II Kings 21:25-26 · Bible study
2 Kings 21:25-26 Commentary: The Meaning of the Concluding Formula
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the closing formula for Amon's reign, why the writer references other chronicles and what his burial and Josiah's succession mean for faith.
Research Summary
- Meaning: These verses use a standard formula to close Amon's reign, pointing to other historical records while focusing on the theological verdict of his evil and the hope of Josiah's succession.
- Key words: Amon ("skilled workman"), garden of Uzza (royal burial ground attached to the palace), buried (קְבֻרָה, grave/tomb), chronicles (official royal annals).
- Main debate: No significant interpretive debate; the formula is widely understood as a signal that the inspired record is selective and theological in purpose.
- Theological theme: The brevity of evil kingship; God's faithfulness to preserve the Davidic line despite judgment; hope beginning in the reign of a child.
- Best use: Illustrates how the Bible records history with spiritual purpose; encourages readers to look for God's work even in dark times.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
25As for the rest of the acts of Amon, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
26And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and his son Josiah reigned in his place.
WEB World English Bible 2000
25Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
26He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his place.
KJV King James Version 1769
25Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
26And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
25Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
26And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
25And the rest of the matters of Amon that he did, are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?
26and one burieth him in his burying-place in the garden of Uzza, and reign doth Josiah his son in his stead.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
25And the rest of the acts of Amon, what he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
26And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza; and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
25But the rest of the acts of Amon, which he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda?
26And they buried him in his sepulchre, in the garden of Oza: and his son, Josias, reigned in his stead.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Kings 21:25
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that these verses follow the standard concluding formula used for each king in the books of Kings. Matthew Henry notes the 'short account of the short and inglorious reign of Amon,' highlighting the writer's deliberate brevity. Keil and Delitzsch confirm that Amon was buried 'in his grave in the garden of Uzza,' the same burial place as his father Manasseh. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges adds that this garden was 'evidently a new burial-place contrived for themselves by the kings,' likely adjoining the palace.
The reference to the 'book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah' is not an apology for incomplete information. Gill's Exposition notes that the formula directs readers to a fuller historical record while the biblical narrative focuses on the theological assessment of each king. The agreed core meaning: these verses close Amon's story with a verdict on his evil and open the door to Josiah's reign. The writer is not losing anything; he chooses what matters for God's people.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The formulaic nature of the passage is clear: it closes Amon's reign with a standard reference to external records and records his burial, making way for the introduction of Josiah.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The reference to the chronicles | Commentators agree that noting 'the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah' is a standard concluding formula that tells readers a fuller history exists outside Scripture. | Some (e.g., Gill) see this as simply showing the writer's sources; others (Keil and Delitzsch) emphasize that the formula confirms the writer's selectivity, focusing on theological rather than political details. |
| The garden of Uzza burial | All agree the garden of Uzza was a burial place for Manasseh and Amon, likely attached to the palace (Cambridge Bible). | Whether 'Uzza' refers to a person (perhaps the name of a former owner) or a place indicating 'strength' is uncertain; the Hebrew text (עֻזָּא) could be a proper name, but no consensus exists on its meaning. |
| The role of 'the people of the land' | Most identify 'the people of the land' (עַם-הָאָרֶץ) as the citizen population of Judah who executed justice and installed Josiah (Keil and Delitzsch). | Some scholars view them as a specific political class (landed gentry), while others see them as a general populace acting in a crisis. The term appears elsewhere in Kings with varying nuances. |
Historical & Cultural Context
King Amon ruled only two years, probably around 642, 640 BC. His father Manasseh reigned fifty-five years, a period of brutal idolatry and persecution of prophets, though 2 Chronicles 33 records that he repented near the end. Amon rejected his father's late turn and instead 'walked in all the way his father walked in' (2 Kings 21:21), fully embracing the worship of Baal, Asherah, and the host of heaven that Manasseh had introduced.
The 'garden of Uzza' first appears in 2 Kings 21:18 for Manasseh. The Cambridge Bible calls it a burial place 'contrived for themselves by the kings,' probably adjoining the palace grounds. The name 'Uzza' may derive from a personal name or a word meaning 'strength.' Lange's Commentary suggests the garden might have been part of the palace complex. That Amon was buried there, rather than in the traditional tombs of David, signals the continuing separation of the royal family from earlier Davidic burial customs.
The 'people of the land' (verse 24), whom Keil and Delitzsch identify as the population of Judah, executed the conspirators and installed eight-year-old Josiah. This political act suggests a pro-Yahweh faction took control, clearing the way for Josiah's later reforms. The reference to other chronicles fits the pattern of ancient Near Eastern royal annals, which listed building projects, wars, and administrative events. By pointing to them, the writer of Kings confirms that his work is not a full history but a theological history, asking what each king did with the covenant.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentary excerpts and standard textual sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Kings 21:25-26. The Hebrew text is consistent across manuscripts. The only minor variation is in the prepositional phrase: most traditions read 'in his grave' (בִּ/קְבֻרָת֖/וֹ) as in the Masoretic Text, while a few read 'in his sepulchre' without difference in meaning. No variant affects the interpretation.
Reception History
In the history of biblical interpretation, these closing verses have often served as a warning about the consequences of persistent evil. Early Jewish readers saw Amon as one of the worst kings because he refused to follow his father Manasseh's late repentance (as recorded in 2 Chronicles 33). Christian commentators later used the sudden transition from Amon to Josiah as a type of God's mercy: a wicked reign ends abruptly, and a godly king emerges. The formulaic reference to chronicles also influenced the development of historical criticism, raising questions about the sources behind the Bible. In more recent centuries, preachers have used the brevity of Amon's record to emphasize that what matters in life is not fame or accomplishment but faithfulness to God. The phrase 'garden of Uzza' has also been associated with the idea of a separate royal burial ground, pointing to the king's isolation from his forefathers in death as in life.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Brevity of a Wicked Reign, Amon's two-year rule is compressed into a few verses. His evil is recorded, his deeds unfinished. The writer wastes no space because the verdict is clear: he forsook God.
- The Silence of the Chronicler, The reference to other records tells us the Bible is not exhaustive. What it omits is as telling as what it includes. Amon's building projects or battles are absent; his spiritual failure stands alone.
- The Hope of a New King, Josiah, the child king, will become one of Judah's greatest reformers. The same people who removed the conspirators placed a boy on the throne. God's plan advances even when human leaders fail.
Five-point outline
- Amon's evil walk (vv.21-22): He served the idols of his father and abandoned Yahweh.
- The conspiracy and assassination (v.23): His own servants killed him in his house.
- The people's justice (v.24): The people of the land executed the conspirators and secured the succession.
- Amon's burial (v.26): He was buried in the garden of Uzza, beside his father, outside the royal tombs of David.
- Josiah's rise (v.26): A son who would do right in the Lord's sight begins his reign, bringing hope.
Illustration hooks
- A short chapter in a biography that sums up a life. What gets recorded reveals what we value. Amon's chapter is only two verses of deeds; the rest is evil.
- A garden tomb set apart. The garden of Uzza becomes the final resting place of two kings who rejected God. Their legacy is buried outside the main line of faith.
- A child king. Josiah was eight years old. Sometimes hope looks small and unlikely, but God uses the young and powerless to bring renewal.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible record so little about some kings? What does that teach us about what God wants us to know?
- If Amon died because of his sin, does that mean every bad outcome is due to personal failure?
- How can a nation recover from a leader like Amon? What does the rise of Josiah say about God's patience?
Leading a Discussion
These two verses close the story of a king whose life was brief and evil. But they also turn our eyes forward to Josiah, a king who would bring reform. The reference to other chronicles invites us to wonder why the writer chose to include so little about Amon's actions. Use this discussion to explore how God works even in times of decline and how the Bible shapes history to teach us faith.
Discussion questions
- Look at the verses that surround this passage (2 Kings 21:19-24). What do you learn about Amon's character and the events of his reign?
- Why does the writer say the rest of Amon's acts are written in the chronicles? Is this an acknowledgment that the story is incomplete, or something else?
- What does Amon's burial in the garden of Uzza tell you about his standing compared to earlier kings of Judah?
- In what way does the transition from Amon to Josiah offer hope? Where do you see God's hand in the middle of a political crisis?
- How does the selectivity of the biblical writers in including or excluding information affect how we understand the message of Kings?
- Think of a time when you faced a situation that seemed hopeless. How did you see God work through the next generation or change?
- What one lesson can your small group take from Amon's story to apply in your own walk with God?
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 20:20 | Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? |
| II Kings 21:17 | Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? |
| I Kings 13:5 | The altar was also split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by Yahweh’s word. |
| II Kings 21:18 | Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza; and Amon his son reigned in his place. |
| Matthew 1:10 | Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah. |
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
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What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that the word "grove" in older translations is misleading. The Hebrew term Asherah refers to a wooden idol, not a literal grove of trees. He notes that Josiah could hardly have removed a planted grove from inside the temple; the text describes removing and burning a carved image of the goddess Asherah.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator observes that the garden of Uzza burial place was a newly made royal tomb, set apart by the kings for themselves near the palace. This detail underscores a deliberate shift in burial custom, placing the monarchs close to the center of their earthly rule.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note directs readers to the royal chronicles for a fuller account of Amon's reign. It then confirms his burial in his own tomb in the garden of Uzza and records that Josiah his son succeeded him.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Amon was buried in the same garden of Uzza where his father Manasseh had been laid to rest, showing a family burial place. He also notes that the full record of Amon's deeds is found in the official chronicles of Judah's kings.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch clarifies that the "people of the land" who executed the conspirators were specifically the population of Judah. They also note that Amon was buried in his own grave beside his father's in the garden of Uzza, suggesting he had resided in that palace.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes the tragic irony that Manasseh repented late in life and put down the idols, yet his son Amon revived every one of them. A bad example, Henry observes, can outlive the repentance of the one who set it, and those drawn into sin may never return.