2 Chronicles 33 20

2 Chronicles 33:20 kjv

So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 33:20 nkjv

So Manasseh rested with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. Then his son Amon reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 33:20 niv

Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

2 Chronicles 33:20 esv

So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 33:20 nlt

When Manasseh died, he was buried in his palace. Then his son Amon became the next king.

2 Chronicles 33 verses

2 Chronicles 33 20 Meaning

This verse concisely concludes the long and complex reign of King Manasseh, stating his death, burial, and the immediate succession of his son Amon. It uses conventional phrases for royal demise ("rested with his fathers") but highlights an unusual burial place ("in his own house"), signifying a unique aspect of his legacy. The immediate announcement of Amon's reign maintains the flow of the dynastic narrative.

2 Chronicles 33 20 Context

2 Chronicles Chapter 33 chronicles the extensive reign of Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, in Judah. It details his profound wickedness, where he reintroduced idolatry and pagan practices previously abolished by his father. His actions surpassed the abominations of the surrounding nations, leading to divine judgment. Uniquely in the Chronicler's account, Manasseh is depicted as being taken captive to Babylon by the Assyrians. There, in his affliction, he humbles himself before God and earnestly prays. God hears his prayer, and he is restored to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Following this repentance, Manasseh undertakes religious reforms, removing foreign idols and repairing the altar of the Lord. Despite these efforts, his previous long reign of wickedness left a deeply ingrained spiritual corruption in Judah. Verse 20 marks the end of this longest reign of any king in Judah's history, highlighting his unique burial arrangements and signaling the immediate transfer of power to his son, Amon, whose reign would sadly continue the kingdom's downward spiritual trajectory. This conclusion reflects both the Chronicler's emphasis on repentance and the lasting consequences of deep-seated sin.

2 Chronicles 33 20 Word analysis

• So Manasseh: "Manasseh" (מְנַשֶּׁה - Menasheh) means "making to forget." The preceding "So" (וַיִּשְׁכַּב - vayyishkav - lit. "and he lay down", often translated as a consequential "so" or "then") signals the culmination of the preceding narrative about his reign, repentance, and life.
• rested: (וַיִּשְׁכַּב - vayyishkav) Literally "lay down" or "slept." This is a common and respectful euphemism in the Bible for the death of kings, implying a peaceful transition from life, as if lying down to sleep.
• with his fathers: (עִם־אֲבֹתָיו - im-avotav) Refers to being gathered to one's deceased ancestors. It implies joining the company of one's forebears in the afterlife, a common concept in ancient Israel, not necessarily meaning burial in the exact same tomb but a communal repose.
• and they buried him: (וַיִּקְבְּרֻהוּ - vayyikberuhu) A straightforward statement of the burial act. The unspecified "they" denotes the standard procedure performed by his household or court officials responsible for royal funerals.
• in his own house; (בְּבֵיתוֹ - b'veito) This is a significant detail. Unlike most kings of Judah, who were buried in the "city of David" (the royal sepulchre), Manasseh was buried in a personal location. The parallel account in 2 Kgs 21:18 specifies "in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza." This might indicate a distinct, possibly private, burial ground outside the main royal necropolis. The atypical burial place could subtly communicate that despite his repentance, he was not deemed worthy of the highest royal honors afforded to the most righteous kings, or simply that the preferred burial location shifted or became personalized over time.
• and Amon his son: "Amon" (אָמוֹן - Amon) may derive from the Egyptian deity Amun, suggesting ongoing syncretic influences in the royal family, despite Manasseh's later reforms. "His son" (בְּנוֹ - b'no) indicates direct, patrilineal succession.
• reigned in his place: (מַלָךְ תַּחְתָּיו - malakh tachtav) Literally "reigned under him" or "reigned in his stead." This standard phrase confirms the continuity of the Davidic dynasty and the smooth transfer of royal authority upon the previous king's death.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So Manasseh rested with his fathers": This phrase signals the completion of Manasseh's earthly journey, using the conventional biblical idiom for the death of a king. It applies even to a king with Manasseh's checkered past, demonstrating a standard reporting of royal death. The expression also reflects the ancient belief in joining one's lineage beyond physical death.
• "and they buried him in his own house": This distinguishes Manasseh's burial from most other Davidic kings, who were laid to rest in the communal "sepulchre of the kings" within the City of David. The deviation suggests a nuanced assessment of Manasseh's reign—perhaps reflecting continued societal memory of his extensive wickedness, despite his later repentance, or simply indicating a newer royal burial site within his personal estate, perhaps hinting at a continued struggle for full honor. It parallels other instances of kings (like Ahaz or Uzziah) who, for different reasons, were not buried in the main royal tombs.
• "and Amon his son reigned in his place": This signifies the unceasing flow of the Davidic royal lineage. Even after Manasseh's reign of extremes (wickedness and then repentance), the promise of a perpetual Davidic dynasty remains active. This concise statement concludes the past king's narrative and sets the stage for the next, showing the ongoing divine sovereignty over the succession.

2 Chronicles 33 20 Bonus section

The Chronicler's unique emphasis on Manasseh's repentance (2 Chr 33:11-19), not present in the parallel account in 2 Kings, serves a significant theological purpose. It highlights God's immense mercy and willingness to forgive even the most grievous sins when met with genuine humility and repentance, challenging the notion of unforgivable sin. The distinct burial location mentioned in this verse, therefore, could be seen not just as a mark of disapproval but perhaps also as a personal arrangement made by Manasseh himself in a period of his reformed life. This allows the Chronicler to present a complex character—a deeply wicked king who dramatically repented—and resolve his story with both a customary death pronouncement and a subtly distinguishing burial detail that speaks to his entire unique narrative, which influenced the spiritual and political landscape of Judah for generations after him.

2 Chronicles 33 20 Commentary

2 Chronicles 33:20 serves as the concise obituary for King Manasseh, marking the end of the longest reign in Judah's history. While using the standard royal epitaph "rested with his fathers," it notable distinguishes his burial location as "in his own house," diverging from the customary royal tombs in the City of David. This unique burial place suggests a complex legacy: though Manasseh experienced a remarkable repentance and restoration according to the Chronicler, the extensive period of his earlier wickedness may have resulted in a qualified posthumous honor, or simply a shift in burial practices. This detail emphasizes that while God's forgiveness is complete for the individual, the societal impact and consequences of profound sin can endure. The verse seamlessly transitions to the immediate succession of Amon, reinforcing the continuity of the Davidic line despite the moral failures of individual kings, a consistent theme in Chronicles demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promise.

Examples:

• Complex Legacies: Like Manasseh, individuals might experience profound repentance, but their past actions can leave lasting imprints or affect how they are remembered or honored by society, without negating God's personal forgiveness.
• Dynastic Continuity: This verse illustrates that even through challenging times and leadership, God's divine plan (e.g., the Davidic covenant) continues steadfastly, bringing forth the next appointed individual in the lineage.