2 Chronicles 33 21

2 Chronicles 33:21 kjv

Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 33:21 nkjv

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 33:21 niv

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years.

2 Chronicles 33:21 esv

Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 33:21 nlt

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years.

2 Chronicles 33 verses

2 Chronicles 33 21 Meaning

This verse states the physical death of King Amon of Judah and his burial. "He slept with his fathers" is a common biblical idiom signifying his demise, connecting him to his ancestors who had also passed away. The unique detail is that "they buried him in his own house," distinguishing his burial site from the traditional royal tombs of Davidic kings in the City of David. This suggests a less dignified or a private burial, perhaps due to his wicked reign and assassination.

2 Chronicles 33 21 Context

2 Chronicles Chapter 33 primarily recounts the reign of Manasseh, the wickedest king of Judah, and then his son Amon. Manasseh sinned greatly but repented near the end of his life, leading to some measure of restoration. Amon, however, learned nothing from his father's mistakes or repentance. Verse 21 describes the very end of Amon's short and entirely evil reign, which lasted only two years. His wicked actions, detailed in verse 22, were even more extreme, as he rebuilt the high places his father Manasseh had torn down and worshiped idols. His demise, caused by his own servants' conspiracy, quickly brought an end to his unrighteous rule, setting the stage for the reign of his son, the righteous King Josiah. The specific mention of his burial place contrasts with the customary burial grounds for revered kings, implicitly highlighting the low regard for his reign even in his death.

2 Chronicles 33 21 Word analysis

• And he slept: The Hebrew word for "slept" is shakhav (שָׁכַב). This is a well-established and widespread biblical euphemism for death, particularly used for kings or patriarchs. It suggests a peaceful transition or rest, although in Amon's case, his sudden, violent end contradicts the typical connotation of peace. It often appears with the phrase "slept with his fathers."
• with his fathers: The Hebrew word is avotav (אֲבֹתָיו), meaning "his fathers" or "his ancestors." This phrase (often coupled with shakhav) denotes being gathered to the deceased lineage, indicating the end of a physical life and entry into the collective spiritual destiny of one's forebears. It does not imply a specific location for their bodies, but rather a completion of life and joining the preceding generations.
• and they buried him: The verb "buried" is qav'ru (קָבְרוּ) in Hebrew. This signifies the physical act of interment. The agent is plural ("they"), implying either his remaining servants or the "people of the land" (mentioned in v. 25 who installed Josiah) performed the burial, perhaps hastily following his assassination.
• in his own house: The Hebrew is bêytho (בֵיתוֹ). This is a highly significant detail. While Manasseh (v. 20) was also buried "in his own house" or "garden," this contrasts with most righteous kings of Judah who were buried in the tombs of the kings in the City of David (e.g., 1 Kgs 2:10 for David; 1 Kgs 11:43 for Solomon). "His own house" likely refers to the palace complex or an adjacent, private burial plot, rather than literally inside a residential building. This specific burial location for Amon, like his father Manasseh, marks them as deviating from the respected tradition of royal burial, implicitly reflecting on their unrighteous reigns and ignominious ends, even if it was Manasseh who set the precedent for kings to be buried outside the City of David for different reasons. For Amon, it underscores the sudden and possibly disrespectful nature of his burial due to his assassination.

• "And he slept with his fathers": This complete idiom emphasizes the end of life as a natural and inherited destiny shared with one's ancestors. It’s a common biblical formula that marks the peaceful (at least on the surface) conclusion of a ruler's or patriarch's life, regardless of how short or how wicked their reign. It denotes the passing of leadership and the transition of power.
• "and they buried him in his own house": This phrase provides critical information about the unusual nature of Amon's burial. For a king, especially one whose line was of David, to be buried outside the primary royal cemetery signifies a deviation from expected norms. It can reflect the turmoil of his death (assassination), a lack of public honor, or a deliberate literary contrast by the Chronicler to distinguish Amon (and Manasseh before him) from the revered kings buried with greater solemnity and tradition in the City of David. It suggests a private rather than a state burial, a likely consequence of his unrighteous rule and violent demise.

2 Chronicles 33 21 Bonus section

The narrative pattern in Chronicles often meticulously records burial places as an implicit commentary on a king's reign. The burial of Amon and his father Manasseh outside the tombs in the City of David indicates a less-than-honorable standing in the Chronicler's judgment, even if Manasseh later repented. The fact that Amon's assassination immediately precedes this verse emphasizes the ignominious and rapid end to a reign marked by apostasy, contrasting sharply with the long, stable reigns and honorable burials associated with God-fearing kings like David and Hezekiah. This specific detail thus serves as a final, terse assessment of Amon's failure to follow God's commands, underscoring the spiritual and political instability prevalent before Josiah's much-needed reforms.

2 Chronicles 33 21 Commentary

2 Chronicles 33:21 concisely brings to a close the brief and regrettable reign of King Amon. The phrase "slept with his fathers" is a standard euphemism for death in the biblical narrative, emphasizing continuity of lineage despite the individual's passing. The crucial element distinguishing Amon's end from many other Judean kings is his burial "in his own house." This practice, also applied to his father Manasseh (2 Chr 33:20), stands in stark contrast to the preferred burial place for most righteous kings of Judah: the City of David. The deviation from the royal tombs subtly conveys a sense of dishonor or a private burial due to the king's unrighteousness and possibly the tumultuous circumstances of his assassination (v. 24). It signifies a king who did not attain the full honor bestowed upon his more faithful predecessors, foreshadowing the impending judgment on his line that only Josiah's reforms could temporarily avert. This immediate transition to death and burial highlights the swift justice that can befall wicked rulers, demonstrating that ultimately, all face their end and its associated consequences, preparing the way for the coming of a new reign and the prospect of repentance and renewal.