Megiddo Area X: Necho's Army and the Death of Josiah
A layer of Egyptian and Greek pottery from the time Pharaoh Necho killed King Yoshiyahu (2025)
Found 2016 — Megiddo Expedition (Tel Aviv University / University of Haifa), Israel Finkelstein with Assaf Kleiman (Ben-Gurion University); Area X excavated 2016–2022, published 2025
Where Tel Megiddo, Jezreel Valley (Israel)
Dates from c. 630–600 BCE · Iron Age III / Late Iron Age · Reign of Josiah and the Egyptian interlude before Babylon
Now at Finds in the Tel Aviv University Institute of Archaeology; site in Megiddo National Park
How Megiddo Area X: Necho's Army and the Death of Josiah was found
A new area on the northwest of the mound, untouched by earlier digs, revealed a building of the late 7th century BCE whose floors held an unusually large amount of Egyptian-made pottery, confirmed as imported by petrographic analysis, together with East Greek wares. The results appeared in two papers in the Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament in 2025.
What it is
A stratum of ordinary Egyptian cooking and storage vessels, in quantities the excavators say are two to three times all the Egyptian pottery known from the Levant of that period, together with Greek drinking and serving vessels of the kind used by Greek mercenaries in Egyptian service. There is no burn layer; the Assyrian administrative city simply gives way to a phase with an Egyptian-flavored population.
Why it matters for the Bible
2 Kings 23:29 records that Pharaoh Necho marched north and King Yoshiyahu (Josiah) 'went to meet him' and was killed at Megiddo in 609 BCE. Until now nothing at Megiddo could be tied to Necho's presence. The excavators argue this pottery marks an Egyptian garrison with Greek mercenaries stationed at Megiddo right around 609, making the biblical setting for Josiah's death concrete. The pottery does not show a battle or Josiah himself, and the 'Gog and Magog' and 'Armageddon' links some press drew are speculative; the sober claim is that Egyptians and Greeks were at Megiddo when the Bible says Necho was.
The Hebrew word: Par-OH Ne-CHOH
פַּרְעֹה נְכֹה
פַּרְעֹה נְכֹה is pronounced Par-OH Ne-CHOH and means Pharaoh Necho — the Egyptian king who killed Josiah (Strong's H6549).
People this discovery connects to
- Josiah — יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (Yo-shee-YAH-hoo) — YHVH supports / heals
- Necho II — נְכֹה (Ne-CHOH) — Egyptian Nekau
Places
- Megiddo — מְגִדּוֹ (Me-gee-DOH) — place of troops (uncertain)
Events
Death of Josiah at Megiddo (609 BCE) · Egyptian control of Judah before Nebuchadnezzar
Megiddo Area X: Necho's Army and the Death of Josiah in Scripture
Joshua 12:21 First mention of Megiddo in Scripture.
2 Kings 23:29-30 Necho kills Josiah at Megiddo; the Egyptian pottery layer dates to exactly this moment.
2 Chronicles 35:20-24 The fuller account of the battle 'in the plain of Megiddo' and Josiah's fatal wound.
Questions people ask
What is Megiddo Area X: Necho's Army and the Death of Josiah?
A stratum of ordinary Egyptian cooking and storage vessels, in quantities the excavators say are two to three times all the Egyptian pottery known from the Levant of that period, together with Greek drinking and serving vessels of the kind used by Greek mercenaries in Egyptian service. There is no burn layer; the Assyrian administrative city simply gives way to a phase with an Egyptian-flavored population.
When was Megiddo Area X: Necho's Army and the Death of Josiah discovered?
It was found in 2016 by Megiddo Expedition (Tel Aviv University / University of Haifa), Israel Finkelstein with Assaf Kleiman (Ben-Gurion University); Area X excavated 2016–2022, published 2025, at Tel Megiddo, Jezreel Valley.
Where is Megiddo Area X: Necho's Army and the Death of Josiah today?
Finds in the Tel Aviv University Institute of Archaeology; site in Megiddo National Park.
Which Bible verses does Megiddo Area X: Necho's Army and the Death of Josiah relate to?
Joshua 12:21, 2 Kings 23:29-30, 2 Chronicles 35:20-24.
Is Megiddo Area X: Necho's Army and the Death of Josiah authentic?
The pottery and its Egyptian origin are established. Its link to Necho's 609 campaign is the excavators' interpretation and is widely regarded as plausible; alternative readings (Egyptian traders or an earlier garrison under Psamtik I) remain possible.
Related discoveries
- מְגִדּוֹMegiddo Stratum II and the Death of JosiahThe fortress where Pharaoh Necho II killed Judah's reforming king on his way to the Euphrates
- עֶבֶד הַמֶּלֶךְSeal of Shema, Servant of JeroboamA roaring lion and the name of a royal official of Jeroboam II, from Megiddo
- מִזְבֵּחַMegiddo Round Altar and Early Bronze TemplesA stepped stone altar and a row of temples in Canaan's oldest sacred area
- מְגִדּוֹMegiddo Shoshenq Stele FragmentA piece of Pharaoh Shishak's monument found in the city his list names
- אֻרְוֹתMegiddo Pillared StablesRows of stone-pillared buildings for hundreds of horses in Israel's chariot city
- שֵׁןMegiddo IvoriesA Canaanite king's treasure showing the world Israel entered
Sources
- A. Kleiman and I. Finkelstein, 'Josiah at Megiddo: New Evidence from the Field', Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament 39 (2025)
- Haaretz, 'Archaeologists Find Evidence of Egyptian Army That Felled Biblical King at Megiddo' (March 2025)
- Patterns of Evidence, 'Megiddo Evidence of King Josiah's Death by Pharaoh Necho'
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