Battle of Megiddo (609 BC)

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For other battles fought on the vicinity of Megiddo , see Battle of Megiddo (disambiguation).


Battle of Megiddo
Date 609 BC
Location Megiddo
Result Decisive Egyptian Victory
Belligerents
Egypt Kingdom of Judah
Commanders
Necho II Josiah†
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown High

In the Battle of Megiddo of 609 BC, the forces of Egypt fought those of the Kingdom of Judah. Egypt under Necho II was allied with the Assyrians against the Babylonians. In this battle, recorded in the Bible, the Egyptians easily defeated the Kingdom of Judah, and killed its king.

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[edit] Battle

At the head of a large army, consisting mainly of his mercenaries, Necho took the coast route Via Maris into Syria, supported by his Mediterranean fleet along the shore, and proceeding through the low tracts of Philistia and Sharon, prepared to cross the ridge of hills which shuts in on the south the great plain of Esdraëlon (Jezreel Valley); but here he found his passage blocked by the Jewish army. Their king, Josiah, either because he feared that, if Necho were successful, his own position would be imperilled, or because he had entered into engagements with Nabopolassar, had decided to oppose the further progress of the Egyptian army, and had occupied a strong position near Megiddo, on the southern verge of the plain as described on 2 Kings 23:29. In vain did Necho seek to persuade Josiah to retire, and leave the passage free. Josiah was obstinate, and a battle became unavoidable. As was expected, the Egyptians prevailed over Judah, totally defeating the Jewish army, and Josiah was killed by Egyptian archers.

[edit] Records of the battle

Herodotus records this battle and Egyptian campaign in his writings about the pharaoh Necho, that are included in his famous Histories:

“ Necos, then, stopped work on the canal and turned to war; some of his triremes were constructed by the northern sea, and some in the Arabian Gulf, by the coast of the Sea of Erythrias. The windlasses for beaching the ships can still be seen. He deployed these ships as needed, while he also engaged in a pitched battle at Magdolos with the Syrians, and conquered them; and after this he took Cadytis, which is a great city of Syria. He sent the clothes he had worn in these battles to Branchidae of Miletus and dedicated them to Apollo. ”

Most notably, the battle is also mentioned in the Bible on two occasions. The first time is in the second Book of Kings and tels us this much about the battle:

“ In his days Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and Pharaoh Necoh killed him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. ”

Additional information is given in the second Book of Chronicles:

“ After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. 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.”

Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. The archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, because I am seriously wounded!”''

 ”

[edit] Location of the battlefield

A view at the topography of the place around the city, will reveal that Megiddo is a small rise among others on a small elevated plateau close to a large level coastal plain large enough to accommodate many thousands of troops. Being that it doesn't dominate the surrounding area, it is not an obvious target, yet it is useful as a garrison and it has a water source from the river Kishon. This explains why Josiah used the terrain to mask his approach as he attempted to ambush the Egyptian army that was on its way to attack the Babylonians in Mesopotamia.

[edit] Aftermath

Judah fell under Egyptian control and influence. On his return from Syria and Mesopotamia, Necho II, captured and deposed Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah who had just succeeded his father on the throne. The pharaoh enforced a tribute of 100 talents of silver and one talent of gold upon the kingdom, and appointed his older brother Eliakim as king. Necho also changed the name of this new king into Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz was taken captive to Egypt, where he became the first king of Judah to die in exile.

[edit] See also