II Kings 14:29 · Bible study
2 Kings 14:29 Commentary: Jeroboam's End and the Jehu Promise
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
This study examines Jeroboam II's death, Zechariah's succession, the interregnum debate, and how this verse fulfills God's promise to Jehu.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jeroboam II died naturally, and his son Zechariah succeeded him, after an interval, fulfilling God’s four-generation promise to Jehu.
- Key words: “Slept with his fathers” (H7901/H0001) is a Hebrew euphemism for natural death; “reigned in his place” (H4427/H8478) indicates succession but does not specify timing.
- Main debate: Whether the succession was immediate or delayed by an interregnum of about eleven years.
- Theological theme: God’s faithfulness to His word, even when human kings are sinful and circumstances appear unstable.
- Best use: A transition verse that connects God’s promise, human mortality, and the start of the end of Jehu’s dynasty; useful for teaching divine sovereignty in history.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. And his son Zechariah reigned in his place.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.
KJV King James Version 1769
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his stead.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Jeroboam lieth with his fathers, with the kings of Israel, and reign doth Zechariah his son in his stead.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his stead.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel; and Zacharias, his son, reigned in his stead.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y durmió Jeroboam con sus padres, los reyes de Israel, y reinó en su lugar Zachârías su hijo.
E descansou Jeroboão com seus pais, os reis de Israel, e reinou em seu lugar Zacarias seu filho.
Jéroboam se coucha avec ses pères, avec les rois d’ Israël. Et Zacharie, son fils, régna à sa place.
Und Jerobeam entschlief mit seinen Vätern, mit den Königen Israels. Und sein Sohn Sacharja ward König an seiner Statt.
En Jerobeam ontsliep met zijn vaderen, met de koningen van Israel; en zijn zoon Zacharia werd koning in zijn plaats.
Geroboamo si addormentò coi suoi padri, i re d’Israele; e Zaccaria, suo figliuolo, regnò in luogo suo.
I zasnął Jeroboam z ojcami swymi, z królmi Izraelskimi, a królował Zacharyjasz, syn jego, miasto niego.
И почил Иеровоам с отцами своими, с царями Израильскими. И воцарился Захария, сын его, вместо него.
耶羅波安 與 他列祖 以色列 諸王 同睡。他兒子 撒迦利雅 接續他 作王。
And Jeroboam went to rest with his fathers, and was put into the earth with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son became king in his place.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Kings 14:29
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Jeroboam II died a natural death, as the euphemism “slept with his fathers” indicates (Clarke, Gill). However, Keil and Delitzsch note a chronological gap: Jeroboam died in the 27th year of Uzziah, but Zechariah did not take the throne until the 38th year (2 Kings 15:8), which suggests an interregnum of roughly eleven years. Clarke mentions that this gap “cannot be accounted for in a satisfactory manner.” The Cambridge Bible observes that Zechariah was the fourth generation from Jehu, fulfilling God’s promise to Jehu in 2 Kings 10:30 that his sons to the fourth generation would sit on the throne of Israel. The verse thus marks the end of a prosperous but idolatrous reign and the transition to a brief, troubled rule that would close Jehu’s dynasty.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Immediate succession: The verse states 'Zechariah his son reigned in his place,' which readers may naturally take to mean right after Jeroboam’s death.
- Interregnum view: Cross-referencing 2 Kings 15:8 shows Zechariah began to reign in the 38th year of Uzziah, while Jeroboam died in Uzziah’s 27th year (2 Kings 14:23, 29; supported by Keil & Delitzsch).
What is clear: Jeroboam II died and his son Zechariah eventually succeeded him, fulfilling the condition of four generations for Jehu’s dynasty as promised in 2 Kings 10:30.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Immediacy of Zechariah's succession | Jeroboam II died, and Zechariah became king in his place (text says 'reigned in his stead'). | Some read the verse as describing immediate succession; others, like Keil and Delitzsch, point to the chronological gap between Jeroboam's death and the dating of Zechariah's reign (2 Kings 15:8) as evidence of an interregnum. |
| Fulfillment of the promise to Jehu | Zechariah is the fourth generation from Jehu, and thus the promise in 2 Kings 10:30 is fulfilled. | Does the interregnum affect the fulfillment? Some argue it shows the promise was purely genealogical, others that the delay may have tested the dynasty's faith. |
| Meaning of 'slept with his fathers' | It is a standard euphemism for dying (often a natural death) and being buried with one's ancestors, as Clarke and Gill note. | Whether 'with the kings of Israel' implies burial in the royal sepulcher of Samaria or is simply a formal expression of royal identity. |
| Theological significance of Jeroboam II's reign | He was an evil king (2 Kings 14:24) but used by God to restore Israel's borders (v.25-27). | Whether God's use of a sinful king implies approval of his policies or simply illustrates divine sovereignty over all rulers. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jeroboam II ruled over the northern kingdom of Israel for 41 years, the longest reign of any Israelite king. His era was one of territorial expansion and economic strength, as he restored Israel’s borders from Hamath to the Dead Sea (2 Kings 14:25) and recovered Damascus and Hamath (v.28). Yet the author of Kings repeatedly states that Jeroboam “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord,” continuing the golden-calf worship instituted by his namesake, Jeroboam son of Nebat. The prophets Hosea and Amos ministered during this period, calling Israel to account for injustice and idolatry.
God’s promise to Jehu in 2 Kings 10:30 guaranteed that his descendants would occupy the throne for four generations. Jehu’s line included Jehoahaz, Jehoash (Joash), Jeroboam II, and finally Zechariah. This verse records the passing of the third generation, with Zechariah waiting in the wings, though not immediately, as the eleven-year interregnum suggests. During that gap, Israel may have experienced political turmoil or foreign pressure, a silent indictment of a nation still clinging to sin. When Zechariah finally did reign, it lasted only six months (2 Kings 15:8), and his assassination by Shallum brought the Jehu dynasty to a violent end.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, the phrase “slept with his fathers” (Hebrew shakhav im avotav) signified a natural death with ancestral burial. Here it is expanded to “with the kings of Israel,” underscoring Jeroboam’s official status and the continuity, however fragile, of the royal line.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants for 2 Kings 14:29. The verse is stable across major manuscripts, with only minor spelling differences (e.g., Zachariah versus Zechariah) that do not affect meaning.
Reception History
This verse has primarily been read as a transitional marker within the Books of Kings, often noted for its connection to God’s promise to Jehu. Early Jewish and Christian interpreters saw the mention of Zechariah as the fourth generation as evidence of God’s faithfulness despite Israel’s sin. During the Reformation, commentators like Matthew Henry used the verse to contrast the longevity of Jeroboam’s reign with his spiritual failure. The interregnum has been a topic of discussion among chronographers since the seventeenth century. In modern scholarship, the verse is valued for its witness to the complex chronological data in Kings and for its role in the history of the Jehu dynasty.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God keeps His word, even in the middle of failure. The promise to Jehu spanned four generations, and it held despite Israel’s persistent idolatry. God’s faithfulness does not depend on human worthiness.
- Prosperity is not the same as approval. Jeroboam II enjoyed military success and a long reign, but the divine verdict is clear: he did evil. Material blessing can mask spiritual decay.
- Transition points reveal character. The gap between Jeroboam’s death and Zechariah’s coronation is a silent pause in the narrative, a time of waiting and, perhaps, of judgment. How we handle seasons of uncertainty matters.
Five-point outline
- The end of an era: Jeroboam’s death closes a long, mixed reign of both expansion and sin.
- The quiet gap: an interregnum of eleven years raises questions about God’s timing and human ambition.
- The promise fulfilled: Zechariah represents the fourth generation, exactly as God told Jehu.
- The brief reign: Zechariah’s six-month rule hints at instability and the coming judgment.
- The legacy of sin: the dynasty ends not because God failed but because the house of Jehu repeated the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat.
Illustration hooks
- A family business passes from a long-serving founder to his heir, only to collapse within a year because the heir ignored the values that made the business strong.
- A promised promotion at work takes years to materialize; the waiting tests character and trust in the manager’s timeline.
- A nation enjoys peace and prosperity while ignoring corruption and injustice; the next generation inherits a weakened foundation.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did God let Jeroboam reign so long if he was evil?
- What happened during the eleven-year gap between Jeroboam’s death and Zechariah’s reign?
- How does this verse show God’s patience and also His eventual judgment?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is a hinge between two reigns: the long, prosperous rule of Jeroboam II and the short, troubled rule of his son Zechariah. It also connects to God’s promise to Jehu. As your group explores this passage, consider how God’s faithfulness can coexist with human failure.
Discussion questions
- What does the phrase “slept with his fathers” tell you about how the author of Kings viewed Jeroboam’s death?
- Compare 2 Kings 14:29 with 2 Kings 15:8. What chronological difference do you notice, and why might that gap matter?
- How does the promise to Jehu (2 Kings 10:30) shape your understanding of this verse? What does it show about God’s character?
- Jeroboam II did evil (2 Kings 14:24) yet was used by God to save Israel (v.27). How do you reconcile God using imperfect leaders?
- If there was an interregnum, what might it indicate about the spiritual state of Israel after Jeroboam’s death?
- Zechariah reigned only six months and was assassinated. How does his short rule reflect the consequences of continued sin?
- How does this passage encourage you to trust God’s promises, even when their fulfillment seems delayed?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Kings 15:8 | In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke clarifies that Jeroboam died naturally and was succeeded by his son, rejecting the false accusation that the prophet Amos predicted his death by the sword. He points to the actual prophecy in Amos 7 as a slander twist that came later.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights that Zechariah, the last of Jehu's line, was the fourth generation to rule, exactly matching God's promise to Jehu that his descendants would sit on Israel's throne for that length. With Zechariah's death, that specific dynastic promise was fulfilled and came to an end.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
So Ieroboam slept with his fathers, euen with the Kings of Israel, and Zachariah his sonne reigned in his steade.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill points out that Zachariah's succession marks the fulfillment of God's promise to Jehu, as he is the fourth generation in that line. This detail confirms that the Lord kept his word precisely, even through a king like Jeroboam.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch clarify that the phrase "Damascus and Hamath of Judah" means those territories that had once belonged to the kingdom of Judah under David and Solomon. They note that Hamath refers to the kingdom, not the city, since the city itself never belonged to Israel and lay outside Moses' boundaries.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that Amaziah's reign followed the same pattern as Joash: a good beginning that deteriorated into disaster because his faithfulness was external and traditional, not heartfelt. This left him vulnerable to pride after his Edomite victory, leading him to challenge Israel arrogantly and suffer humiliating defeat followed by assassination.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes the telling detail that Jehu's dynasty named its heir after the infamous Jeroboam, showing their continued affection for the sins that had made Israel stumble. He finds it striking that a name so stigmatized in Scripture became their chosen honor.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that God never left Himself without witness, even in Israel's darkest ages. He raised up prophets like Hosea, Amos, Micah, and Isaiah to be burning and shining lights through their preaching and living, and through their writings they continue to shine on those living in the last days.