2 Kings 10 35

2 Kings 10:35 kjv

And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.

2 Kings 10:35 nkjv

So Jehu rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 10:35 niv

Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king.

2 Kings 10:35 esv

So Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 10:35 nlt

When Jehu died, he was buried in Samaria. Then his son Jehoahaz became the next king.

2 Kings 10 verses

2 Kings 10 35 Meaning

This verse formally records the end of Jehu's twenty-eight-year reign as king of Israel. It states his death, his burial in Samaria (the capital city), and the succession of his son, Jehoahaz, to the throne. It marks the conclusion of a significant and tumultuous period, transitioning the narrative to the next phase of the Jehu dynasty.

2 Kings 10 35 Context

Chapter 10 of 2 Kings details the ruthless execution of divine judgment through Jehu against the idolatrous house of Ahab and the worshippers of Baal in Israel. Jehu eradicated Ahab's seventy sons, his entire surviving family in Samaria, the officials and priests of Baal, and destroyed the temple of Baal. This fierce purge was commissioned by God to fulfill prophecies made against Ahab (1 Ki 21:21-24). Following these bloody acts, God blessed Jehu by promising that his descendants would rule Israel for four generations (2 Ki 10:30) because of his zealous execution of the Lord's will against Ahab. Verse 35 serves as the formal closing of Jehu's eventful and significant reign, signaling the shift from Jehu, the executor of divine judgment, to the reign of his progeny, Jehoahaz. It is part of the recurring regnal formula that provides continuity and structure to the narrative history of the kings of Israel and Judah.

2 Kings 10 35 Word analysis

• And Jehu: This conjunction "And" connects the conclusion of Jehu's personal narrative to the subsequent events. "Jehu" (יֵהוּא - Yehu): Proper noun, meaning "He is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is he." He was a unique king, specifically anointed by God to fulfill a very particular, destructive purpose against idolatry.

• slept with his fathers: This is a common Hebrew idiom, יִשְׁכַּב עִם אֲבֹתָיו (yishkav im avotayv), meaning "he lay down with his fathers" or "he died." It primarily denotes death and physical burial, joining the preceding generations in the grave. It signifies the end of one's earthly life and often the peaceful cessation of a king's reign and joining of ancestral burial places, irrespective of their spiritual standing before God. It doesn't inherently imply spiritual salvation or a particular afterlife destination, but rather dynastic and physical continuity.

• and they buried him: This phrase confirms the physical act of internment, completing the formal process of death and passage from public life. It is the practical implication of "sleeping with his fathers."

• in Samaria: שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shomron): The capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Burying a king in the capital indicated a state burial and reflected his prominence and authority as the reigning monarch.

• And Jehoahaz his son: The conjunction "And" introduces the successor. "Jehoahaz" (יְהוֹאָחָז - Yehoahaz): Meaning "Yahweh has grasped" or "Yahweh holds." This identifies the direct, legitimate heir, maintaining the promised lineage.

• reigned in his stead: This phrase indicates a direct and legitimate succession, highlighting the immediate transfer of power and the continuation of the monarchy. It affirms the smooth transition of the throne within the designated dynasty, as promised by God in 2 Kings 10:30.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria." This group of phrases serves as the standard obituary formula for a deceased monarch. It marks the termination of a reign, highlighting both the natural end of life ("slept with his fathers") and the specific, dignified disposition of the body ("buried him in Samaria").
  • "And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead." This is the immediate and indispensable second part of the regnal formula, signifying the succession. It underscores the continuation of the divinely sanctioned (or permitted) lineage and the smooth transition of political authority within the kingdom.

2 Kings 10 35 Bonus section

The highly formulaic nature of verses like 2 Kings 10:35 throughout the Books of Kings serves a significant historiographical and theological purpose. It imposes order on the complex history of the divided kingdom, consistently recording the regnal duration, succession, death, and burial of each king. This repetitive structure emphasizes the passing of time, the temporary nature of earthly rule, and ultimately, God's enduring sovereignty over history and kingship. By applying this same formula to Jehu, whose reign was marked by unique divine commissioning and violent acts, the text grounds his extraordinary actions within the larger, ongoing historical record of Israel's monarchy, subject always to the divine covenant. It demonstrates that even significant agents of God's will ultimately complete their earthly task and yield to the next phase of the divine plan, regardless of their full spiritual devotion (which in Jehu's case, had limitations according to 2 Ki 10:31).

2 Kings 10 35 Commentary

2 Kings 10:35 concisely delivers the standard obituary for Jehu, signaling the closure of a dramatic era and the beginning of the next royal generation. After executing God's sweeping judgment on Ahab's house and Baal worship, Jehu's rule concluded with a peaceful passing, consistent with the blessing given for his initial, albeit often brutal, obedience. The phrase "slept with his fathers" denotes a common, respected end for a king, affirming the formal close of his rule and his burial in the capital, Samaria, as was customary for Israelite kings. The seamless transition of power to his son, Jehoahaz, directly fulfills the Lord's specific promise to Jehu that his descendants would sit on the throne for four generations (2 Ki 10:30). Thus, this verse is not merely a record of death, but a quiet yet profound affirmation of God's sovereign hand guiding the succession of Israel's kings and the precise fulfillment of His prophetic word, despite the future spiritual failings that would plague Jehu's own dynasty (2 Ki 10:31).