2 Kings 13:13

KJV

And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Joash {H3101} slept {H7901} with his fathers {H1}; and Jeroboam {H3379} sat {H3427} upon his throne {H3678}: and Joash {H3101} was buried {H6912} in Samaria {H8111} with the kings {H4428} of Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yo'ash slept with his ancestors, and Yarov'am occupied his throne. Yo'ash was buried in Shomron with the kings of Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

And Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

American Standard Version

And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 13:13 serves as a pivotal, formulaic transition, marking the conclusion of King Joash's sixteen-year reign over Israel and the immediate, seamless succession of his son, Jeroboam II. This concise verse underscores the enduring reality of royal mortality and the transfer of power, while simultaneously highlighting the continuity of the monarchy within the often-turbulent Northern Kingdom, implicitly pointing to God's sovereign hand in the succession of earthly rulers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse brings to a formal close the narrative of King Joash (also known as Jehoash), whose reign commenced in [2 Kings 13:10](/2_kings/13-10 "2 Kings 13:10 - Joash Begins His Reign"). Joash's story is notably framed by his interactions with the prophet Elisha, particularly the poignant account of Elisha's deathbed instructions regarding the striking of arrows on the ground. Joash's limited obedience, striking only three times, famously resulted in Israel's limited victories against the Arameans, a spiritual shortcoming lamented by Elisha as recorded in [2 Kings 13:18-19](/2_kings/13-18-19 "2 Kings 13:18-19 - Elisha's Prophecy and Joash's Failure"). Despite this spiritual deficiency, Joash did achieve a significant military triumph over King Amaziah of Judah, a conflict detailed in [2 Kings 14:8-14](/2_kings/14-8-14 "2 Kings 14:8-14 - Joash's Victory Over Amaziah"). The transition to Jeroboam II's reign in this verse sets the stage for the subsequent chapter, which elaborates on Jeroboam's remarkably prosperous, yet spiritually compromised, rule, beginning in [2 Kings 14:23](/2_kings/14-23 "2 Kings 14:23 - Jeroboam II Begins His Reign").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Joash reigned during a period of intense Aramean oppression against Israel, a consequence often attributed to the Northern Kingdom's persistent idolatry and deviation from the Mosaic covenant. Samaria, as the capital city of the Northern Kingdom, functioned not only as the administrative and political center but also as a symbolic heart of Israelite identity, albeit one deeply corrupted by the introduction of Baal worship and other pagan practices by previous monarchs. The practice of burying a king "with his fathers" in the capital city was a deeply ingrained cultural norm. This custom served to legitimize his reign, affirm his place within the established royal lineage, and signify a peaceful and accepted conclusion to his rule. Such a burial provided a crucial sense of continuity and stability, particularly vital amidst the frequent political upheavals and dynastic changes that frequently characterized the history of the Northern Kingdom, contrasting sharply with the more stable, divinely ordained Davidic line in Judah.

* **Key Themes:** This verse, though brief, encapsulates several profound themes prevalent throughout the Books of Kings. Firstly, it highlights **Royal Succession**, a recurring motif that underscores the continuity of governance and the orderly transfer of authority from one generation to the next. This process, even within the often-unfaithful Northern Kingdom, demonstrates God's overarching sovereignty in establishing and removing leaders. Secondly, the phrase "slept with his fathers" powerfully emphasizes the **Universal Mortality of Kings**, serving as a stark reminder that even the most powerful earthly rulers are subject to human limitations and the ultimate sovereignty of God, who alone is eternal. This theme is consistently applied to both righteous and wicked kings, as seen with King David in [1 Kings 2:10](/1_kings/2-10 "1 Kings 2:10 - David's Death"). Finally, the verse marks a significant **Transition and Legacy**, as Joash's reign, a complex blend of spiritual failure and military success, directly precedes and sets the stage for the much more expansive and prosperous, yet morally flawed, reign of Jeroboam II, a period that would witness significant territorial recovery for Israel, as prophesied by Jonah in [2 Kings 14:25](/2_kings/14-25 "2 Kings 14:25 - Jonah's Prophecy Regarding Jeroboam II").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Slept (Hebrew, _shâkab'_):** This verb (H7901) literally means "to lie down," but in this context, it functions as a common euphemism for death, particularly for kings in the Books of Kings and Chronicles. Its usage suggests a peaceful, natural end to life, emphasizing the king's joining with his ancestors in death, thereby softening the stark reality of mortality and highlighting continuity within the royal lineage.
* **Sat (Hebrew, _yâshab'_):** This verb (H3427) signifies the act of taking one's place, specifically on the throne. It powerfully symbolizes the formal and legitimate assumption of royal authority and power by the successor. The immediate mention of Jeroboam II "sitting upon his throne" denotes the established and accepted transfer of governance, marking the official commencement of his reign and the institutional stability of the monarchy.
* **Buried (Hebrew, _qâbar'_):** This term (H6912) refers to the act of interment, the final disposition of the deceased. The specific detail that Joash was "buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel" is highly significant. Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom, and burial there indicated a king's legitimate status and acceptance within the recognized royal lineage of Israel. This distinguishes him from those who might have suffered an ignominious end or were denied such a burial due to usurpation or defeat, affirming his place among his royal predecessors.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Joash slept with his fathers;":** This initial clause employs a standard biblical idiom to announce the death of King Joash. It signifies the peaceful and natural conclusion of his life and reign, underscoring the universal mortality of even the most powerful rulers and their ultimate joining with their ancestors, thereby emphasizing the transient nature of all earthly authority.
* **"and Jeroboam sat upon his throne:":** Immediately following the announcement of Joash's death, this clause indicates the seamless and legitimate succession of his son, Jeroboam II, to the royal throne. It formally marks the transfer of sovereign authority and the commencement of a new reign, highlighting the institutional continuity of the monarchy in Israel despite the change in leadership.
* **"and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.":** This concluding clause specifies the location of Joash's interment: Samaria, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom. Being buried "with the kings of Israel" confirms his legitimate status as a recognized monarch within the Israelite dynastic line, affirming his rightful place among his royal predecessors, notwithstanding the spiritual shortcomings and political instability that often characterized the Northern Kingdom's history.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices that enrich its meaning and narrative function. **Standard Formulaic Language** is prominently featured in the phrases "slept with his fathers" and "sat upon his throne." These are recurring idioms throughout the Books of Kings, consistently used to mark the end of one king's reign and the commencement of another, providing narrative consistency and emphasizing the cyclical nature of royal succession. The phrase "slept with his fathers" also functions as a powerful **Euphemism** for death, softening the stark reality of mortality and suggesting a peaceful, ancestral passing. Furthermore, there is a clear element of **Juxtaposition** in the immediate succession of Jeroboam II following Joash's death, which highlights the swift and necessary transition of power within the monarchy. Finally, the mention of burial in Samaria adds a layer of **Symbolism**, affirming Joash's legitimate place within the Northern Kingdom's royal lineage and its capital, despite his mixed legacy of spiritual compromise and military success.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This seemingly simple transitional verse carries profound theological weight, underscoring God's sovereign control over history and human leadership. It serves as a potent reminder that all earthly power is temporary and ultimately subject to the divine will. Even in the Northern Kingdom, which consistently rebelled against God, the continuity of the monarchy, however flawed, points to God's enduring patience and His working out of His purposes through human agents. The passage implicitly raises crucial questions about legacy, obedience, and the nature of true success, contrasting Joash's limited victories and spiritual shortcomings with the ultimate authority of God. It also foreshadows the coming of a King whose reign would not be marked by mortality or succession, but by eternity and perfect righteousness.

* [1 Kings 2:10](/1_kings/2-10 "David Sleeps with His Fathers")
* [Psalm 146:3-4](/psalms/146-3-4 "Do Not Put Your Trust in Princes")
* [Daniel 2:21](/daniel/2-21 "God Changes Times and Seasons, Removes and Sets Up Kings")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The brevity of 2 Kings 13:13 belies its powerful message about the transient nature of earthly authority and the relentless march of time. For us today, it serves as a poignant reminder that all human leaders, regardless of their power, achievements, or perceived indispensability, are mortal. This profound truth should cultivate humility in those who lead and temper our expectations of human institutions and political systems. It calls us to consider the legacy we are building, not merely in terms of worldly success or temporal power, but fundamentally in terms of faithfulness to God and alignment with His eternal purposes. Joash's reign, marked by both military success and spiritual compromise—particularly his limited obedience to Elisha's prophetic instruction—illustrates that incomplete obedience can have far-reaching consequences, even for an entire nation. Our ultimate trust must not be in human leaders or their systems, but in the unchanging, sovereign God who raises up and brings down kings according to His perfect, immutable plan. This perspective encourages us to pray diligently for our leaders, to hold them accountable to righteous standards, and to always look beyond the temporal to the eternal Kingdom established by God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the swift transition from Joash's death to Jeroboam's ascension challenge or affirm my understanding of leadership and succession in contemporary contexts?**
* **What does the phrase "slept with his fathers" teach me about mortality, the ultimate limits of human power, and the importance of an eternal perspective?**
* **In what ways might Joash's mixed legacy of military success and spiritual compromise serve as a warning or a lesson for my own life or leadership responsibilities?**
* **How does the fact that God is sovereign over the rise and fall of kings, even those in a rebellious kingdom like Israel, impact my trust in His overarching plan and providence today?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of a king being "buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel"?**

Answer: The phrase "buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel" signifies a king's legitimate and recognized status within the royal lineage of the Northern Kingdom. Samaria was the capital city of Israel, and burial there indicated that the king had died a natural death (or at least not an ignominious one) and was accepted as a rightful ruler among his predecessors. It provided a sense of continuity and legitimacy for the new king, Jeroboam II, by confirming his father's place in the established line of succession. This contrasts with kings who might have been usurped, assassinated, or died in battle and were not afforded such a burial, or those who were buried in different locations, such as the kings of Judah who were typically buried in the City of David in Jerusalem (e.g., [1 Kings 11:43](/1_kings/11-43 "1 Kings 11:43 - Rehoboam Buried in Jerusalem")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Kings 13:13 describes the finite end of an earthly king's reign and the succession of another, it subtly points forward to the ultimate King, Jesus Christ, whose reign knows no end or succession. The mortality of Joash, like all human kings, highlights the transient nature of earthly power and the universal reality of death, a fate appointed for all humanity ([Hebrews 9:27](/hebrews/9-27 "Hebrews 9:27 - Appointed to Die Once")). In profound contrast, Jesus, the true Son of David, did not "sleep with his fathers" in the sense of succumbing to the finality of death, but rather conquered it decisively through His glorious resurrection ([Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Him Up, Loosing the Pangs of Death")). His "throne" is not an earthly one in a temporal capital city like Samaria or Jerusalem, but a heavenly, eternal throne from which He reigns in supreme authority over all creation ([Revelation 4:2](/revelation/4-2 "Revelation 4:2 - Throne in Heaven")). The continuity of the monarchy in Israel, however flawed and often rebellious, served as a mere shadow of the unbroken, eternal reign of Christ, who is proclaimed as "King of kings and Lord of lords" ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")). Unlike Joash, whose legacy was mixed and whose obedience was incomplete, Christ's reign is marked by perfect righteousness, absolute justice, and complete fulfillment of God's redemptive will, offering a kingdom that "shall never be destroyed" ([Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Kingdom Will Never Be Destroyed")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 11:31

And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

1 Kings 1:21

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

2 Samuel 7:12

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

2 Kings 14:28

Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, [which belonged] to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2 Kings 14:29

And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, [even] with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 2:10

So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.