The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 21
Chapter XXI · Vol. II, pp. 868–869
1 Jehoram, succeeding Jehoshaphat, slayeth his brethren. 5 His wicked reign. 8 Edom and Libnah revolt. 12 The prophecy of Elijah against him in writing. 16 The Philistines and Arabians oppress him. 18 His incurable disease, loathsome death, and burial.
1 Now Jehoshaphata slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
B.C. 889.
a 1 Ki.22.50. 2 Ki.8.18. ver.4.
2 And 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.1
1 A large number of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. read Judah. But the great accession to Judah from Israel proper, as recorded ch. 15. 9, may have led to the occasional adoption of the name of Israel for Judah. Or may not king of Israel have been still a title of the kings of Judah, as king of France so long remained a title of the kings of England?—C.
3 And their father bgave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to cJehoram, because he was the dfirstborn.
b Ge.25.6. ch.11.23.
c Jehoram made partner of the kingdom with his father, 2 Ki.8.16,17.
4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he estrengthened himself, and slew2 all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
e ch.12.1,13. Ju.9.5. Hab.2.12. Pr.28.15-17; 29.2,8,10,12.
2 What a truly diabolical thing is the lust of power! it destroys all the charities of life. That he might sit more secure upon his throne, this execrable man imbrues his hands in the blood of his brothers. There are more instances of this species of cruelty among bad Asiatic kings than among any other class of men. The history of every country abounds in proofs: even that of our own is not the least barren.—Clarke.
5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old fwhen he began to reign; and he reigned eight years3 in Jerusalem.
f In consort, 2 Ki.8.17.
3 Jehoram became king during the life of his father, as Solomon during the life of David, 2 Ki. 8. 16, 17; 1 Ki. 1. 30-39; but before this period he may have been co-regent with him, and, in that sense, have 'begun to reign' several years before.—C.
6 And he walked in gthe way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of hAhab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
h ch.22.2. 2 Ki.8.18,27.
7 Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he ipromised to give a light4 to him and to his sons for 5ever.
i 2 Sa.7.12,13. 1 Ki.11.36. 2 Ki.8.19. Ps.132.11; 89.28.
4 Heb. lamp or candle.
5 Which promise was fulfilled in the princes of Judah till the usurpation of Herod the Idumean, and has ever been realized in Christ, 'the root and the offspring of David,' 'the true light which lighteth (shineth upon) every man that cometh into the world.'—C.
8 In his days the kEdomites revolted from under the dominion6 of Judah, and made themselves a king.
k Ge.27.40. 2 Ki.8.20-22.
6 Heb. hand.
9 Then Jehoram went lforth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the 7chariots.
10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did mLibnah8 revolt from under his hand; because nhe had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.
A.M. 3115. B.C. 889.
8 See note on 2 Ki. 8.22.—P.
n ch.13.10; 15.2. He.10.38. Is.3.11. Je.2.17,19; 4.18; 5.25.
11 Moreover ohe made high places in the mountains of Judah, and pcaused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit qfornication,9 and compelled Judah thereto.
o Ex.34.13. De.7.5; 12.3. 2 Ki.17.9,10,19.
p Re.2.20; 13.16. 2 Ki.21.11.
q Le.7.17?. 2 Ki.9.22. ver.13. Eze.xvi. xxiii.
9 Impurity was a part of the worship of Ashtaroth and other ancient idols, and still abides in the worship of Juggernaut, &c., in modern India. So abiding is idolatry, so abiding is sin, because 'the carnal mind' still abides 'enmity against God, is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,' Ro. 8.7.
12 And there came1 a rwriting to him from Elijah the prophet,2 saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the sways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
1 B.C. 887.
r Which was written before his translation, 2 Ki.2.11.
2 Elijah was translated in the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Ki. ii. iii.); but Jehoram was co-regent with his father for about three years (2 Ki. 8. 16, 17), and may then have begun his idolatrous practices, and so received this warning before the prophet's removal. Or, it is possible, the prophet, foreseeing the apostacy of this wicked king, may have left this warning to be delivered in his name. The idea of the letter being sent from heaven is a vain figment, unworthy of attention.—C.
s 1 Ki.15.11; 22.43. ch.xvii. xix. xiv. xv.
13 But hast twalked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a uwhoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself;
t 1 Ki.16.25,30-33. ver.6,11. 2 Ki.8.12,27.
14 Behold, with xa great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods.
x Heb. a great stroke.
15 And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
16 Moreover, the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the yEthiopians:
y Or, Midianites, Nu.12.1.
17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and zcarried 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, athe youngest of his sons.
18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with ban incurable disease.
b ver.14,15. De.28.22,27. ch.16.12; 24.25.
19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness; so he died of sore diseases: and his people made no cburning for him, like the burning of his fathers.3
c ch.16.11; 32.33.
3 Burning the dead was customary in ancient times, is still practised in India, and is often accompanied with much ceremony and expense. C.——'The burning' was not the burning of the dead body, which was rarely, if ever, practised among the Jews; but the burning of incense at a great state funeral. It would seem that the bodies were partially embalmed, and great quantities of sweet spices and perfumes were burned at the time of sepulture. This honour was not accorded to the wicked Jehoram.—P.
20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and ddeparted without ebeing desired:4 howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but gnot in the sepulchres of the kings.
e Heb. without desire, Pr.10.7. Je.22.18.
A.M. 3117. B.C. 887.
4 None lamented him as a public loss, for he never had been a public blessing.—C.
g ch.24.25; 28.27. 2 Ki.21.26.
Notes
[Ver. 16. The Arabians here joined with the Philistines were probably the nomad tribes which fed their flocks on the desert of Tih, between Palestine and the mountains of Sinai, and eastward as far as the Arabah. The Ethiopians, or Cushites, as it is in the Hebrew, dwelt partly in Africa, south of Egypt, and partly in southern Arabia. The latter are here referred to. P.]
Ver. 17. [Such incursions, for plunder of cattle and goods, and carrying off slaves, are, alas! still common in Africa, and still, by implication, patronized by nations called Christian! Lord, what is man! Arise, arise, plead thine own cause! Ps. 74. 22. C.]
Reflections.—What monsters are bred in the best of families; or, at least, are made so by unhallowed marriages! And none are such plagues to families and kingdoms as ungrateful heirs. Ambition is deaf to the cries of nature or humanity: and those whom duty and interest require to protect us, become our destroyers. But how tormented are the minds of tyrants, and how tottering those thrones which are established in blood! God can take the most unthought-of methods to threaten or to punish his inveterate enemies. And torment, misery, and disgrace most surely await them. Dreadful is the situation when tormenting agonies, an awakened conscience, and an opening hell, meet the sinner on his death-bed! But miserable are the happiest tyrants.—When alive they are hated; and when dead they are branded with infamy, and lost in despair!