The account of Hezekiah’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.

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: For slept with his fathers, see the comments on 2 Chr 9.31.

And they buried him: The subject of the verb buried is indefinite but may be translated “his people.”

In the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David: New Revised Standard Version changes the translation to read “on the ascent to the tombs….” The Hebrew noun translated ascent can mean “approach,” that is, “at the approach to the tombs…” (New American Bible); or it can mean “upper section,” that is, “in the upper section of the tombs…” (New Jerusalem Bible; similarly Good News Translation). It is not exactly clear what the Hebrew means here. Perhaps the sense is simply that the tombs were located on a “hill” (New International Version). However, other interpreters have suggested that the Hebrew refers more to a special place of honor rather than to a geographical location. This latter understanding is the basis for the Contemporary English Version rendering, which is “in the section of the royal tombs that was reserved for the most respected kings.” The sons of David here does not refer to David’s own biological sons but rather to his descendants who were kings, so Good News Translation renders the tombs of the sons of David as “the royal tombs.”

And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death; that is, they showed him great respect at the time of his burial. This clause may be rendered “and everyone in Jerusalem and the rest of Judah honored him when he died.”

And Manasseh 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 .