And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
2 CHRONICLES 28:27KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 28:27 mean?
2 Chronicles 28:27 records that King Ahaz died and was buried in Jerusalem, but he was not given the honor of being buried in the royal tombs of Israel’s kings; instead, his son Hezekiah became king after him. This verse highlights a break in tradition, showing that Ahaz was not respected like other kings before him.
The Chronicler is describing the end of Ahaz’s reign to the people of Judah, noting both his burial location and the unusual decision not to place him among the honored royal tombs. The verse also introduces Hezekiah as the new king, setting the stage for a significant change in leadership and direction for the nation.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 28:27
- "slept" (שָׁכַב, shakav): This word is often used in the Hebrew Bible as a respectful way to say someone died, especially kings, linking them to their ancestors.
- "sepulchres" (קֶבֶר, qeber): This word means tombs or burial places. The phrase points out that Ahaz was not buried in the special tombs reserved for kings, which signals a lack of honor or approval.
- "Hezekiah" (חִזְקִיָּה, Chizqiyyah): The mention of Hezekiah, whose name means "Yahweh strengthens," marks a hopeful transition after Ahaz’s troubled reign.
Why 2 Chronicles 28:27 matters
- The verse makes it clear that Ahaz’s actions as king led to a loss of respect, as shown by his exclusion from the royal tombs—a detail that would have been significant to the original readers.
- By ending with Hezekiah’s succession, the verse signals a turning point and prepares the reader for the reforms and changes that will come under Hezekiah’s rule.
- This detail connects to the broader themes of Chronicles, where the honor or dishonor of a king’s burial often reflects how their reign was viewed in light of faithfulness to God.