2 Kings 21 22

2 Kings 21:22 kjv

And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD.

2 Kings 21:22 nkjv

He forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.

2 Kings 21:22 niv

He forsook the LORD, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in obedience to him.

2 Kings 21:22 esv

He abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.

2 Kings 21:22 nlt

He abandoned the LORD, the God of his ancestors, and he refused to follow the LORD's ways.

2 Kings 21 verses

2 Kings 21 22 Meaning

2 Kings 21:22 succinctly describes the profound spiritual failure of King Amon of Judah. It states that he intentionally turned away from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, whom his ancestors, from Abraham through the righteous kings, had worshipped. Furthermore, it emphasizes that his conduct and rule were in direct opposition to God's revealed laws and ways, characterized by a deliberate departure from the path of righteousness and fidelity. This brief assessment encapsulates his reign as one of disobedience and apostasy, mirroring and even perpetuating the initial evils of his father, Manasseh.

2 Kings 21 22 Context

King Amon reigned over Judah for a mere two years (approximately 642-640 BC), inheriting a kingdom deeply scarred by the pervasive idolatry of his father, Manasseh. Manasseh's lengthy reign (55 years) was notorious for reintroducing and escalating the very pagan practices that his righteous father Hezekiah had sought to eliminate. This included rebuilding high places, worshipping Baal, venerating the host of heaven, practicing divination, and even sacrificing his children in fire rituals (2 Kgs 21:3-7). While 2 Chronicles 33 records Manasseh's later repentance and attempted reforms, 2 Kings primarily focuses on the depth of his earlier apostasy and its lasting, corrupting impact on Judah. Amon, unfortunately, chose to follow the evil example of Manasseh's initial years rather than any repentance, continuing the proliferation of idol worship. His brief reign further solidified the spiritual decline, making Judah ripe for divine judgment, a fate only delayed by the righteousness of his son, Josiah. The verse serves as a summary condemnation of Amon's spiritual state, explaining why his reign was cut short by assassination.

2 Kings 21 22 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Amon, King of Judah, son of Manasseh. His identity here highlights a king, entrusted with leading God's people, actively choosing to rebel against God's established covenant.
• abandoned (עָזַב 'azav): This Hebrew verb means "to leave," "to forsake," "to utterly relinquish," or "to give up." It implies a deliberate and active choice to turn away, not merely passive neglect. In biblical contexts, 'azav often signifies breaking a covenant or deserting a loyal relationship (Deut 32:15, Jer 2:13). Amon's abandonment was a conscious act of spiritual rebellion against the divine King.
• the LORD (יְהוָה Yahweh): This is the covenant name of God, revealing His personal and relational identity with Israel. By abandoning Yahweh, Amon was not merely discarding a deity among many, but renouncing the exclusive, historical, and redemptive relationship established with Abraham and maintained through Moses and David.
• the God of his fathers: This phrase connects Amon directly to the ancestral lineage of the Israelite faith. It underscores that Amon was not ignorant of God's heritage; rather, he actively rejected the spiritual legacy of generations, including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and righteous kings who worshipped Yahweh. This choice carried immense spiritual weight and historic betrayal, as God had shown faithfulness to these "fathers" and through them, to Israel. It stands as a polemic against syncretistic worship of the Ancient Near East, where other nations easily adopted foreign deities without necessarily abandoning their own. Here, Yahweh demands exclusive devotion.
• and did not walk (וְלֹא הָלַךְ ve'lo halakh): The verb "walk" (הָלַךְ halakh) is a common biblical metaphor for one's way of life, conduct, behavior, and allegiances. "Did not walk" therefore means he did not conduct himself according to, nor live by, the principles and laws of God. This indicates a consistent pattern of disobedience.
• in the way of the LORD: This refers to the entirety of God's revealed will—His commandments, statutes, judgments, and moral principles (e.g., Deut 10:12). It encompasses both outward acts of worship (e.g., pure worship vs. idolatry) and inward attitudes (e.g., justice, righteousness). Amon's "way" was contrary to God's intended path for His people and their leaders.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers": This phrase highlights the covenantal breach. Amon willfully broke loyalty with the specific, historical God of Israel who had entered into an exclusive covenant with them and demonstrated His faithfulness to previous generations. This was a direct violation of the first commandment (Ex 20:3), positioning other gods (or no god) above Yahweh. It also signifies a deliberate turning away from the foundational spiritual identity of the nation.
• "and did not walk in the way of the LORD": This describes the practical manifestation of Amon's abandonment. His actions, policies, and personal life were not aligned with divine instruction. This likely involved permitting or actively promoting idolatry and various pagan practices, mirroring the apostasy of his father Manasseh before his (possible) repentance. It paints a picture of comprehensive spiritual deviation in conduct, showing that his abandonment was not just intellectual, but expressed in his entire reign and lifestyle.

2 Kings 21 22 Bonus section

• Amon's spiritual summary is intentionally brief compared to his father Manasseh (whose evils take up a large portion of 2 Kings 21) or his son Josiah (who receives significant praise for his righteousness). This brevity perhaps emphasizes the futility and unremarkableness of his rebellion from God's perspective. There were no redeeming qualities noted, no reforms, merely a continuation of past apostasy.
• The contrast between Amon's short reign (2 years) and his father Manasseh's long one (55 years), as well as his son Josiah's long and righteous reign (31 years), often serves in biblical theology to show that the length of a king's reign was not necessarily an indicator of divine approval, but God's patience and sovereignty working His larger plan despite human wickedness.
• Amon's choices demonstrate that direct proximity to spiritual heritage (being son of Manasseh, grandson of Hezekiah) does not guarantee faithfulness. Each individual faces a personal choice to abandon or embrace the way of the LORD.

2 Kings 21 22 Commentary

King Amon's two-year reign is captured in this stark verdict, a testament to spiritual degradation. His abandonment of the LORD was a decisive, willful act, signaling a profound break from Judah's spiritual heritage and its covenant God. The phrase "the God of his fathers" intensifies the accusation, revealing a rejection not merely of abstract deity but of the One who had proven faithful to generations of his own family line and the entire nation of Israel. His refusal to "walk in the way of the LORD" means his conduct was thoroughly corrupt, aligning him with the most idolatrous aspects of Manasseh's reign. This short summary tragically underscores that despite having the historical revelation and the example (even a negative one, with Manasseh's potential repentance) of his father, Amon chose deliberate rebellion, sealing his short, inglorious rule and further eroding Judah's spiritual integrity. It speaks to the insidious nature of inherited sin patterns that can lead to deeper personal choices of rebellion.