying, “And what do I [have to do] with you, O king of Judah? I do not come against you today, but to the house with which I have war, and God commanded to hurry me; cease for yourself from God who [is] with me, and He does not destroy you.”

Majority Standard Bible
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”

New American Bible
Neco sent messengers to him, saying: “What quarrel is between us, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, for my war is with another kingdom, and God has told me to hasten. Do not interfere with God who is with me; let him not destroy you.”

NET Bible
Necho sent messengers to him, saying, "Why are you opposing me, O king of Judah? I am not attacking you today, but the kingdom with which I am at war. God told me to hurry. Stop opposing God, who is with me, or else he will destroy you."

New Revised Standard Version
But Neco sent envoys to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am at war; and God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, so that he will not destroy you.”

New Heart English Bible
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you this day, but against the house with which I have war. God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you."

Webster's Bible Translation
But he sent embassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house with which I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he may not destroy thee.

World English Bible
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you today, but against the house with which I have war. God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you.”

Young's Literal Translation
and he sendeth unto him messengers, saying, 'What -- to me and to thee, O king of Judah? not against thee do I come to-day, but unto the house with which I have war, and God said to haste me; cease for thee from God who is with me, and He doth not destroy thee.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death of Josiah
20After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. 21But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!” 22Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.…

Cross References
Matthew 8:29
"What do You want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?"

2 Chronicles 25:19
You have said, 'Look, I have defeated Edom,' and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall--you and Judah with you?"

2 Chronicles 35:22
Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco's words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.


Treasury of Scripture

But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you this day, but against the house with which I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear you from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy you not.

What

2 Samuel 16:10
And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

Matthew 8:29
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

John 2:4
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

2 Kings 18:25
Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Isaiah 36:10
And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

forbear thee

2 Chronicles 25:19
Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?

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Ambassadors Cease Command Commanded Destroy Embassadors Envoys Forbear Haste House Hurry Judah Meddling Messengers Neco Opposing Ordered Sake Speed Stop Today War Wherewith
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Ambassadors Cease Command Commanded Destroy Embassadors Envoys Forbear Haste House Hurry Judah Meddling Messengers Neco Opposing Ordered Sake Speed Stop Today War Wherewith
2 Chronicles 35
1. Josiah keeps a most solemn Passover
20. He provoking Pharaoh Neco, is slain at Megiddo
25. Lamentations for Josiah














(21) But . . . ambassadors.--And . . . messengers.

What have I to do with thee?--Literally, what to me and to thee? ?? ???? ??? ???; (LXX.; and Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28).

I come not against thee.--So the old versions. The Hebrew is, "not against thee--thee--to-day," The versions appear to have read 'att?h, "thee," with different points as 'otheh, "coming." (Comp. Syriac, othe 'n-, "come I.")

But against the house . . . war.--A strange expression. (Comp. 1Chronicles 18:10.) Probably the reading indicated by 3 Esdr. 1:25 is right (??? ??? ??? ???????? ? ??????? ??? ????), "but against the Euphrates is my war" (Perath for beth). Josephus supports this. LXX. and Syriac omit; Vulg., "sed contra allain pugno domum."

For God . . . haste.--And God . . . The Egyptian kings, like those of Israel, consulted their prophets before undertaking any expedition. So did the Assyrians, as abundantly appears from their inscriptions. So, too, we read on the Moabite stone, "Chemosh said unto me, Go; take Nebo . . . Go up against Horonaim, and take it." These facts sufficiently explain the text, without assuming that Necho had received an oracle from Jehovah, or was referring to the God of Israel. (Comp. Herod, ii. 158.)

Verse 21. - Not against thee this day. Possibly the suggestion couched in these last two words may have been the opposite of agreeable to King Josiah. For God commanded me to make haste. The margin reading of the Revised Version seems preferable, both for the Hebrew text and the connection, hath given command to speed me.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Neco sent
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

messengers
מַלְאָכִ֣ים ׀ (mal·’ā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

to him,
אֵלָ֣יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

saying,
לֵאמֹר֩ ׀ (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“What is the issue between you and me,
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

O king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Judah?
יְהוּדָ֗ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

I have not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

come against
עָלֶ֨יךָ (‘ā·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

you
אַתָּ֤ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

today,
הַיּוֹם֙ (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

but
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I am fighting
מִלְחַמְתִּ֔י (mil·ḥam·tî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

another dynasty.
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

God
וֵאלֹהִ֖ים (wê·lō·hîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

told
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

me to hurry;
לְבַֽהֲלֵ֑נִי (lə·ḇa·hă·lê·nî)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 926: To tremble inwardly, be, alarmed, agitated, to hasten anxiously

so stop
חֲדַל־ (ḥă·ḏal-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 2308: To be flabby, desist, be lacking, idle

opposing God,
מֵאֱלֹהִ֥ים (mê·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

is with me,
עִמִּ֖י (‘im·mî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

or
וְאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

He will destroy you!�
יַשְׁחִיתֶֽךָ׃ (yaš·ḥî·ṯe·ḵā)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 35:21 But he sent ambassadors to him saying (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 35:20
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