2 Kings 21:26 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

2 Kings 21:26 kjv

And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

2 Kings 21:26 nkjv

And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. Then Josiah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 21:26 niv

He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.

2 Kings 21:26 esv

And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 21:26 nlt

He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. Then his son Josiah became the next king.

2 Kings 21 26 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
2 Kgs 21:19-20	Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign... And he did what was evil... as Manasseh his father had done.	Amon's wickedness continued Manasseh's evil.
2 Chr 33:21-22	Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign... And he did what was evil... as Manasseh his father had done.	Parallel account of Amon's wicked reign.
2 Kgs 21:23	And the servants of Amon conspired against him and put the king to death...	Details Amon's assassination by his own staff.
2 Chr 33:24-25	But his servants conspired against him... but the people of the land struck down all who had conspired...	Parallel account of Amon's assassination and public response.
2 Kgs 21:18	And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of Uzza...	Amon's father, Manasseh, was also buried here.
2 Chr 33:20	So Manasseh slept with his fathers... buried in his house...	Manasseh's burial, perhaps same location.
2 Kgs 22:1	Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign...	Josiah's young age upon ascending the throne.
2 Chr 34:1	Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign...	Parallel account of Josiah's accession.
2 Kgs 22:2	And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord... and did not turn aside...	Josiah's distinct righteousness.
2 Chr 34:2	He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David...	Parallel confirmation of Josiah's devotion.
2 Sam 7:12-16	Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me...	God's covenant with David for an enduring lineage.
Ps 89:3-4	I have made a covenant with my chosen one... I will establish your offspring forever...	Reiterates the divine promise to David's throne.
Prov 21:1	The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.	God's ultimate sovereignty over rulers and succession.
Dan 2:21	He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings...	God's authority to establish and depose rulers.
Isa 45:1	Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus...	God's use of pagan kings for His purposes.
Jer 15:4	I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh...	Manasseh's persistent sin impacted future generations of Judah.
Deut 28:15-68	But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord... curses will come upon you.	Warnings of judgment for disobedience and idolatry.
Jer 23:5-6	Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch...	Foreshadows a future righteous king (Messiah), echoing Josiah's reform.
Zech 6:12	Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Behold, the man whose name is the Branch'...	Another Messianic prophecy related to a righteous king.
Ezr 1:1	In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled...	God works through secular leaders for His will.
1 Kgs 2:10	Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.	Standard burial place for good kings, contrasting Amon.
1 Kgs 15:27-28	Baasha conspired against him, and struck him down... in the third year of Asa...	Example of another king (Nadab) assassinated and succeeded.

2 Kings 21 verses

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2 Kings 21 26 Meaning

This verse describes the finality of King Amon's life, stating his burial in a private tomb within the garden of Uzza, and immediately details the succession of his son, Josiah, to the throne of Judah. It marks a transition point in the kingdom's history, moving from the profound wickedness of Manasseh and Amon to the unexpected righteous reign of Josiah.

2 Kings 21 26 Context

Chapter 21 of 2 Kings documents a dark period in Judah's history, immediately preceding the final fall of the kingdom. It details the reign of Manasseh, Judah's most wicked king, who filled Jerusalem with idolatry, human sacrifice, and every form of abominable worship, completely reversing the reforms of his father Hezekiah. God pronounced judgment upon Judah because of Manasseh's sins. Amon, Manasseh's son, continued his father's wicked ways, doing "what was evil in the sight of the Lord" for the entirety of his two-year reign (2 Kgs 21:19-22). The swift end of Amon's reign through assassination by his own servants (2 Kgs 21:23) underscores the instability and moral decay within the royal court. The people's subsequent actions—striking down the conspirators and placing Josiah, Amon's son, on the throne—demonstrate their desire for continuity of the Davidic line and possibly for stability, setting the stage for the dramatic and much-needed spiritual reforms of Josiah.

2 Kings 21 26 Word Analysis

And he was buried: (וַיִּקָּבֵר - wa-yiq-qā-ḇêr) This Hebrew verb (Qal Imperfect, vayyiktol) denotes a completed action, emphasizing the immediate and definite end of King Amon's earthly reign and life. The quick burial signifies his removal and the rapid transition of power, a common practice to avoid interregnum after an assassination.
in his tomb: (בְּקִבְרָתוֹ - biq-ḇrā-ṯōw) Literally "in his burial-place." This location contrasts significantly with the traditional "tombs of the kings" within the City of David where most righteous Davidic kings were interred. This specific note, similar to Manasseh's burial, indicates either a deliberate deviation, perhaps reflecting disfavor or judgment against him due to his wickedness and assassination, or simply a practical choice given the sudden death. It suggests a more private, familial burial rather than a state one with his forebears.
in the garden of Uzza: (בְּגַן־עֻזָּא - bə-ḡan-Uz·zā) "Garden" (גַּן - gan) refers to a cultivated park or orchard. "Uzza" (עֻזָּא - Uzza) likely derives from a root meaning "strength" or "might." This exact location is also explicitly named as the burial place of Manasseh (2 Kgs 21:18). It may have been a royal estate or family plot that Manasseh acquired, possibly distant from the main royal burial grounds to separate himself and his lineage from previous kings or due to his extensive defilement of Jerusalem's sacred spaces. Its repeated mention underlines a continuity of the family's specific burial choice, diverging from the traditional practice.
and Josiah his son: (וְיֹאשִׁיָּהוּ בְנוֹ - wî·šiy·yā·hū·ḇə·nōw) This phrase signals a pivotal moment. Despite Amon's wickedness, the line of David continued, a testament to God's enduring covenant. Josiah's name (יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ - Yōʾšîyāhū) means "YHWH supports" or "YHWH heals." His accession, at the young age of eight (2 Kgs 22:1), marks a miraculous shift towards righteousness in Judah after decades of deep apostasy. This unexpected righteous heir demonstrates God's sovereign control over even the most degenerate political and spiritual climates.
reigned in his place: (תַּחְתָּיו - taḥ·tāw) This common succession formula signifies the immediate and official transfer of kingship. The people's decisive action to appoint Josiah, rather than allowing chaos or foreign interference after the regicide, points to their commitment to the legitimate Davidic succession and a desire for stability, albeit unknowing of the righteous reforms Josiah would usher in. This swift transition reaffirms the divine guarantee of the Davidic dynasty's continuity, even amidst great moral failings.

2 Kings 21 26 Bonus section

The specific choice of the "garden of Uzza" as a burial site for both Manasseh and Amon suggests a generational trend in diverging from the established norms of royal interment. This could indicate a deliberate familial practice, or it might imply a certain spiritual disjunction, as these two kings were notorious for their widespread idolatry and defilement of the land, unlike their righteous ancestors. Josiah's birth during Manasseh's long, wicked reign and his coming to power after the brief, similarly evil reign of Amon speaks powerfully to the Lord's hand in history, bringing forth a spirit of reform even in the most unlikely circumstances and timings. This generational contrast between the fathers' extreme wickedness and the son's extraordinary godliness serves as a profound biblical example of God's grace to intervene in human affairs and provide an opportunity for repentance and restoration, regardless of previous widespread sin.

2 Kings 21 26 Commentary

2 Kings 21:26 swiftly concludes the two-year, entirely wicked reign of Amon, highlighting the unceremonious nature of his demise through assassination. His burial in the "garden of Uzza," shared with his father Manasseh, is notable, deviating from the more prestigious royal sepulchers in the City of David. This could symbolize a separation from the esteemed legacy of earlier Davidic kings, or it might simply reflect a family burial plot acquired by Manasseh due to his apostasy or the circumstances of Amon's death. The subsequent, critical piece of information is the immediate ascension of Amon's son, Josiah. This transition from a thoroughly evil lineage (Manasseh, Amon) to an unexpectedly righteous young king demonstrates God's surprising sovereignty and enduring commitment to His covenant with David, even amidst national apostasy. Josiah, who would become one of Judah's most devout kings, began a powerful, albeit temporary, revival. The swiftness of Josiah's enthronement underscores the people's desire for order and continuity in the kingdom, preserving the Davidic line despite the moral decline of the preceding kings.