צַדִּ֥יק ה֛וּא יְהוָ֖ה כִּ֣י פִ֣יהוּ מָרִ֑יתִי שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֣א כָל־עמים [הָֽעַמִּ֗ים] וּרְאוּ֙ מַכְאֹבִ֔י בְּתוּלֹתַ֥י וּבַחוּרַ֖י הָלְכ֥וּ בַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ (ס)
여호와는 의로우시도다 내가 여호와의 명령을 거역하였도다 너희 모든 백성들아 내 말을 듣고 내 근심을 볼지어다 나의 처녀와 소년들이 사로잡혀 갔도다
From David to Destruction
Why does Yoshiyahu not consult Yirmiyahu as to whether he should confront Paroh Necho? We suggest that Yoshiyahu does not consult with Yirmiyahu because he is afraid that he will receive an unfavorable answer. Yirmiyahu (see Yirmiyahu 2:18) follows in the footsteps of Yeshayahu (Yeshayahu 30:1-5) by disseminating a national policy of neutrality towards foreign superpowers (such as Assyria and Babylon). Instead of becoming entangled in foreign affairs, the Bnei Yisrael should be satisfied, as Yeshayahu metaphorically expresses, with “the waters of the Shilo’ach (a stream outside of Yerushalayim) that moves along slowly” (Yeshayahu 8:6). Despite his mistake of confronting the Egyptians, Chazal (Ta’anit ad. loc.) identify Yoshiyahu’s dying words as “Tzaddik Hu Hashem, Ki Pihu Mariti,” “Hashem is righteous, as I have rebelled against His word” (Eichah 1:18). Thus, Yoshiyahu performs Teshuvah at the end of his life.