2 Kings 8 24

2 Kings 8:24 kjv

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

2 Kings 8:24 nkjv

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

2 Kings 8:24 niv

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

2 Kings 8:24 esv

So Joram slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 8:24 nlt

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

2 Kings 8 verses

2 Kings 8 24 Meaning

2 Kings 8:24 records the death and burial of Joram (also known as Jehoram), king of Judah, marking the end of his reign. It also states the immediate succession of his son, Ahaziah, to the throne of Judah. This verse follows the Deuteronomistic pattern of concluding a king's rule and introducing the next, emphasizing dynastic continuity, especially within the Davidic line.

2 Kings 8 24 Context

2 Kings 8:24 occurs within the narrative of the divided kingdom, specifically focusing on Judah's kings after Jehoshaphat. This chapter also features Elisha's continued ministry, including his interaction with the Shunammite woman whose land is restored (vv. 1-6) and his prophetic appointment of Hazael as king of Aram (vv. 7-15). The immediate verses prior (8:16-23) detail Joram (Jehoram) of Judah's reign, highlighting his wickedness in following the ways of the kings of Israel and his marriage into the idolatrous house of Ahab. Despite Joram's evil, God spares Judah for the sake of His covenant with David, promising to preserve a lamp for him always. Verse 24 is a concluding summary for Joram's rule, acting as a transition to the next king, Ahaziah, whose brief and equally wicked reign is then detailed, ultimately leading to the drastic events involving Athaliah. Historically, this period saw Judah entangled with the northern kingdom of Israel through royal intermarriage and shared political concerns, particularly against Aram.

2 Kings 8 24 Word analysis

• So: (Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁכַּב, wa-yishkav, lit. "And he lay down") This conjunction serves as a concluding transition. It indicates the completion of the prior narrative regarding Joram's reign and moves into the formal announcement of his death and succession, standard for the Deuteronomistic historian.
• Joram: (Hebrew: יוֹרָם, Yorām or Yehôrām) This specifically refers to Jehoram, king of Judah, the son of King Jehoshaphat. He should be distinguished from Jehoram (Joram), king of Israel, Ahab's son, who reigned concurrently for part of this period. The name means "Yahweh is exalted" or "Yahweh is high," ironically given his wicked reign marked by idolatry and murder (2 Chron 21:4-6).
• rested with his fathers: (Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁכַּב עִם־אֲבֹתָיו, wa-yishkav im-ʾavotayv, lit. "and he lay down with his fathers") This is a common Hebrew idiom denoting death and joining ancestors in Sheol, the general realm of the dead. It often carries a sense of peaceful conclusion, though not necessarily spiritual righteousness. It reinforces the concept of continuity within a lineage and often refers to dynastic succession rather than specific moral evaluation.
• and was buried: (Hebrew: וַיִּקָּבֵר, wa-yiqqāvēr, "and he was buried") This signifies a proper, formal burial, contrasting with unburied bodies (Jer 22:19) or a shameful end. It implies adherence to cultural and religious customs for disposing of the deceased, especially kings.
• with his fathers: (Hebrew: אֶת־אֲבֹתָיו, ʾet-ʾavotayv, "with his fathers") This phrase again underscores his placement among his predecessors, emphasizing his royal status and familial heritage within the line of David.
• in the City of David: (Hebrew: בְּעִיר דָּוִד, beʿīr Dāviḏ, "in the city of David") This is ancient Jerusalem, specifically Mount Zion, which served as the royal burial ground for most of Judah's kings from the Davidic dynasty. It signifies a privileged and customary burial site for the legitimate monarchs. However, a significant nuance arises when compared to 2 Chronicles 21:20, which states Joram was buried in the City of David but "not in the tombs of the kings." This suggests that while he received a formal burial within the city, it lacked the full honor of being interred in the specific royal sepulchers reserved for esteemed monarchs, likely due to his wickedness and the displeasure of the people (2 Chr 21:20). Kings focuses on dynastic continuity; Chronicles focuses on the king's moral standing and its impact on his burial honor.
• Then: (Hebrew: וַיִּמְלֹךְ, wa-yimloḵ, lit. "And reigned") A temporal marker, signifying immediate succession without a gap in leadership.
• Ahaziah his son: (Hebrew: אֲחַזְיָהוּ בְנוֹ, ʾAḥazyāhū bənō, "Ahaziah his son") Ahaziah means "Yahweh has grasped/held." He is identified explicitly as Joram's son, firmly establishing the line of succession within the Davidic covenant, ensuring the "lamp" for David continued (2 Ki 8:19). Ahaziah, like his father, would prove to be a wicked king whose brief reign quickly led to turmoil.
• reigned in his place: (Hebrew: תַּחְתָּיו, taḥtāw, lit. "under him" or "in his place") This is a standard biblical phrase confirming the smooth transfer of royal power. It highlights the principle of dynastic rule and continuity of governance from one generation to the next, crucial for the stability and legitimacy of the kingdom.

2 Kings 8 24 Bonus section

The precise wording regarding Joram's burial "in the City of David" in 2 Kings 8:24, when juxtaposed with 2 Chronicles 21:20, "they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings," offers an insightful look into the theological perspectives of the Deuteronomistic History (Kings) and the Chronicler's History (Chronicles). Kings primarily focuses on the legitimacy of the succession and the continuation of the Davidic covenant's physical "lamp" or lineage. As long as a legitimate heir of David is buried in Jerusalem and another ascends the throne, the covenant's formal aspect is maintained, regardless of the individual king's piety. The Chronicler, however, often places a stronger emphasis on the king's moral and spiritual conduct, linking it directly to prosperity or adversity, and even to the details of their death and burial. For the Chronicler, Joram's flagrant wickedness merited a less honorable burial, distinct from the privileged sepulchers of faithful kings. This discrepancy is not a contradiction but rather complementary perspectives, each highlighting different facets of God's interaction with the Davidic monarchy: divine faithfulness in preserving the lineage versus the moral consequences for individual kings.

2 Kings 8 24 Commentary

2 Kings 8:24 concludes the evaluation of Joram of Judah, concisely detailing his death, burial, and the immediate succession of his son Ahaziah. The formulaic language, "rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers," is standard for describing the passing of kings and underscores the perpetuation of the Davidic line. Despite Joram's exceedingly wicked reign, marked by abandoning Yahweh, oppressing his people, and engaging in idolatry—influenced heavily by his marriage to Athaliah, Ahab's daughter (2 Ki 8:18; 2 Chr 21:4-6)—God honored His covenant with David. This divine faithfulness guaranteed that a successor would always be on the throne, represented by Joram's burial in the City of David and Ahaziah's ascendance. While Kings records the formal burial place, 2 Chronicles provides a vital detail, noting Joram was not buried in the tombs of the kings (2 Chr 21:20), indicating a degree of dishonor or rejection from the people due to his unfaithfulness. Thus, even when human leadership fails spectacularly, God's divine promises and overarching plan for the Davidic covenant persevere, moving the narrative towards the reign of Ahaziah and further unraveling of the Judean monarchy before the Lord intervenes.