So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
2 CHRONICLES 26:23KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 26:23 mean?
2 Chronicles 26:23 records the death and burial of King Uzziah, noting that he was buried in a field belonging to the royal family rather than in the main tombs, because he had leprosy. After Uzziah died, his son Jotham became king in his place.
This verse comes at the end of the account of Uzziah’s reign in the book of 2 Chronicles. The Chronicler is summarizing Uzziah’s life, highlighting the unusual detail that Uzziah was not buried with the other kings due to his leprosy, which had separated him from the community. The verse also marks the transition of power to his son Jotham.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 26:23
- "slept" (שָׁכַב, shakav): This word is a common Hebrew way of saying someone died, often used for kings or ancestors, giving a sense of peaceful rest.
- "leper" (צָרַע, tsara‘): This word refers to someone with a skin disease, often translated as "leprosy," but in the ancient context, it covered a range of skin conditions. Being called a "leper" meant Uzziah was ritually unclean and had to live apart from others, which explains why he was buried outside the main royal tombs.
- "field" (שָׂדֶה, sadeh) and "burial" (קְבוּרָה, qevurah): These words show that Uzziah was buried in a field set aside for royal burials, but not in the main tombs themselves, emphasizing his separation even in death.
Why 2 Chronicles 26:23 matters
- This verse clarifies that Uzziah’s leprosy had lasting consequences, affecting not just his reign but also his burial and legacy.
- The detail about burial outside the main royal tombs highlights the seriousness of ritual impurity in ancient Israelite society.
- The transition to Jotham sets up the next stage in the history of Judah, showing the continuity of the royal line despite the challenges faced by Uzziah.