This verse highlights that the reign of Jeroboam II came to an end, passing the throne to his son Zechariah in Israel’s ongoing royal lineage.
In the words of the text, we read, “And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son became king in his place.” (v.29) Here, the passage describes the end of Jeroboam II’s reign in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam II was an important king who ruled from 793 BC to 753 BC, known for expanding Israel’s borders and experiencing a period of relative prosperity. This statement, that he “slept with his fathers,” follows the customary expression of a king’s death, showing continuity with the other kings of Israel who came before him.
By noting that Jeroboam II “slept with his fathers,” the verse connects him to his royal predecessors, underscoring that his lineage was part of a broader story of Israelite monarchy. His death marks a shift of power to Zechariah, his son. From a historical standpoint, the transition to Zechariah took place toward the mid-eighth century BC, a time when the Northern Kingdom wrestled with both internal strife and looming foreign powers. Despite Jeroboam II’s successful expansion, the spiritual state of Israel was often rebuked by prophets like Amos and Hosea, who warned that external successes were not a sign of God’s ultimate pleasure.
The phrase, “…Zechariah his son became king in his place.” (v.29), reminds us how God controls the rise and fall of leaders (Romans 13:1). In a broader biblical context, these earthly transitions foreshadow the longing for a righteous and everlasting King, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32-33). While Israel’s monarchy struggled with faithfulness, Jesus represents the perfect King whose reign brings spiritual restoration rather than merely territorial expansion.
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2 Kings 14:29 meaning
In the words of the text, we read, “And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son became king in his place.” (v.29) Here, the passage describes the end of Jeroboam II’s reign in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam II was an important king who ruled from 793 BC to 753 BC, known for expanding Israel’s borders and experiencing a period of relative prosperity. This statement, that he “slept with his fathers,” follows the customary expression of a king’s death, showing continuity with the other kings of Israel who came before him.
By noting that Jeroboam II “slept with his fathers,” the verse connects him to his royal predecessors, underscoring that his lineage was part of a broader story of Israelite monarchy. His death marks a shift of power to Zechariah, his son. From a historical standpoint, the transition to Zechariah took place toward the mid-eighth century BC, a time when the Northern Kingdom wrestled with both internal strife and looming foreign powers. Despite Jeroboam II’s successful expansion, the spiritual state of Israel was often rebuked by prophets like Amos and Hosea, who warned that external successes were not a sign of God’s ultimate pleasure.
The phrase, “…Zechariah his son became king in his place.” (v.29), reminds us how God controls the rise and fall of leaders (Romans 13:1). In a broader biblical context, these earthly transitions foreshadow the longing for a righteous and everlasting King, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32-33). While Israel’s monarchy struggled with faithfulness, Jesus represents the perfect King whose reign brings spiritual restoration rather than merely territorial expansion.