2 Chronicles 26:23So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, "He is a leper." Jotham his son reigned in his place.
The setting
Jerusalem, Israel, ~740 BC. King Uzziah's funeral procession moves to a burial field near but separate from royal tombs. Even in death, his leprosy creates distance from other kings.
The emotion here: melancholy at recording the end of an era
The original word
shakab (שָׁכַב) — to lie down in death, the euphemism 'slept with his fathers' showing honor despite shame
Why it matters
They buried him 'in the field of burial which belonged to the kings' — close to but not actually in the royal tombs
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Chronicles 26:23
Even the gravediggers said 'He is a leper' — his disease defined him even after death
Common misconceptionPeople think Uzziah was completely dishonored, but 'slept with his fathers' was the standard phrase of respect for dead kings — even disgraced rulers received this dignity in Chronicles.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Chronicles 26:23
Bible Genome reading
2 Chronicles 26:23 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Chronicles 26:23 comes from the book of 2 Chronicles, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include death, lasting consequences, separation. Notable phrases: slept with his fathers; field of burial; He is a leper.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does 2 Chronicles 26:23 mean to you, today?
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