The account of Uzziah’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 Uzziah slept with his fathers: In the year that Uzziah died, Isaiah received his call to be a prophet (see Isa 1.1; 6.1). For slept with his fathers, see the comments on 2 Chr 9.31.

And they buried him with his fathers in the burial field which belonged to the kings …: Uzziah was not buried in the royal cemetery because of his disease, but he was buried nearby. The words and they buried him with his fathers are absent from a few Hebrew manuscripts. The New English Bible translators incorrectly thought that only the words with his fathers were omitted in some Hebrew manuscripts, so New English Bible says “and was buried in a burial-ground.” Moreover, New English Bible follows the Syriac in reading “he was not buried in the royal tombs” instead of the Hebrew, which says “which belonged to the kings.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the Masoretic Text here, and notes that the author is stating that the king was indeed buried in land which belonged to the kings but he was not buried in the same tombs as the other kings because of his disease. The meaning is correctly expressed by Revised English Bible, which begins this verse with “He rested with his forefathers and was buried with them, but in the field adjoining the royal tombs….” Moffatt says “Uzziah slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers—but only in the burial-field belonging to the kings.”

For they said, “He is a leper”: A literal translation here may leave too much information implied for readers today. Since Uzziah had a severe skin disease, he was considered unclean and could not be buried in the royal tombs without making them impure. It is not important to know the identity of the people who spoke here. The writer is simply indicating why Uzziah could not be buried in the royal tombs. Good News Translation does not keep the direct quotation and says simply “because of his disease” (similarly Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), which other languages may find helpful.

And Jotham 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 .