2 Chronicles 21ASV
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2 Chronicles21

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

2And he had brethren, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

3And their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the first-born.

4Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.

5Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

6And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.

7Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children alway.

8In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.

9Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots.

10So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day: then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Jehovah, the God of his fathers.

11Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, and led Judah astray.

12And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

13but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, like as the house of Ahab did, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, who were better than thyself:

14behold, Jehovah will smite with a great plague thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance;

15and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.

16And Jehovah stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians that are beside the Ethiopians:

17and they came up against Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king’s house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

18And after all this Jehovah smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

19And it came to pass, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.

20Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 21.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The wicked reign of Jehoram. (1–11). Jehoram's miserable end. (12–20).

vv1-11

Jehoram hated his brethren, and slew them, for the same reason that Cain hated Abel, and slew him, because their piety condemned his impiety. In the mystery of Providence such men sometimes prosper for a time; but the Lord has righteous purposes in permitting such events, part of which may now be made out, and the rest will be seen hereafter.

vv12-20

A warning from God was sent to Jehoram. The Spirit of prophecy might direct Elijah to prepare this writing in the foresight of Jehoram's crimes. He is plainly told that his sin should certainly ruin him. But no marvel that sinners are not frightened from sin, and to repentance, by the threatenings of misery in another world, when the certainty of misery in this world, the sinking of their estates, and the ruin of their health, will not restrain them from vicious courses. See Jehoram here stripped of all his comforts. Thus God plainly showed that the controversy was with him, and his house. He had slain all his brethren to strengthen himself; now, all his sons are slain but one. David's house must not be wholly destroyed, like those of Israel's kings, because a blessing was in it; that of the Messiah. Good men may be afflicted with diseases; but to them they are fatherly chastisements, and by the support of Divine consolations the soul may dwell at ease, even when the body lies in pain. To be sick and poor, sick and solitary, but especially to be sick and in sin, sick and under the curse of God, sick and without grace to bear it, is a most deplorable case. Wickedness and profaneness make men despicable, even in the eyes of those who have but little religion.

Cross References

2 Chronicles 21
v72 Kings 8:19thematic

Parallels God's refusal to destroy Judah for the sake of His covenant promise of a light to David.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v62 Kings 8:18thematic

Parallel account of Jehoram walking in Israel's ways due to marrying Ahab's daughter.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v82 Kings 8:20-22thematic

The parallel account detailing the revolt of Edom and Libnah from under Judah's hand.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Relates to the law of the firstborn, which Jehoshaphat followed in assigning the kingdom to Jehoram.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v8Genesis 27:40fulfillment

Fulfills Isaac's ancient prophecy that Edom would eventually break Jacob's yoke from off his neck.

Supported by JFB

v122 Kings 2:11thematic

Relates to the chronological difficulty of Elijah's translation relative to the writing sent to Jehoram.

Supported by JFB

Contrasts the Philistines and Arabians bringing tribute to Jehoshaphat with their attacking Jehoram.

Supported by JFB

v4Judges 9:5thematic

Historically parallels Abimelech slaying his seventy brothers to secure his own tyrannical rule.

Supported by Matthew Poole

The foundational Davidic covenant promising an enduring throne and mercy despite disobedience.

Supported by JFB

Contrasts Asa's honorable funeral burning with the refusal of a public burning for Jehoram.

Supported by Matthew Poole

The Torah's warning of extraordinary, long-lasting plagues and severe sicknesses for covenant disobedience.

v19Jeremiah 22:18thematic

Parallels the judgment of dying unlamented without royal mourning, similar to Jehoiakim.

Supported by JFB

Parallels Joash, who was also denied burial in the sepulchres of the kings.