Commentary - 2 Chronicles 32:32-33

Bird's-eye view

We come here to the end of a great and notable reign. Hezekiah was one of the bright lights in the Davidic line, a king who sought the Lord with his whole heart, imperfectly of course, but genuinely. These closing verses serve as his official epitaph, summarizing his life's work and his death. The Chronicler wants us to see three things here. First, Hezekiah's life was a matter of public record, attested to by both prophet and historian. Second, his faithfulness was recognized and honored by his people, a testament to God's temporal blessings for obedience. And third, and this is the sober warning that hangs over the entire passage, even the greatest of men cannot secure the future. The final clause about Manasseh is a bucket of cold water, reminding us that no human king, however godly, is the final answer. This passage is therefore both a commendation of a faithful life and a stark pointer to our need for a better King, whose kingdom will not be left to a wicked son.

Outline

Context In 2 Chronicles

These verses form the concluding summary of Hezekiah's reign, a standard formula used by the Chronicler and the author of Kings to close out the account of each monarch. After detailing Hezekiah's reforms, his stand against Sennacherib, his illness and recovery, and his foolish pride with the Babylonian envoys, this is the final verdict. The Chronicler, writing after the exile, is keen to show his readers the patterns of faithfulness and apostasy, of blessing and judgment. Hezekiah's reign is presented as a high point of covenant renewal and divine deliverance. This summary, therefore, is not just a historical footnote. It is the capstone on the life of a king who, for all his faults, shows what is possible when a leader fears God. The immediate contrast with his son Manasseh, who would become Judah's most wicked king, serves the Chronicler's larger purpose of explaining why Judah ultimately went into exile. It was not for a lack of godly examples, but for a deep-seated rebellion that even a great revival like Hezekiah's could not permanently cure.

Key Issues

Verse by Verse Commentary

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of lovingkindness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

The Chronicler begins his summary in a typical fashion, pointing his readers to other sources. The Bible is not trying to be an exhaustive history in the modern sense; it is redemptive history. It tells us what we need to know for our salvation and instruction. But it is not shy about its historical claims. The life of Hezekiah was a public affair, recorded and verifiable.

Notice what is singled out: his "deeds of lovingkindness." The Hebrew here is hesed, a rich covenantal term. It means loyalty, faithfulness, steadfast love. This was not just about Hezekiah being a nice fellow. It means his actions were characterized by covenant loyalty to Yahweh. He was faithful to the terms of the relationship God had established with His people. All true human goodness is a reflection of God's own hesed, and it is fitting that this is the summary of a good king's life. He was a man who kept covenant.

And where is this record found? In two places, which are presented here as a unified testimony: "the vision of Isaiah the prophet...in the Book of the Kings." The prophetic word and the historical account are not at odds. They are two streams flowing from the same source, telling the same story. God speaks through the preached word of His prophet and through the providential unfolding of history, and the Scriptures weave them together. Isaiah's prophetic ministry was deeply intertwined with the historical events of Hezekiah's reign, and the historical books record those events. [7] This gives the account a rock-solid authority. It is God's interpretation of Hezekiah's life, delivered through both prophet and historian.

33 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And Manasseh his son became king in his place.

First, we see the end of every man's life. "Hezekiah slept with his fathers." This is the Bible's gentle way of describing the death of a believer under the Old Covenant. For the one in covenant with God, death is not a terror but a rest, a sleep from which he will awaken at the resurrection. It is a peaceful end to a life of service.

Second, his burial was a mark of high honor. They buried him "in the upper section of the tombs of the sons of David." This was prime real estate in the royal cemetery. Along with this, "all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death." God honors those who honor Him, not only in the life to come, but often in this life as well. A godly society knows how to recognize and celebrate faithfulness. This public honor was a testament to the fact that Hezekiah's reforms and his trust in God during the Assyrian crisis had brought genuine blessing to the nation. The people knew they had lost a great and godly leader, and they mourned him appropriately.

And then we have the final, jarring clause: "And Manasseh his son became king in his place." After the honor, the peace, and the celebration of a life well-lived, the music stops. The Chronicler does not soften the blow. Manasseh would go on to be the most wicked king in Judah's history, undoing all his father's reforms and leading the nation into unparalleled idolatry and evil. [1] This is a profound and sobering lesson on the limits of human influence. Hezekiah was a great reformer, a godly father, a man of prayer. But he could not regenerate his son's heart. Covenant succession is a promise, but it is not automatic. [22] Each generation must own the faith for itself. The failure of Hezekiah's own son is a glaring testimony to the persistence of sin and the absolute necessity of a greater Son of David, Jesus Christ, whose kingdom is eternal and whose righteousness is perfect. The tragic succession of Manasseh creates in the faithful reader a deep longing for the King who will not fail and whose throne will not be handed to another.

Application

The life of Hezekiah is a model for us. We are called to live lives of hesed, of covenant faithfulness to God. Our actions, our decisions, our leadership in our homes and communities should be characterized by loyalty to King Jesus. And when we live this way, God promises to bless it. Hezekiah was honored at his death, and we too should seek to live in such a way that we leave behind a legacy of faithfulness that is an encouragement to the saints.

At the same time, the succession of Manasseh is a stark warning against placing our ultimate hope in any man or any human-led movement. Even the greatest revivals can be followed by periods of deep apostasy. We can do everything right as parents, as pastors, as leaders, and still see our children or our churches wander into sin. This should not lead us to despair, but rather to a radical dependence on the grace of God. Our children's salvation does not ultimately rest on our parenting skills, but on the sovereign grace of God in Jesus Christ. We are responsible to be faithful, but God is the one who gives the growth.

Therefore, we should labor diligently for reformation in our own day, in our own hearts, homes, and churches. We should honor godly leaders. But we must fix our eyes on the only perfect King, the Lord Jesus. Hezekiah's story, with its glorious highs and its tragic ending, ultimately points us to Him. He is the faithful Son who never fails, the King whose reign brings lasting righteousness, and the only one who can truly change the heart of a rebel.