Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 33:20

The account of Manasseh’s reign is concluded here by another common formula used to summarize the reign of most of the kings of Israel and Judah. It refers to his death, burial, and successor.

So Manasseh slept with his fathers: For slept with his fathers, see the comments on 2 Chr 9.31. New Revised Standard Version correctly changes fathers to “ancestors.”

And they buried him in his house: The subject of the verb buried is indefinite but may be translated “his people.” Instead of in his house, Revised English Bible says “in the garden-tomb of his family.” Revised English Bible corrects the text to agree with the parallel text in 2 Kgs 21.18. Similarly, New Jerusalem Bible says “in the garden of his palace” (so also An American Translation and Moffatt). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, which says “in his house,” and states that in this context his house does not refer to the palace alone but rather to the palace and the surrounding property. So a good rendering for this whole phase is “on his palace grounds” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

And Amon his son reigned in his stead: For reigned in his stead, see the comments on 1 Chr 19.1 and 2 Chr 9.31.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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