2 Kings 21 20

2 Kings 21:20 kjv

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.

2 Kings 21:20 nkjv

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done.

2 Kings 21:20 niv

He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done.

2 Kings 21:20 esv

And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done.

2 Kings 21:20 nlt

He did what was evil in the LORD's sight, just as his father, Manasseh, had done.

2 Kings 21 verses

2 Kings 21 20 Meaning

The verse describes the violent assassination of King Amon of Judah by his own servants within his royal residence. It signifies the turbulent nature of his short and wicked reign, where internal disloyalty and plotting culminated in his demise. This act reflects the immediate and dire consequences of unrighteous rule and the instability that grips a kingdom alienated from God.

2 Kings 21 20 Context

King Amon's short reign (642-640 BC) is immediately preceded by that of his father, Manasseh, one of Judah's most wicked kings. Despite Manasseh's later repentance (detailed in 2 Chr 33), Amon continued in the idolatrous practices that had brought much sin upon Judah. His two-year rule, marked by intense idolatry, demonstrated his persistent rebellion against God. The immediate verse itself concludes Amon's brief reign with a violent palace coup, setting the stage for the ascent of his son, Josiah, a righteous king who would initiate significant reforms. The act of "killing him in his house" signifies not only the betrayal but also the instability and vulnerability of a kingdom that had forsaken God's ways.

2 Kings 21 20 Word analysis

• Now: Hebrew wĕ (וְ). Often functions as a conjunction "and" or "but," but here, it signals a transition or a consequential event, linking Amon's actions (described in preceding verses) directly to his end.
• his: Hebrew ‘aḇāḏāw (עֲבָדָיו), from ‘eḇeḏ (עֶבֶד). Refers to servants, officials, or those in his employ. The significance here is the betrayal came from his own trusted staff, implying an intimate act of rebellion, rather than an external enemy. This highlights internal decay and disloyalty within the court.
• servants: See analysis of "his servants" above. The term can denote varying levels of service, from domestic workers to high-ranking officials. In a royal context, these would likely be key officials or close personal attendants who had access to the king.
• conspired: Hebrew qāšərû (קָשְׁרוּ), from the root qāšar (קָשַׁר). Meaning "to bind," "to tie," or figuratively, "to conspire," "to make a league." It indicates a deliberate, organized, and often secret plot or rebellion. It implies a coordinated act, not a spontaneous uprising. This term is consistently used in the Bible for plots against kings (e.g., 1 Sam 22:8, 2 Kgs 12:20, 2 Kgs 15:10).
• against: Hebrew ‘ālāw (עָלָיו), lit. "upon him." This preposition emphasizes the directed nature of the plot toward him.
• him: Refers to King Amon.
• and struck: Hebrew wayyakû (וַיַּכּוּ), from nākāh (נָכָה). Means "to strike," "to hit," often with lethal force. It is a swift, decisive action resulting in injury or death.
• him: King Amon, indicating the target of the physical assault.
• down: Implied by the context of striking lethally, resulting in falling.
• in his: Hebrew bêṯô (בְּבֵיתוֹ), from bayit (בַּיִת). "House" or "palace." This is a crucial detail.
• house: Killing the king in his house (or bêṯ) is profoundly significant. The king's house or palace was meant to be his most secure and private domain. To be assassinated there implies extreme breach of trust, access, and the collapse of his personal security, demonstrating the utter vulnerability and isolation of a king whose authority has crumbled. It also mirrors similar events like Joash's assassination (2 Kgs 12:20).
• killing: Hebrew waymîtuhū (וַיְמִיתֻהוּ), from mûṯ (מוּת). Meaning "to die," or in causative, "to put to death," "to kill." This confirms the fatal outcome of the assault.
• him: Again, referring to King Amon.

Words-group analysis

• "Now his servants conspired against him": This phrase introduces the treachery from within. The king's inner circle, those ostensibly loyal and responsible for his well-being, become his adversaries. This reflects a state of complete moral and political breakdown in the kingdom, often seen as divine judgment for Amon's wicked ways.
• "and struck him down in his house, killing him": This segment vividly depicts the sudden and violent end to Amon's life. The specificity of "in his house" amplifies the shocking nature of the event – the most secure and private space becoming the scene of betrayal and regicide. It underscores the culmination of the conspiracy in the king's demise, making it clear there was no escape.

2 Kings 21 20 Bonus section

The killing of Amon by his own servants contrasts sharply with the "people of the land" (‘am hā’āreṣ), who subsequently executed the conspirators and placed his son Josiah on the throne (2 Kgs 21:24). This indicates a significant public response that restored order and ensured the Davidic lineage continued. While the "people of the land" could be seen as the common people or the landholding aristocracy, their swift and unified action implies a latent desire for order and possibly a hope for righteous rule, distinguishing them from the corrupt court. This collective act underscores God's providential working even through seemingly chaotic political events to establish a king who would champion covenant faithfulness. The specific wording also highlights the recurrent cycle of rebellion, judgment, and the ultimate preservation of God's covenant with David's lineage despite the wickedness of individual kings.

2 Kings 21 20 Commentary

2 Kings 21:20 marks the end of King Amon's brief and notoriously wicked two-year reign in Judah. Having succeeded his equally idolatrous, though later repentant, father Manasseh, Amon proved himself fully devoted to the syncretistic practices of his forebears. His reign continued the rampant idolatry, defiling the land and the people with foreign gods and practices, explicitly walking in "all the ways that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them" (2 Kgs 21:21). The brevity and violent conclusion of his rule speak volumes about divine judgment on an unrepentant monarch who deliberately persisted in apostasy despite witnessing Manasseh's consequences and later change.

The assassination by "his servants" (‘aḇāḏāw) within his "house" (bêṯô) is particularly potent. These servants would have been trusted officials or close attendants, implying a deep level of betrayal and internal decay within the royal court. A king's palace was the stronghold of his authority and safety; its violation highlights his vulnerability and isolation due to his unrighteousness. Such palace coups, orchestrated by disillusioned or ambitious insiders, often occur in unstable regimes lacking divine favor. This specific regicide mirrors earlier ones in Israel's history (e.g., Zimri against Elah, Baasha against Nadab), serving as a recurring biblical motif of divine consequence for wickedness in leadership. The act is not detailed as explicitly God's direct doing, but it is implicitly permitted as an outcome of Amon's persistent evil. The instability culminates in this tragic end, paving the way for the surprising intervention of "the people of the land" (2 Kgs 21:24) who acted decisively to establish righteous Josiah as the new king, reflecting God's ultimate sovereignty over human affairs, even in times of chaos.