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 26:23KJV
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2 Chronicles 26:23 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 26:23 mean?

2 Chronicles 26:23 records the end of King Uzziah’s life and the transfer of the throne to his son Jotham. Uzziah was buried on land associated with the kings, but the account identifies his skin condition as the reason for the choice of burial place.

The phrase “slept with his fathers” is a customary way of saying that Uzziah died and joined earlier generations in death. After verse 21 describes Uzziah living apart because of his condition, verse 23 shows that the condition also affected his burial.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 26:23

  • “slept” — שָׁכַב (shakhav): This word can mean to lie down or sleep. Here, the phrase “slept with his fathers” speaks of death in the language of rest among one’s ancestors.
  • “leper” — צָרַע (tsaraʿ): This word refers to being affected by a skin condition. The KJV’s “leper” does not by itself establish that Uzziah had the disease known today as leprosy.

Why 2 Chronicles 26:23 matters

  • Uzziah’s burial place was connected with the royal family, though the verse describes it as a “field” belonging to the kings. The wording places him among the kings in death while noting a distinction in where he was buried.
  • Jotham’s succession had already begun before Uzziah’s death. Verse 21 says Jotham was over the king’s house and judged the people while Uzziah lived apart; verse 23 records him reigning in Uzziah’s place.

Where else these words appear

“burial” Hebrew H6900 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 35:20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
  • 2 Kings 9:28 And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.
  • Isaiah 14:20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

“leper” Hebrew H6879 · used in 18 verses

  • Exodus 4:6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.
  • Leviticus 22:4 What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
  • 2 Kings 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

“Jotham” Hebrew H3147 · used in 24 verses

  • Judges 9:5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
  • 2 Kings 15:32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
  • 2 Chronicles 27:1 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.

“Uzziah” Hebrew H5818 · used in 26 verses

  • 2 Kings 15:13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
  • 2 Chronicles 26:8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.
  • 2 Chronicles 27:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.