2 Kings 18:2

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Kings 18:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.
2 Kings 18:2 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Kings 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign, etc.] Now as Ahaz his father began to reign at twenty, and reigned sixteen, he must die at thirty six; so that this son of his must be born to him when at eleven years of age, for only so many years there be between twenty five and thirty six, which may seem wonderful; but, as Grotius observes, Hezekiah had now entered into the twenty fifth year, and he might be just turned of twenty four, and so his father might be twelve years of age at his birth: besides, as it is usual for the divine historian to take away or add the incomplete years of kings, Ahaz might be near twenty one when he began to reign, and might reign almost seventeen,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Twenty and five years old was he - This statement, combined with that of 2 Kings 16:2, would make it necessary that his father Ahaz should have married at the age of 10, and have had a child born to him when he was 11 years of age. This is not impossible; but its improbability is so great, that most commentators suggest a corruption in some of the numbers. The Zachariah here mentioned was perhaps one of the “faithful witnesses” of Isaiah Isaiah 8:2. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“To reign - It is not certain that Ahaz lived only thirty six years, for those sixteen years which he reigned, may be computed, not from the first beginning of his reign, when he reigned with his father; which was at the twentieth year of his age, but from the beginning of his reigning alone. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 18:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Twenty and five years old: As Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to reign, and died when he had reigned 16 years, his whole age only amounted to 36 years; and as Hezekiah was, at least, entering on his 25th year when he began to reign, then Ahaz must have been under 12 years of age when his son was born! This is not at all impossible, and there are well-attested facts of men having children at as early a period, especially in eastern countries., am 3278-3306, bc 726-698 Abi: Ch2 29:1, Abijah 4 Kings (2 Kings) 18:3”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification