2 Kings 14 29

2 Kings 14:29 kjv

And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

2 Kings 14:29 nkjv

So Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. Then Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 14:29 niv

Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.

2 Kings 14:29 esv

And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 14:29 nlt

When Jeroboam II died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Zechariah became the next king.

2 Kings 14 verses

2 Kings 14 29 Meaning

This verse records the formal end of Jeroboam II's remarkably long and militarily successful reign over the northern kingdom of Israel and marks the beginning of his son Zechariah's short period on the throne. It serves as a conventional summary statement of a monarch's death and succession within the books of Kings, highlighting the continuity of the Israelite monarchy.

2 Kings 14 29 Context

Chapter 14 of 2 Kings primarily details the reigns of Amaziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel. Verses 23-28 specifically focus on Jeroboam II, who reigns an astonishing 41 years in Samaria. Despite continuing the idolatrous ways of his infamous namesake, Jeroboam son of Nebat, his reign is portrayed as one of great military success. He restored the traditional borders of Israel from Hamath in the north to the Sea of the Arabah in the south, recovering territories lost due to previous invasions. This territorial restoration is notably attributed to "the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet" (2 Kgs 14:25). This verse (2 Kings 14:29) then serves as the final, concise summary statement, signifying the conclusion of this lengthy and significant period in Israel's history and introducing the successor from Jehu's dynasty. Historically, Jeroboam II's reign corresponds to the 8th century BCE, a time of Assyrian ascent and internal spiritual decay in Israel, despite material prosperity, a stark reality often denounced by contemporary prophets like Amos and Hosea. The peaceful succession mentioned in this verse stands in poignant contrast to the chaos that would follow the end of Jeroboam II's dynastic line shortly thereafter.

2 Kings 14 29 Word analysis

• And (וְ / ve-): A conjunction, seamlessly linking this concluding statement to the preceding account of Jeroboam's reign, indicating sequence and continuation of the narrative flow.
• Jeroboam (יָרָבְעָם / Yarov'am): Refers to Jeroboam II, son of Joash. His name means "the people multiply" or "may the people contend." He is distinct from Jeroboam I, who initiated the calf worship in Dan and Bethel. This Jeroboam also continued in idolatry (2 Kgs 14:24), reflecting the spiritual state of the Northern Kingdom.
• slept (שָׁכַב / shakav): A common biblical euphemism for death, particularly for those who die peacefully or naturally. It signifies the end of one's earthly life without violent termination. This term emphasizes the natural passing, typical for aged monarchs, rather than an assassination.
• with his fathers (עִם־אֲבֹתָיו / im-avotav): This phrase indicates joining one's ancestors in death, often implies burial in the family or royal tomb. It signifies a respectful passing within the line of one's lineage, recognizing one's place within the family or tribal heritage, but it does not convey anything about the spiritual state or salvation of the individual.
• even with (וְאֶל־ / ve'el-): A connecting phrase that specifies the context of "his fathers" for Jeroboam – among the royal lineage, confirming his legitimate status as a king.
• the kings of Israel (מַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל / malchei Yisrael): This denotes his place among the reigning monarchs of the Northern Kingdom. It highlights his royal burial in Samaria, the capital, affirming his status within the established, albeit often volatile, line of kings distinct from the Davidic line in Judah.
• and Zechariah (וּזְכַרְיָהוּ / uzehkaryahu): Jeroboam II's son and immediate successor. His name means "Yahweh has remembered."
• his son (בְּנוֹ / b'no): Confirms the dynastic succession, establishing a clear lineal transition from father to son.
• reigned (מָלַךְ / malach): Signifies the formal act of taking the throne and exercising royal authority, the commencement of a new reign.
• in his stead (תַּחְתָּיו / tachtayv): Meaning "under him" or "in his place," clearly indicating Zechariah's accession to the throne as the replacement for his deceased father.

• Words-group: "slept with his fathers": This conventional ancient Near Eastern funerary phrase marks a natural death, implying the individual was gathered to their departed ancestors. In the biblical context, it refers to a peaceful demise and burial within ancestral burial grounds, suggesting continuity and legacy rather than violent or premature end. For kings, it particularly points to royal sepulchers and dignified burial.
• Words-group: "even with the kings of Israel": This expands upon "slept with his fathers," specifically denoting Jeroboam II's burial in the royal tombs of the Northern Kingdom's monarchs. It underscores his established place in the lineage of Israelite kings, recognizing his reign as legitimate within that specific kingdom.
• Words-group: "and Zechariah his son reigned in his stead": This phrase represents the standard formula for recording a dynastic succession. While seemingly straightforward and indicative of continuity, in the volatile Northern Kingdom of Israel, such a succession often preceded a rapid decline or assassination, as would tragically be the case for Zechariah, ending Jehu's dynasty and plunging Israel into further chaos (2 Kgs 15:8-10).

2 Kings 14 29 Bonus section

• Jeroboam II's reign, although divinely extended out of pity for Israel's suffering (2 Kgs 14:26-27), was not an indication of God's approval of the spiritual state of the kingdom. The material prosperity masked a deep spiritual decay, leading to prophetic judgments (e.g., Amos 6:1-7; Hos 4:1-3).
• The stability suggested by a son succeeding his father "in his stead" (a hallmark of the Davidic dynasty in Judah) was a fleeting phenomenon in the Northern Kingdom. This verse, therefore, highlights a brief moment of apparent continuity that quickly disintegrates in the subsequent historical narrative, underscoring the chronic instability inherent in Israel's leadership, which frequently fell short of the divine ideal for kingship.
• The fact that Zechariah is "his son" completes the promised four-generation dynasty to Jehu (2 Kgs 10:30), after which the kingdom of Israel rapidly destabilizes with a series of assassinations and short reigns.

2 Kings 14 29 Commentary

2 Kings 14:29 formally concludes the detailed account of Jeroboam II, whose forty-one-year reign stands out as remarkably long and militarily triumphant in the Northern Kingdom's history. Despite this unprecedented national prosperity and restoration of territory—fulfilling prophecy spoken by Jonah—Jeroboam II continued the deeply ingrained idolatrous practices of his predecessors (2 Kgs 14:24), attracting strong condemnations from prophets like Amos and Hosea. The phrase "slept with his fathers" signifies a natural and dignified end to his rule, contrasting with the often violent ends of other Israelite kings. The verse then declares the immediate, dynastic succession by his son Zechariah, employing the standard royal formula. This seemingly stable transition, however, immediately foreshadows the inherent fragility of Israel's monarchy, as Zechariah's reign would prove to be tragically short, ending the Jehu dynasty and initiating a period of extreme political instability for the northern kingdom before its ultimate demise.