2 Kings 21:24 kjv
And the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
2 Kings 21:24 nkjv
But the people of the land executed all those who had conspired against King Amon. Then the people of the land made his son Josiah king in his place.
2 Kings 21:24 niv
Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.
2 Kings 21:24 esv
But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
2 Kings 21:24 nlt
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah the next king.
2 Kings 21 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Ki 11:14 | ...behold, the king stood by the pillar, as was the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced... | Am ha'arets involved in king-making (Joash). |
| 2 Ki 11:18 | Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down... | Am ha'arets executing divine will and cleansing land. |
| 2 Ki 11:20 | So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been slain with the sword in the king's house. | Am ha'arets ensures legitimate succession and peace. |
| 2 Ki 14:21 | And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. | Am ha'arets (or people of Judah) making a new king. |
| 2 Ki 12:20-21 | ...And his servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash in the house of Millo... his son Amaziah became king in his place. | Joash also assassinated, but his son avenged him later, not 'people of land' immediately. |
| 1 Ki 15:27 | Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him, and Baasha struck him down... | Example of another conspiracy/regicide. |
| 1 Ki 16:9-10 | ...Zimri, his servant, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him... Zimri went in and struck him down and killed him... | Example of another conspiracy/regicide. |
| 2 Ki 15:10 | Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah the son of Jeroboam... | Example of another conspiracy. |
| 2 Ki 9:24-26 | And Jehu drew his bow... and he struck Jehoram between his arms... surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the LORD... | Divine justice meted out against wicked kings/families. |
| Deut 17:6 | On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death... | Principle of justice in capital cases. |
| Ex 21:12 | Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. | General principle of capital punishment for murder. |
| Rom 13:4 | For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. | Rulers exercise divine justice and punishment. |
| Ps 101:8 | Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD. | Ideal for a righteous ruler to execute justice. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise... | God's ultimate sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Prov 28:16 | A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates dishonest gain will lengthen his days. | Righteous governance brings stability. |
| Prov 29:2 | When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. | Reaction to leadership quality, implied by choosing Josiah after Amon. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | When your days are fulfilled... I will raise up your offspring after you... I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever... | God's covenant promising an eternal dynasty for David, upheld here. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever...'" | Reinforces the divine promise for the Davidic line. |
| Isa 37:22 | ...The virgin daughter of Zion despises you, scorn you... | God protects Judah despite its kings' wickedness, highlighting divine preservation. |
| Lam 4:12 | The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem. | Emphasis on stability and the king's importance to national security. |
2 Kings 21 verses
2 Kings 21 24 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate and decisive reaction of the "people of the land" (Hebrew: am ha'arets) to the assassination of King Amon. After Amon's own servants conspired against him and killed him in his palace, this powerful group within Judah executed the conspirators. They then ensured a smooth succession by making Amon's young son, Josiah, king in his father's place, thus maintaining the Davidic royal lineage and restoring order.
2 Kings 21 24 Context
Chapter 21 of 2 Kings presents a bleak picture of Judah's monarchy leading up to Josiah. Amon's reign, though short, was marked by the continuation of his father Manasseh's idolatrous and wicked practices (2 Ki 21:20-22). Unlike Manasseh, Amon never humbled himself before the Lord. This chronic unfaithfulness culminated in his assassination by his own servants (2 Ki 21:23). Verse 24 is the crucial pivot, detailing the immediate response to this regicide. The swift intervention of "the people of the land" (likely powerful landholders or elders) ensured that chaos did not ensue and that the legitimate Davidic line was preserved. This direct intervention set the stage for the ascension of Josiah, Amon's young son, who would become one of Judah's most righteous kings and initiate a profound spiritual reformation. Historically, this period also saw the decline of Assyrian power, which might have contributed to a greater assertion of local authority by groups like the am ha'arets.
2 Kings 21 24 Word analysis
- But: (וַיַּכּוּ֙, wa-yakkū) This marks a turn in events, showing a reaction or consequence to the preceding assassination.
- the people of the land: (
am-hā’āreṣ, עַם־הָאָ֖רֶץ)am(עַם): Means 'people', 'nation', or 'community'.hā’āreṣ(הָאָרֶץ): 'the land' or 'country', indicating Judah.- Combined,
am ha'aretsdenotes a specific influential sociopolitical group in Judah. They were not merely the general populace but a significant entity (likely landowners, elders, or those with significant political/economic power) often involved in establishing and maintaining kingship, especially during times of crisis. They functioned as a legitimizing body, ensuring continuity and order. Their intervention here, similar to the installation of Joash (2 Ki 11), underscores their vital role in preserving the Davidic dynasty and stability. This act implicitly opposes chaotic transitions and validates proper, albeit non-divine-choice succession.
- struck down: (וַיַּכּוּ֙, wa-yakkū) From the root נכ"ה (nāḵāh), 'to strike', 'smite', 'kill'. This is a decisive and often violent action, signifying the execution of justice.
- all those who had conspired: (
et-kāl-haqōšrīm, אֶת־כָּל־הַקֹּשְׁרִ֑ים)haqōšrīm(הַקֹּשְׁרִים): 'the conspirators'. From the root קשׁר (qāshar), meaning 'to bind', 'tie together', 'conspire'. This highlights their treacherous, unlawful agreement against the king.
- against King Amon: (
al-hammeleḵ ’āmōn, עַל־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אָמ֖וֹן) Clearly identifies the target of the conspiracy and the victim. - and the people of the land: (
wa-yaməlîkū֙, וַיַּמְלִ֙יכוּ֙) Reinforces the consistent and unified action of this influential group. - made...king: (
wa-yaməlîkū֙, וַיַּמְלִ֙יכוּ֙) Hiphil (causative) form of מל"ך (mālak), 'to reign'. Means 'to cause to reign', 'to install as king'. This highlights their authority and capacity to establish a new ruler. - Josiah his son in his place: (
et-yōšiyyāhū bənōw taḥtāw, אֶת־יֹאשִׁיָּ֥הוּ בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו)- Josiah: (יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, Yōšiyyāhū) His name means "Yahweh supports" or "Yahweh heals," ironically preceding his future reign as Judah's great reforming king who would bring about spiritual healing.
- his son: Emphasizes the preservation of the direct Davidic line.
- in his place: Denotes proper succession and transition of authority.
Words-group analysis:
- "But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon": This phrase underlines the decisive and severe retribution meted out against regicides. The swift action of the
am ha'aretsdemonstrates their strong aversion to lawlessness and rebellion against the reigning monarch, even one as wicked as Amon. It served as a clear statement that such usurpations would not be tolerated and aimed to restore judicial order and uphold stability. - "and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place": This confirms the critical role of the
am ha'aretsin ensuring legitimate succession, particularly within the Davidic dynasty. Their immediate installation of Josiah underscores their desire for stability, continuity, and perhaps even a tacit hope for a return to righteous kingship after Amon's idolatry. Their actions effectively cleared the way for a crucial, God-ordained period of reform under King Josiah.
2 Kings 21 24 Bonus section
The consistent involvement of the am ha'arets in securing the Davidic succession (seen previously with Joash in 2 Ki 11 and Azariah/Uzziah in 2 Ki 14) suggests a divinely-sanctioned, though not explicitly stated, role in times of political upheaval. Their actions demonstrate a pragmatic blend of political power and an apparent commitment to the enduring covenant promises God made to David's house (2 Sam 7:12-16). Their swift installation of Josiah was crucial, as it meant Judah quickly moved from a king described as doing "what was evil in the sight of the Lord" to one who would later be praised for doing "what was right in the sight of the Lord" (2 Ki 21:20; 22:2), thus fulfilling the purpose of preserving the royal line until the time of God's Messiah.
2 Kings 21 24 Commentary
2 Kings 21:24 portrays a pivotal moment in Judah's history, showcasing the significant power and influence of the "people of the land" (the am ha'arets). Far from being a passive populace, this group acted as guardians of order and the legitimate royal line. Their swift execution of King Amon's assassins was a potent act of justice, upholding the sanctity of the kingship and rejecting chaos. By immediately placing Josiah, Amon's young son, on the throne, they ensured the continuity of the Davidic covenant and prevented further instability following the regicide. This verse stands in stark contrast to the wickedness of Amon and Manasseh, setting the stage for the reign of Josiah, a king who would champion Judah's greatest spiritual revival. It underscores that even in periods of royal apostasy, a powerful element within Judah remained committed to divine order and the well-being of the nation.