The account of Ahaz’s reign is concluded 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 Ahaz slept with his fathers: See the comments on 2 Chr 9.31. Isaiah’s prophecy against the Philistines is dated to the year that King Ahaz died (Isa 14.28).

And they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel: Although 2 Kgs 16.20 states that Ahaz was buried in the royal tombs, the Chronicler characteristically denies that he was buried with the kings (compare 2 Chr 21.20). The Masoretic Text says the tombs of the kings of Israel. The ancient Syriac translation, followed by Revised English Bible, says “the tombs of the kings of Judah.” Some versions avoid the difficulty by saying “the royal tombs” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). None of the kings of the northern kingdom were buried in Jerusalem. Perhaps the writer says Israel here to show that the southern kingdom is the legitimate Israel now (see the comments on verse 19). Or perhaps the royal tombs are called the tombs of the kings of Israel because the tombs were carved out before the division of the united kingdom. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament favors the Masoretic Text here with an {A} rating.

And Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead: Instead of Hezekiah, the MT reads “Jehizkiyahu,” but the context shows that Hezekiah is the intended name. 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 .