Hezekiah’s passing gave way to a dramatic change in Judah’s spiritual direction under Manasseh.
In 2 Kings 20:21, we read: “So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son became king in his place” (v.21). Although the verse itself is brief, it serves as a transitional moment in the broader narrative of Judah’s monarchy. “Slept with his fathers” is a common Hebrew expression referring to the death of a king, emphasizing continuity with his lineage. Hezekiah was a notable ruler of the southern kingdom of Judah, reigning approximately from 715 BC to 686 BC; his leadership was marked by trust in God and purging idolatry from Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:1-3). By stating that “Manasseh his son became king,” the passage indicates a new administration after Hezekiah’s passing.
Hezekiah’s faithful life is recounted in earlier chapters of 2 Kings (2 Kings 18-20), as God delivered him and his people from surrounding enemies. This transition to Manasseh underscores the importance of spiritual influence passed from generation to generation. Manasseh, who began to reign around 697 BC and continued until approximately 642 BC, would assume a leadership stance very different from his father’s. Later accounts describe him as one of Judah’s kings who regretfully succumbed to pagan practices, diverging sharply from the righteous pathways Hezekiah established (2 Kings 21:1-9).
Even in a short passage like this, we can see a pivotal shift in Judah’s history—an era of righteous leadership under Hezekiah giving way to the unfaithful reign of Manasseh. This verse connects to the broader biblical thread of leaders who must choose to walk faithfully with the Lord, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture and ultimately points to the hope of a perfect King in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31-33). Hezekiah’s death sets the stage for a new chapter in Israel’s story, reminding us that each generation shapes the next through its devotion or neglect of God’s ways.
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2 Kings 20:21 meaning
In 2 Kings 20:21, we read: “So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son became king in his place” (v.21). Although the verse itself is brief, it serves as a transitional moment in the broader narrative of Judah’s monarchy. “Slept with his fathers” is a common Hebrew expression referring to the death of a king, emphasizing continuity with his lineage. Hezekiah was a notable ruler of the southern kingdom of Judah, reigning approximately from 715 BC to 686 BC; his leadership was marked by trust in God and purging idolatry from Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:1-3). By stating that “Manasseh his son became king,” the passage indicates a new administration after Hezekiah’s passing.
Hezekiah’s faithful life is recounted in earlier chapters of 2 Kings (2 Kings 18-20), as God delivered him and his people from surrounding enemies. This transition to Manasseh underscores the importance of spiritual influence passed from generation to generation. Manasseh, who began to reign around 697 BC and continued until approximately 642 BC, would assume a leadership stance very different from his father’s. Later accounts describe him as one of Judah’s kings who regretfully succumbed to pagan practices, diverging sharply from the righteous pathways Hezekiah established (2 Kings 21:1-9).
Even in a short passage like this, we can see a pivotal shift in Judah’s history—an era of righteous leadership under Hezekiah giving way to the unfaithful reign of Manasseh. This verse connects to the broader biblical thread of leaders who must choose to walk faithfully with the Lord, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture and ultimately points to the hope of a perfect King in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31-33). Hezekiah’s death sets the stage for a new chapter in Israel’s story, reminding us that each generation shapes the next through its devotion or neglect of God’s ways.