2 Kings 16 20

2 Kings 16:20 kjv

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

2 Kings 16:20 nkjv

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

2 Kings 16:20 niv

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

2 Kings 16:20 esv

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

2 Kings 16:20 nlt

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

2 Kings 16 verses

2 Kings 16 20 Meaning

This verse records the formal conclusion of the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, stating his death, his burial "with his fathers" in Jerusalem, and the immediate and legitimate succession of his son Hezekiah to the throne. It is a standard formula used in the Books of Kings to mark the end of a king's rule and the continuity of the Davidic dynasty.

2 Kings 16 20 Context

This verse concludes the narrative of King Ahaz's reign (735-715 BC) in Judah. Ahaz was infamous for his extreme apostasy and idolatry, which included worshipping Baal, practicing child sacrifice, and adopting Assyrian pagan religious practices into the Jerusalem Temple (2 Kgs 16:3-4, 10-18; 2 Chr 28:1-5). His foreign policy, marked by forming an oppressive alliance with Assyria instead of trusting in the Lord, plunged Judah into national humiliation and spiritual degradation. Therefore, this seemingly routine conclusion to a king's reign is deeply significant; it signals the end of a very dark and corrupt period in Judah’s history and ushers in the reign of Hezekiah, one of Judah's most righteous kings, who would undertake extensive religious reforms and restore trust in the Lord. The transition embodies a shift from profound national wickedness to a season of spiritual revival.

2 Kings 16 20 Word analysis

• "So Ahaz": This introduction designates the king whose reign has concluded. Ahaz (Hebrew: 'Achaz, meaning "he has grasped" or "possessor") was one of Judah's most rebellious kings against the covenant with Yahweh. The "So" simply marks the consequential transition to the king's demise.
• "slept with his fathers": (Hebrew: שָׁכַב עִם אֲבֹתָיו, shakháv ‘im avōtāv). This phrase is a common biblical euphemism for death. It suggests a peaceful end and being gathered to one's ancestors, often used for both righteous and wicked kings (e.g., David, Solomon, Jeroboam), signifying the universal reality of death and the succession of dynastic rule. It denotes the cessation of earthly authority and physical life.
• "and was buried with his fathers": (Hebrew: וַיִּקָּבֵר עִם אֲבֹתָיו, vayyiqqāvḗr ‘im avōtāv). This indicates interment in the family or dynastic burial plot, common for kings of Judah. While 2 Kings 16:20 gives this general statement, 2 Chronicles 28:27 significantly adds that he was buried in the city of Jerusalem but "not in the tombs of the kings of Israel." This latter detail reveals that Ahaz, despite being buried in the capital, was denied the more honorable, sacred burial site designated for the faithful Davidic kings due to his extensive apostasy, indicating a posthumous mark of divine displeasure.
• "in the city of David": (Hebrew: בְּעִיר דָּוִד, be‘îr Dāvîd). This refers to Jerusalem, specifically the older, original part often called Zion, where the royal sepulchres for Davidic kings were typically located. His burial there affirmed his legitimate status as a king of Judah, even while his religious practices contradicted the values of his namesake ancestor, David.
• "and Hezekiah his son": (Hebrew: וַיִּמְלֹךְ חִזְקִיָּהוּ בְנֹו, vayyimloḵ Ḥizqiyyā́hū benô). This names the rightful successor, King Hezekiah (meaning "Yahweh strengthens"). Hezekiah’s ascent signifies a monumental shift from his father's apostasy. He is widely presented as one of Judah's most righteous and reforming kings, making his succession a crucial pivot point in biblical history.
• "reigned in his place": (Hebrew: תַּחְתָּיו, taḥtā́w). This final part of the formula confirms the formal and immediate transfer of royal authority, ensuring the continuity of the Davidic dynasty without interruption. This reinforces the theological message that despite Ahaz’s severe wickedness, God's covenant promises regarding David’s lineage remained secure.

Words-group Analysis:

• "So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David": This segment uses the highly formulaic language found throughout Kings. Its purpose is to affirm the chronological and dynastic conclusion of a monarch's rule. For Ahaz, despite the common phrasing, the concurrent account in Chronicles suggests that while he was interred in the general royal burial area in Jerusalem, his profound unfaithfulness meant he was excluded from the most honored specific royal tombs. This highlights a nuanced divine judgment upon his reign within the standard historical record.
• "and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place": This part marks the formal transition of power. It is paramount as it points to the beginning of a starkly contrasting era. Following Ahaz's deeply idolatrous reign, Hezekiah’s accession introduces a period of spiritual revival and renewed dedication to Yahweh (2 Chr 29-32). This seamless succession demonstrates God’s ongoing faithfulness to the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7:12-16) and His providential control over history, raising up a righteous king precisely when the nation was in desperate need of spiritual redirection.

2 Kings 16 20 Bonus section

The seemingly slight variation in the accounts of Ahaz's burial between 2 Kings 16:20 ("buried with his fathers in the city of David") and 2 Chronicles 28:27 ("buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel") offers a vital insight into the theological perspective of the Chronicler. Kings presents a factual historical record using a standard formula, focusing on his burial within the capital. Chronicles, however, provides a more discerning, theological commentary. By stating that Ahaz was not placed in the sacred tombs specifically designated for the most esteemed kings of Israel, it delivers a verdict of profound divine displeasure. This distinction signals that Ahaz's extensive apostasy rendered him unworthy of the full honors bestowed upon kings who walked faithfully with the Lord. This theological note heightens the anticipation for Hezekiah's reign, emphasizing the contrast and the urgent need for the spiritual purification that his son would bring.

2 Kings 16 20 Commentary

2 Kings 16:20 provides a succinct record of the end of King Ahaz's wicked reign and the beginning of Hezekiah's, following a standard historiographical pattern in the Books of Kings. Though brief, this verse encapsulates a profound theological and historical transition for Judah. The casual language masks the severe spiritual depravity that characterized Ahaz’s time—marked by child sacrifice, idol worship, and the syncretistic corruption of the Temple. His "sleeping with his fathers" concludes this dark period, emphasizing that even wicked rulers are subject to the limitations of earthly life. The phrase "buried with his fathers in the city of David," while generally signifying a legitimate royal burial, subtly foreshadows, through the contrasting Chronicler's account, a posthumous dishonor due to his flagrant disregard for God's covenant. The swift mention of Hezekiah’s succession signifies not merely a dynastic transfer, but a divinely orchestrated change of spiritual direction. Hezekiah's righteous rule would mark a pivotal turn towards nationwide reform and trust in Yahweh, a dramatic shift after the apostasy under his father. This verse thus stands as a gateway, closing an era of divine patience nearing its limit, and opening one of renewal and reform orchestrated by God.