2 Chronicles 33:25

But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

But the people {H5971} of the land {H776} slew {H5221} all them that had conspired {H7194} against king {H4428} Amon {H526}; and the people {H5971} of the land {H776} made {H4427} Josiah {H2977} his son {H1121} king {H4427} in his stead.

But the people of the land put to death all those who had been part of the conspiracy against King Amon. Then the people of the land made Yoshiyahu his son king in place of him.

But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.

But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

Your Journey Deeper Starts Here

We built this site for exploration, offering unique tools to make studying the Bible more convenient and insightful. Our goal is to help you branch out and make learning easy. While our AI commentary provides helpful context, our commitment is to the solid Word of God from reliable sources. Think of this site as jet fuel for your faith.

Commentary

Context

This verse concludes the short, wicked reign of King Amon, son of Manasseh, over Judah. Amon notoriously followed in the footsteps of his father's early idolatry, refusing to humble himself before the Lord despite Manasseh's later repentance. After only two years on the throne, Amon was assassinated by his own servants within his palace. This verse describes the immediate aftermath of that regicide, highlighting the swift and decisive action taken by the general populace of Judah to restore order and ensure the continuity of the Davidic dynasty.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Human Action: The swift execution of Amon's conspirators by "the people of the land" demonstrates a form of immediate justice. While Amon himself was wicked, the act of his servants conspiring against and murdering their king was seen as an unacceptable act, leading to their punishment.
  • Preservation of the Davidic Line: Despite the spiritual decline of kings like Amon, God's promise to David regarding an enduring dynasty (see 2 Samuel 7:16) remained steadfast. The people's action in enthroning Josiah, Amon's son, was instrumental in maintaining this royal succession, paving the way for a significant spiritual revival.
  • God's Providence: Even amidst political turmoil and the sinfulness of kings, God's overarching plan unfolds. The removal of Amon and the installation of young Josiah, who would become one of Judah's most righteous kings, was a pivotal moment in the nation's history, demonstrating God's sovereign hand at work.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the people of the land" (Hebrew: 'am ha'aretz) is significant. In this context, it refers not merely to the general populace, but likely to the influential citizens, landowners, or leading figures who held a stake in the stability and welfare of the kingdom. Their decisive action in slaying the conspirators and installing Josiah suggests a strong desire for order and loyalty to the established monarchy, perhaps even a latent faithfulness to the covenant with God, which would become evident under Josiah's religious reforms.

Reflection and Application

This verse reminds us that even when leaders fail and chaos seems to reign, God can work through unexpected means to achieve His purposes. The "people of the land" played a crucial role in securing the future of Judah by ensuring the proper succession. For us today, it highlights the importance of upholding justice and stability, and trusting that God can raise up righteous leaders even from seemingly unpromising circumstances. The transition from Amon's wickedness to the righteous reign of his son Josiah (see 2 Chronicles 34:1) offers a powerful message of hope and the potential for spiritual renewal across generations.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 9:5

    And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

  • Genesis 9:6

    Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

  • 2 Chronicles 26:1

    ¶ Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who [was] sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:1

    ¶ Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.

  • Numbers 35:31

    Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which [is] guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:1

    ¶ Josiah [was] eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

  • Numbers 35:33

    So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye [are]: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
← Back