2 Kings 15 38

2 Kings 15:38 kjv

And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

2 Kings 15:38 nkjv

So Jotham rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 15:38 niv

Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.

2 Kings 15:38 esv

Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 15:38 nlt

When Jotham died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king.

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 38 Meaning

This verse succinctly records the peaceful passing of King Jotham of Judah, his burial in the traditional royal sepulcher in Jerusalem, and the immediate succession of his son Ahaz to the throne. It marks a significant transition point in the history of the Kingdom of Judah.

2 Kings 15 38 Context

Chapter 15 of 2 Kings documents a turbulent period for both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It chronicles a rapid succession of kings in Israel, often marked by regicide and instability. In Judah, King Azariah (also known as Uzziah) reigned for 52 years, during which Jotham, his son, acted as regent due to Azariah's leprosy (2 Kgs 15:5). This verse marks the peaceful end of Jotham's own sixteen-year reign (2 Kgs 15:33). Jotham's reign is notable for its righteousness in comparison to many of his contemporaries; he "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (2 Kgs 15:34), though the persistent issue of high places remained. His death signals the departure of a relatively stable period in Judah and introduces Ahaz, a king who would bring severe idolatry and national crisis, directly contrasting his father's actions. The burial in the "City of David" underscores Jotham's legitimate position in the lineage of David.

2 Kings 15 38 Word analysis

• And Jotham slept with his fathers,

  • "Jotham" (Hebrew: יוֹתָם, Yotham): Meaning "The Lord is perfect" or "The Lord is upright." He was King of Judah from 750–735 BC, acting as regent before full kingship. His name reflects his generally righteous conduct.
  • "slept with his fathers" (Hebrew: שָׁכַב עִם־אֲבֹתָיו, shakhav im-avotav): This is a recurring, polite biblical idiom for death, particularly for kings and patriarchs (e.g., David, Solomon). It implies a peaceful passing, often into ancestral rest, without necessarily defining the afterlife state, but acknowledging that the person joins their predecessors. It signifies the end of their earthly life and reign.

• and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father:

  • "buried" (Hebrew: קָבַר, qavar): Denotes a customary, proper funeral and interment. Jotham received an honorable burial, affirming his legitimate reign.
  • "with his fathers": Again highlights his familial connection and placement among the kings of Judah. It means he was laid to rest with other members of the royal family, reinforcing the dynastic continuity.
  • "City of David" (Hebrew: עִיר דָּוִיד, Ir David): This refers to Jerusalem, specifically the oldest part of the city, which was captured by King David and served as the capital. It became the traditional burial site for many Judean kings, a symbol of their belonging to the Davidic lineage and their rule from the consecrated capital. His father Uzziah was buried near them (2 Chr 26:23), confirming this tradition.
  • "his father": Refers to Jotham's actual father, King Uzziah (Azariah), who also reigned from Jerusalem and would have been buried there, though Jotham was interred in the city named for the patriarch David, aligning with a tradition for righteous kings of Judah.

• and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

  • "Ahaz" (Hebrew: אָחָז, Achaz): Meaning "He has grasped" or "possessor." Ahaz proved to be one of Judah's most unfaithful and idolatrous kings. The simple statement here masks the profound shift in Judah's spiritual and political direction that his reign would bring.
  • "his son": Direct patriarchal succession, a hallmark of the Judean monarchy, maintaining the Davidic line. This distinguishes Judah's more stable dynastic rule from Israel's frequent regime changes.
  • "reigned in his stead" (Hebrew: וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו, vayimlokh tachtaiv): A standard phrase denoting the transfer of royal authority and the legitimate succession to the throne. It concludes the description of Jotham's reign and ushers in the new monarch.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers": This idiomatic coupling consistently marks the conclusion of a king's life and reign in the biblical narrative, emphasizing continuity, royal dignity, and their joining the line of ancestors, especially in contrast to those who died violently or were not buried honourably.
  • "in the City of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead": The precise identification of the burial place, tied to the royal lineage (David), combined with the clear succession statement, affirms the stability of the Davidic covenant and the legitimate transfer of power, despite the contrasting character of the incoming king, Ahaz. This also reinforces Jerusalem's status as the capital and religious center.

2 Kings 15 38 Bonus section

• The phrase "slept with his fathers" not only indicates death but also implies a legitimate, non-violent death in contrast to several previous kings in both Israel and Judah in 2 Kings 15 who met violent ends.
• The continued succession of the Davidic line through Jotham to Ahaz is crucial for the larger biblical narrative, as it is through this unbroken lineage that the Messiah, Jesus, would eventually come, even with wicked kings like Ahaz in the ancestral chain (Matt 1:9). God's covenant with David endured through various kings, both righteous and unrighteous.
• While Jotham himself was righteous, the lingering problem of "the high places" (2 Kgs 15:35) underscores the deep-seated idolatrous tendencies among the people and perhaps the limits of even a good king's reforms without radical national spiritual renewal.

2 Kings 15 38 Commentary

2 Kings 15:38 concisely records the peaceful end of Jotham's sixteen-year reign over Judah and the ascension of his son Ahaz. This seemingly simple historical note holds deep significance. Jotham is characterized as a king who largely "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (2 Kgs 15:34), maintaining a period of relative stability and even building some infrastructure (2 Chr 27:3-6). His burial "in the City of David" reinforces his legitimate place in the divinely-ordained Davidic lineage and tradition, highlighting a significant contrast with the tumultuous regicides common in the northern kingdom of Israel during this era.

The transition to "Ahaz his son reigned in his stead" marks a pivotal moment for Judah. While Jotham maintained faithfulness, albeit imperfectly due to the unremoved high places, Ahaz would notoriously abandon the worship of Yahweh for widespread idolatry, even practicing child sacrifice and aligning Judah with foreign powers. This verse, therefore, sets the stage for a dramatic decline in Judah's spiritual and national fortunes, illustrating the profound impact of leadership on a nation's destiny and revealing God's sustained, though challenging, preservation of the Davidic line despite the wickedness of individual kings.