Bible Strands
2 Kings 15:5
And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes events during the reign of King Azariah, immediately after noting that Judah’s high places remained in use. The account records the moment Yahweh strikes the king with a skin disease.
The words — וַ/יְנַגַּ֨ (va/y.na.Ga') translates as "and he struck," and מְצֹרָע (me.tzo.Ra') denotes a person afflicted with a contagious skin disease.
The thread — Leviticus 13:46 mandates isolation for those with the infection, while Numbers 12:10 and 12:14 record Miriam’s sudden affliction as a mark of divine disgrace.
Why it lands — The text establishes that royal authority is subordinate to divine judgment, requiring the king to transfer palace governance to his son Jotham until death.
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
And the Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging the people of the land.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 13:46 As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.
- Numbers 12:14 But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”
- Numbers 12:10 As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous,
- Deuteronomy 24:8 In cases of infectious skin diseases, be careful to diligently follow everything the Levitical priests instruct you. Be careful to do as I have commanded them.
- 2 Samuel 3:29 May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”
- 2 Samuel 8:15 Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:
- 2 Samuel 15:2 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”
- 1 Kings 3:9 Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- 1 Kings 3:28 When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
- 2 Kings 5:27 Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.