What is the meaning of "Lehilachem Bo Hischapes"?
Radak (Melachim II, 23:29): Yoshiyah changed his garments to war garments. When Necho saw this, he knew that Yoshiyah intends to fight.
Ralbag: Yoshiyah changed his garments to war garments (like a soldier), so they would not recognize him.
Malbim: Yoshiyah thought that Necho really wants to conquer Eretz Yisrael, and he pretends to want to go to Ashur so we will not be wary to defend ourselves from him.
Did Necho truly hear from Hashem?
'Rashi': Yes. So ha'Kalir wrote in Kinah 11 (the sixth that Ashkenazim say during the day) ? 'Lo Shama la'Chozeh? Ki Nigzerah Gezeirah Lesachsech Mitzrayim b'Mitzrayim. 1 '
Radak (21): Yes! Perhaps Yirmeyah told him [to fight in Karkemish]. Even so, Hashem avenged his killing of Yoshiyah 2 - "veha'Yom ha'Hu La'Shem? Nekamah" (Yirmeyah 46:10). Nebuchadnetzar defeated Necho.
Rashi (Yeshayah 19:2)" "V'Sichsachti Mitzrayim b'Mitzrayim" - I will cause the Egyptians to fight each other. (Hashem told Necho to come to Eretz Yisrael, so they will kill each other here. Perhaps He wanted Yisrael to receive the spoils of their camp after they die. I do not understand how these words command Necho to come. - PF)
Why was he punished? He needed to kill Yoshiyah in order to fulfill Hashem's command! Perhaps he was punished, for they shot 300 arrows at him (Eichah Rabah 1:18), and his body became like a sieve (Sanhedrin 48b). There was no need for this! (PF)
