2 Kings 13 9

2 Kings 13:9 kjv

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

2 Kings 13:9 nkjv

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

2 Kings 13:9 niv

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

2 Kings 13:9 esv

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

2 Kings 13:9 nlt

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

2 Kings 13 verses

2 Kings 13 9 Meaning

This verse marks the end of King Jehoahaz's reign over Israel and the transition of power to his son Joash. It states that Jehoahaz died peacefully ("slept with his fathers") and was interred in Samaria, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom. Subsequently, his son Joash formally assumed the throne in his father's place, establishing a continued dynastic line despite the prevailing idolatry in Israel.

2 Kings 13 9 Context

Chapter 13 of 2 Kings introduces the reigns of two successive kings of Israel, Jehoahaz and his son Joash. The historical context is a period of intense pressure from the Arameans (Syrians), particularly under Hazael and Ben-hadad, who severely oppressed Israel as a consequence of their persistent idolatry, specifically "walking in the sins of Jeroboam" (2 Ki 13:2-3). Jehoahaz's reign was marked by this oppression to such an extent that God, despite His judgment, showed compassion and raised up a deliverer (2 Ki 13:4-5), though this deliverer is not explicitly named as Jehoahaz himself but is generally seen as the Lord delivering them through future victories. Verse 9 marks the end of this difficult period under Jehoahaz, concluding his official biography in the biblical record with the traditional account of a king's demise and succession. It sets the stage for Joash's reign, which, while still perpetuating the Jeroboamic sins, also sees crucial military success and interaction with the prophet Elisha, bringing a temporary respite from Aramean dominance.

2 Kings 13 9 Word analysis

• And Jehoahaz:
  • Jehoahaz (Hebrew: יְהוֹאָחָז, Yeho'achaz): Means "Yahweh has seized" or "Yahweh has held." Irony here, as a king named to signify God's possession was profoundly unfaithful and walked in the path of Jeroboam's idolatry. This highlights the theological point that a name, while carrying a divine reference, does not guarantee righteous conduct or God's approval of an individual's actions.
• slept:
  • Slept (Hebrew: שָׁכַב, shakhav): A common biblical euphemism for death, particularly a natural death. It implies a peaceful passing or a state of repose. This phrase is used for both good and bad kings throughout 1 & 2 Kings, indicating a genealogical and dynastic continuity rather than a spiritual state in death. Its use for Jehoahaz, a wicked king, simply records his natural end without immediate divine judgment, contrasting with kings who suffered violent, non-dynastic deaths.
• with his fathers:
  • With his fathers (Hebrew: עִם־אֲבֹתָיו, ‘im-’avotav): Denotes that the deceased has joined their ancestors in death. This is a formulaic expression of continuity in the royal line, implying a formal, recognized death and succession within the dynastic structure. It reinforces Jehoahaz's place in the succession of Israelite kings, connecting him to Omri and Jehu's lineage. This common biblical phrase does not comment on the spiritual state of the person.
• and they buried him:
  • Buried him (Hebrew: וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ, vayyiqberu oto): Standard action indicating the formal completion of funeral rites. This highlights the orderly succession and formal acknowledgement of the king's demise, unlike instances where kings were unburied or buried disgracefully.
• in Samaria:
  • Samaria (Hebrew: שֹׁמְרוֹן, Shomron): The capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, established by Omri (1 Ki 16:24). This was the customary burial place for the kings of Israel, similar to Jerusalem/City of David for the kings of Judah. Its mention solidifies Jehoahaz's identity as a legitimate, though unfaithful, king of Israel, distinguished from the kings of Judah. Samaria eventually became a symbol of Israel's apostasy.
• and Joash his son:
  • Joash (Hebrew: יוֹאָשׁ, Yo'ash): Means "Yahweh has given" or "Yahweh has supported." Another king whose name implies a connection to Yahweh, yet who also continued in Israel's idolatry. His succession initiates the narrative of his own reign, characterized by a mix of adherence to Jeroboam's sins and a temporary period of divine favor/deliverance through Elisha's guidance.
• reigned:
  • Reigned (Hebrew: מָלַךְ, malakh): The standard verb used for a monarch's accession to the throne, signifying the official commencement of his rule.
• in his stead:
  • In his stead (Hebrew: תַּחְתָּיו, takhtav): Literally "under him" or "in his place." This clearly indicates a direct, dynastic succession. The peaceful and expected transfer of power is underscored, despite the turmoil and apostasy plaguing the Northern Kingdom.

Word-groups Analysis:

• "Jehoahaz slept with his fathers": This phrase functions as a customary biblical epitaph for a deceased monarch who died a natural death and was succeeded by a descendant. It primarily emphasizes genealogical continuity and the stable transfer of power within the ruling dynasty, rather than passing judgment on the king's life or spiritual standing before God. The repetition of this phrase across multiple reigns underscores the regularity of such events in the course of biblical history.
• "and they buried him in Samaria": This reinforces the identity and geographic allegiance of Jehoahaz as a king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Samaria, as the royal burial site, differentiates him from the kings of Judah buried in Jerusalem, signifying the division of the kingdoms even in death. This also implies a proper royal funeral and interment, indicating a stable, recognized transition.
• "and Joash his son reigned in his stead": This completes the traditional obituary for a king in the Books of Kings. It declares the formal succession, establishing Joash as the next monarch and setting the stage for his subsequent reign described later in the chapter and book. It highlights the hereditary nature of the monarchy in both kingdoms.

2 Kings 13 9 Bonus section

The formulaic nature of death and succession announcements in 1 and 2 Kings serves multiple purposes:

• Historical Documentation: It provides a standardized and concise method of chronicling the reigns of various monarchs.
• Theological Perspective: By noting the king "slept with his fathers," the Bible emphasizes God's sovereign control over life and death, and the established order of His providence, even when human actions are disobedient. This also contrasts with the deaths of those outside this formula, which might signify divine judgment or an abnormal end (e.g., Ahaziah of Judah dying from an accidental fall after inquiring of Baal-zebub in 2 Ki 1:2,4).
• Continuity of Monarchy: The consistent pattern of "sleeping with his fathers" and a son reigning "in his stead" highlights the dynastic principle in Israel and Judah, despite periods of usurpation or regicide, showing God's overarching plan for the Davidic line in Judah and His forbearance with the established Israelite lines.
• Focus on Reign, Not Death: The succinct description of death directs the reader's focus not to the specifics of the death itself, but to the nature of the reign and its impact, followed by the transition to the next monarch. This foregrounds the theological assessment of each king's actions against God's law.

2 Kings 13 9 Commentary

2 Kings 13:9 concisely brings to an end the reign of Jehoahaz, one of the more oppressed kings of Israel. Despite his wickedness and walking "in the sins of Jeroboam" (2 Ki 13:2), the verse records his death with the standard formula, "slept with his fathers." This formal phrasing, applied consistently to kings regardless of their moral standing, emphasizes the continuity of dynastic succession established by God, even among unfaithful monarchs. His burial in Samaria underscores his position as a legitimate king of the northern kingdom, distinguishing him from the kings of Judah. The peaceful succession to his son Joash signals the continuation of the kingdom despite the pressures and internal spiritual decay. This transition is not a sign of divine approval of Jehoahaz's reign, but rather the sovereign outworking of God's allowance for kings to rise and fall, as the narrative prepares for Joash's reign, which would still see a struggle with idolatry but also, notably, limited divine intervention through the prophet Elisha, indicating God's persistent covenant faithfulness even to a wayward people.