Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 21:20
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He died, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records Jehoram’s death immediately after describing his agonizing illness and the refusal of the people to honor him with a funeral fire.
The words — שְלֹשִׁ֤ים (she.lo.Shim) = thirty and וּ/שְתַּ֙יִם֙ (u./she.Ta.yim) = and two, which together with בֶּן־ (ben-) = a son of establish his age at accession, while מָלַ֖ךְ (ma.Lakh) = he reigned and שָנִ֔ים (sha.Nim) = years quantify his eight-year rule.
The thread — The denial of royal burial and public mourning recurs in Jeremiah 22:18 regarding Jehoiakim, 2 Chronicles 24:25 regarding Joash, and 2 Chronicles 28:27 regarding Ahaz.
Why it lands — The text reports a specific reign length and a deliberately excluded burial site, requiring the reader to note the administrative and cultic rejection of Jehoram without adding emotional commentary.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 22:18 Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’
- 2 Chronicles 24:25 And when the Arameans had withdrawn, they left Joash severely wounded. His own servants conspired against him for shedding the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him on his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
- 2 Chronicles 28:27 And Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.
- Jeremiah 22:28 Is this man Coniah a despised and shattered pot, a jar that no one wants? Why are he and his descendants hurled out and cast into a land they do not know?
- 2 Chronicles 23:21 and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword.
- Proverbs 10:7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.